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God's Purposes in the Christian Life and Ministry

God's purposes for humanity are central to Christian life and ministry, encompassing both individual transformation and the broader work of the church. These divine purposes are described as great, wonderful, immutable, sovereign, and eternal [3]. They are not subject to human will or devices, but rather stand firm and will be performed [3, 16, 17].

A primary purpose of God for believers is holiness. Scripture states, "it is God's purpose that our way of life may be not unclean but holy" [1]. This call to holiness is reiterated, emphasizing that believers are to "keep yourselves from the desires of the flesh" [10]. This pursuit of holiness is not merely a suggestion but a command, with God's own character serving as the standard [2]. Believers are "elected to" and "called to" holiness, being "new created in" it [2]. The gospel itself is presented as the "way of" holiness [2]. This transformation is part of God's overarching plan to make believers fully like Christ [12].

Another significant purpose is that believers' lives might be pleasing to God [11]. This ambition to please God is presented as the goal of the present life, and it will be assessed when individuals stand before Christ [15]. This pleasing life involves living "not to the desires of men, but to the purpose of God" [9].

God's purposes also extend to the church as a collective body. Through the church, God intends for "the manifold wisdom of God to be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms" [5]. The goal of ministry within the church is for the entire Christian community to deepen its understanding and experience of the Christian faith, leading to a profound knowledge of God's Son and maturity in the Lord [12]. This maturity is measured by the standard of Christ himself [12].

Furthermore, God's purposes include the salvation and calling of saints, which occur "according to" his counsel [3]. This calling leads to the hope of eternal life, a key aim of the Gospel ministry [14]. The ultimate design for those who believe is to "enjoy eternal felicity" with Christ in God's kingdom, persevering to the end and being eternally united with God [13].

Even afflictions are understood to serve God's purposes. They can promote God's glory, exhibit his power and faithfulness, teach believers his will, and turn them toward him [4]. Afflictions can also prevent believers from departing from God, lead them to prayer, and convince them of sin [4]. The power of the Holy Spirit is instrumental in fulfilling these divine purposes, being the power of God himself, exhibited in creation, the conception of Christ, his resurrection, and in giving spiritual life [6]. The Spirit also makes the gospel efficacious and helps overcome difficulties [6].

God's love and favor are foundational to these purposes. His love is described as sovereign, great, abiding, unfailing, unalienable, constraining, and everlasting [8]. This love is manifested towards perishing sinners, his saints, and the destitute [8]. God's favor, which is the source of mercy and spiritual life, encompasses and strengthens saints, enabling them to be victorious and preserved [7].

