The Bible clearly defines our goal as Christians. Although most of us are aware of our goal, like a mission statement for an organization, a review helps us to focus and make sure we are working toward that goal.
Our goal is to be “blameless and holy” when Jesus comes:
“May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” 1 Thessalonians 3:13
The Apostle Paul’s passion was to “know Christ”. Nothing else mattered. Certainly to “know Christ” would cause us to be “blameless and holy” so we could say that both define our goal:
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:7-11
We have to die to serving sin and live for God, as Jesus did.
Jesus’ plan is to make us holy, through His Word. Since Jesus is the Word, studying and applying His Word would help us to know Him:
”Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” Ephesians 5:25-27
We are His church, and He will make us holy.
God is the One who will sanctify us – make us holy:
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Because of His sacrifice we are made holy. If we believe in Him, He gives us His Holy Spirit so we will always know His laws:
“…by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” Hebrews 10-14-17
Because of His sacrifice He will never hold our sins against us.
Jesus knew that we would chose Him before the creation the world. It was His pleasure to make us holy and blameless through His grace "which he has freely given us in the One he loves”:
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves” Ephesians 1:4-6
If we believe in Him, we will obey, and He will change us so that we will obey Him quickly and willingly:
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his
good purpose.” Philippians 1:12-13
When we fear or respect the Lord, we will try to please Him.
Because of His great love for us, we should “make it our goal to please him”:
“So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:9-10
Although everyone who chooses Jesus as their Lord and Savior will go to heaven, we will be rewarded according to how we have obeyed Him.
Our part is listen to Him and obey:
“…no man is greater than his prayer life…” The Judgment Seat of Christ by Leonard Ravenhill
We should always be giving ourselves fully to the work of the Lord:
“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
We do not always obey perfectly, but even the Apostle Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament, realized that he was not always what he should be. But he did not dwell on the past but pressed on toward the goal of pleasing God:
“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14
However, Paul was so close to following the example of Christ that he could confidently ask us to follow His example. He also makes our goalclear – to be like Christ, to have the attributes of Jesus:
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1
We can know we are like Jesus, if we have the qualities of His Spirit:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
One way we can please Jesus is to serve others:
“Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” Matthew 10:41-42
We should be guided by love because “…God is love.” 1 John 4:8:
“There’s no burden too heavy, or no situation too hard for the one that you love. If we are love-controlled, love-motivated, and love- energized, it will be all right when we stand up there, because if there’s anything about love – it’s obedient. We need to become a people who are baptized with obedience. We need to be submissive to the total will of God, not concerned about human opinion, and not asking for more to spend on ourselves. We need to say, "Oh God, I want this life of mine to glorify You, so that when I stand in Your awesome presence, as John says, I shall not be ashamed at Your appearing" (I John 2:28).” The Judgment Seat of Christ by Leonard Ravenhill
“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God lives in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.” 1 John 4:16-17
We can be confident on the Day of Judgment because our sins are forgiven and we represent Him. We should remember that we are representing Jesus to the world (those who do not know Him).
Love is an action, not necessarily a feeling. We can choose to act, determining what God would want us to do for each person. Sometimes it would mean a sacrifice on our part, but usually it is a joy. In any case our obedience will lead to joy:
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:9-18
Because loving our enemies is so different than what the unsaved it, it is a strong testimony of Jesus’ love.
If we are comforted by His love, we should have the same love for each other:
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of the others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” 2 Philippians 2:1-8
This love would mean that we treat others better than we treat ourselves.
The best we can do for others is pray for them to be holy and blameless:
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11
Holiness is ours if we are "filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ".
Paul’s prayers show his love and service for others.
There are some things to avoid in order to be holy. We are to keep "a tight rein":on our tongues in order not to say anything displeasing to the Lord:
“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:26-27
In this passage we see the importance of serving others and keeping from “being polluted by the world”.
To avoid the influence of the world is stressed in other passages, also:
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2
This passage sums up reaching our goal – “to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God”.
Although all of the Bible instructs us, some passages in a few words tell us how to act:
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to what is good.
Avoid every kind of evil.” 1 Thessalonian 5:16-22
In order to become “blameless and pure” we must “do everything without grumbling and complaining”:
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”…” 2 Philippians 2:14-15
By thanking God in every situation we are also being a testimony to the world.
These are the words we should strive to hear when Jesus returns:
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” Matthew 25:23