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What is Jesus Christ’s purpose for our lives?
Written by Ken Murray
The other day I was meditating as I was reading the Bible and I thought: "What is Jesus Christ's purpose for our lives?" On what should we setting our hearts and minds that would be pleasing to Christ? What do we understand from the Bible is Jesus Christ's purpose for our lives?
The simple wise answer is found in Matthew 6:33: But seek you first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
In Matthew 6:33 Jesus explains our two main purposes in life:
1. Seeking to be in God's coming Kingdom of God on this earth by striving to live now like we are in God's Kingdom already
2. Seeking to develop the righteous character of God within us now, with all the attributes of Godly character described in the scriptures
Purpose 1 – Seeking to be in the coming Kingdom of God
We see the exciting prophetical reality of the coming Kingdom of God referred to clearly in many passages in the Bible. For God's faithful people, this reality begins at the time of the 1ST resurrection. Notice carefully these scriptures:
Revelation 20:4: And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Revelation 20:5: (But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.) This is the first resurrection.
Revelation 20:6: Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
We read in Revelation chapter 11 that Jesus is coming back to this earth to take over and rule over all the nations and kingdoms of this world.
Revelation 11:15: And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 5:10: And has made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Notice how we are going to be helping Jesus Christ to rule over the nations of this earth. Hence, we need to train now in developing the righteous character of God. We can only rule effectively if we ourselves set the right example for the ones for which Christ may make us responsible in helping them to love God and to keep His commandments.
Daniel 2:44: And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
Daniel 7:18: But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
Daniel 7:22: Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
Daniel 7:27: And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
Zechariah 14:9: And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
Purpose 2 – Seeking to develop the righteous character of God
What is the Bible definition of righteousness? Psalms 119:172: "My tongue shall speak of Your word: for all Your commandments are righteousness."
Righteousness can also be described as Godly character.
James 3:13: Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good character his works with meekness of wisdom.
1 Peter 1:15: but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct
It is one thing to have the knowledge of God's laws and way of life. It is yet another thing to repent of our evil ways, to be baptised, to receive the gift of God's spirit through the laying on of hands and, with God's help, seek to develop His righteous character in our lives. The mind and example of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, is the righteous character of God in attitude, word and deed.
Philippians 2:5: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:"
If you don't live it you don't believe it. But, if you live it, you show clearly you believe it.
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About the Author
Ken Murray