Sources

  1. I Thessalonians “I Thessalonians 4:7 (BBE) — Because it is God's purpose that our way of life may be not unclean but holy.”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holiness — Commanded -- Le 11:45; 20:7; Eph 5:8; Col 3:12; Ro 12:1. Christ Desires for his people. -- Joh 17:17. Effects, in his people. -- Eph 5:25-27. An example of. -- Heb 7:26; 1Pe 2:21,22. The character of God, the standard of -- Le 19:2; 1Pe 1:15,16; Eph 5:1. The character of Christ, the standard of -- Ro 8:29; 1Jo 2:6; Php 2:5. The gospel the way of -- Isa 35:8. Necessary to God's worship -- Ps 24:3,4. None shall see God without -- Eph 5:5; Heb 12:14. Saints Elected to. -- Ro 8:29; Eph 1:4. Called to. -- 1Th 4:7; 2Ti 1:9. New created in. -- Eph 4:24. Possess. ”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Counsels and Purposes of God, The — Are great -- Jer 32:19. Are wonderful -- Isa 28:29. Are immutable -- Ps 33:11; Pr 19:21; Jer 4:28; Ro 9:11; Heb 6:17. Are sovereign -- Isa 40:13,14; Da 4:35. Are eternal -- Eph 3:11. Are faithfulness and truth -- Isa 25:1. None can disannul -- Isa 14:27. Shall be performed -- Isa 14:24; 46:11. The sufferings and death of Christ were according to -- Ac 2:23; 4:28. Saints called and save according to -- Ro 8:28; 2Ti 1:9. The union of all saints in Christ, is according to -- Eph 1:9,10. The works of God according to -- Eph 1:11. Shoul”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflictions Made Beneficial — In promoting the glory of God -- Joh 9:1-3; 11:3,4; 21:18,19. In exhibiting the power and faithfulness of God -- Ps 34:19,20; 2Co 4:8-11. In teaching us the will of God -- Ps 119:71; Isa 26:9; Mic 6:9. In turning us to God -- De 4:30,31; Ne 1:8,9; Ps 78:34; Isa 10:20,21; Ho 2:6,7. In keeping us from again departing from God -- Job 34:31,32; Isa 10:20; Eze 14:10,11. In leading us to seek God in prayer -- Jdj 4:3; Jer 31:18; La 2:17-19; Ho 5:14,15; Jon 2:1. In convincing us of sin -- Job 36:8,9; Ps 119:67; Lu 15:16-18. In leading us to con”
  5. Ephesians “Ephesians 3:10 (BSB) — His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of the Holy Spirit, The — Is the power of God -- Mt 12:28; Lu 11:20. Christ commenced his ministry in -- Lu 4:14. Christ wrought his miracles by -- Mt 12:28. Exhibited in Creation. -- Ge 1:2; Job 26:13; Ps 104:30. The conception of Christ. -- Lu 1:35. Raising Christ from the dead. -- 1Pe 3:18. Giving spiritual life. -- Eze 37:11-14; Ro 8:11. Working miracles. -- Ro 15:19. Making the gospel efficacious. -- 1Co 2:4; 1Th 1:5. Overcoming all difficulties. -- Zec 4:6,7. Promised by the Father. -- Lu 24:49. Promised by Christ. -- Ac 1:8. Saints Upheld by. -- Ps 51:12”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Favour of God, The — Christ the special object of -- Lu 2:52. Is the source of Mercy. -- Isa 60:10. Spiritual life. -- Ps 30:5. Spiritual wisdom leads to -- Pr 8:35. Mercy and truth lead to -- Pr 3:3,4. Saints Obtain. -- Pr 12:2. Encompassed by. -- Ps 5:12. Strengthened by. -- Ps 30:7. Victorious through. -- Ps 44:3. Preserved through. -- Job 10:12. Exalted in. -- Ps 89:17. Sometimes tempted to doubt. -- Ps 77:7. Domestic blessings traced to -- Pr 18:22. Disappointment of enemies an assured evidence of -- Ps 41:11. Given in answer to prayer -- Job 33:26. Pray for -- ”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love of God, The — Is a part of his character -- 2Co 13:11; 1Jo 4:8. Christ, the especial object of -- Joh 15:9; 17:26. Christ abides in -- Joh 15:10. Described as Sovereign. -- De 7:8; 10:15. Great. -- Eph 2:4. Abiding. -- Zep 3:17. Unfailing. -- Isa 49:15,16. Unalienable. -- Ro 8:39. Constraining. -- Ho 11:4. Everlasting. -- Jer 31:3. Irrespective of merit -- De 7:7; Job 7:17. Manifested towards Perishing sinners. -- Joh 3:16; Tit 3:4. His saints. -- Joh 16:27; 17:23; 2Th 2:16; 1Jo 4:16. The destitute. -- De 10:18. The cheerful giver. -- 2Co 9:7. Exhibited in The g”
  9. I Peter “I Peter 4:2 (BBE) — So that you may give the rest of your lives in the flesh, not to the desires of men, but to the purpose of God.”
  10. I Thessalonians “I Thessalonians 4:3 (BBE) — For the purpose of God for you is this: that you may be holy, and may keep yourselves from the desires of the flesh;”
  11. I Thessalonians “I Thessalonians 2:12 (BBE) — So that your lives might be pleasing to God, who has given you a part in his kingdom and his glory.”
  12. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:13: 4:13 The goal of ministry is for the whole Christian community to understand and experience the Christian faith more deeply and gain a deeper knowledge of God’s Son. In this way, believers will be mature in the Lord (see 1 Cor 2:6; 14:20; Phil 3:15; Col 1:28; 4:12; cp. Heb 5:14; Jas 1:4; 3:2). The standard of maturity is Christ himself; the Spirit’s transforming work is to make people fully like Christ (Rom 8:29).”
  13. John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 17:24: That they may behold my glory - That they may enjoy eternal felicity with me in thy kingdom. So the word is used, Joh 3:3; Mat 5:8. The design of Christ is, that all who believe should love and obey, persevere unto the end, and be eternally united to himself, and the ever blessed God, in the kingdom of glory.”
  14. Titus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Titus 1:2: In hope of eternal life,.... Or "for the hope of eternal life"; in order to bring souls to the hope of it. This is another end of the Gospel ministry, as to bring God's elect to faith in Christ, and to the knowledge and acknowledgement of the truth, as it is in Jesus, so to the hope of eternal glory and happiness: in a state of nature, they are without the grace of hope, or any true ground and foundation of it; and though it is the gift of God's grace, and is implanted on the soul by the Spirit of God in regeneration; yet the Gospel is the means of producing it at first”
  15. 2 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Corinthians 5:9: 5:9-10 The goal of the present life is to please him (see also Rom 12:1-2; 14:18; Col 1:10; 1 Thes 4:1). This ambition will be tested when we stand before Christ to be judged. The judge is also our advocate, so we are confident of acquittal (Rom 8:1, 33-34). Yet actions done in this earthly body will be assessed and called to account (Acts 17:31).”
  16. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 19:21: There are many devices in a man's heart,.... Some about civil things; to get wealth and riches: to obtain honour and glory among men; to attain to a long life, and to perpetuate their memories after death: some about sinful things; to gratify their carnal lusts and sensual appetites; and to do mischief to others, particularly the people of God, and the cause and interest of Christ: some about religious things; coming new doctrines, devising new ordinances and modes of worship; contriving other methods of salvation than by Christ; as by the light of nature; by the l”
  17. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 33:11: The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever,.... By which are meant, not the doctrines of the Gospel, nor the ordinances of it; though these will stand firm, and remain to the end of the world; but the purposes and decrees of God, which are wisely formed in himself, are eternal and unfrustrable, and relate to all things in providence and grace. The Lord does all things according to the counsel of his will in the government of the world, and in the salvation of men: the choice of persons to everlasting life is according to it; and so are their redemption, effectual call”
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