This Changes Your Purpose 

By Johnny Falzone 

How does the gospel change my purpose? Do I suddenly have a new purpose and even a new mission in life because of the Gospel? Paul writes in Galatians 2 that it is no longer he who lives, but Christ who lives in him. He is speaking of a change that has happened; a change that has transformed him. Taking it a step further, he describes how this was possible: “faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Paul clearly knows why his purpose has changed and it has everything to do with what has been done for him. 

Our purpose changes because of Christ’s love for us, Him sacrificing His own life, so that we might live. If we could live, or have life by any other way, or gain purpose by any other way, then why death? Paul concludes that then Christ died for no purpose. But this is not the case! His death and resurrection have given us purpose, and what Christ has done makes us new, makes us alive, by faith in the finished work of Jesus.

But what about my purpose before faith in Christ? What about the things that defined me then? Sure, I’ve experienced this newness of life and have faith in Him now, but what about before? Paul continues in Philippians that anything that could be seen as a gain in his life before, he now regards as loss, in comparison to the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ as Lord. 

Essentially, why has this gospel changed everything, including your purpose? It’s because of the great value, the great worth, the great gift of knowing Jesus that causes even that which would like “gain” in this life, to be counted as loss. Our purpose has now changed, that which defined us before, and may have seemed like success at the time, isn’t… It is now knowing Christ, and Christ alone!

What now? I know what has changed everything for me to have life, what changed everything that defined my life, but what do I do? How do I live out this purpose, is there a point? In other words, is there a mission for me? It is the grace and gift of God that we receive life because of what Christ has done. Additionally, it is great that anything from before isn’t worth comparing to the gift of knowing and following Jesus. As you read the text in Matthew, the mission is described clearly and profoundly by Jesus: “Go.” 

Jesus, having all authority, giving us a new purpose, tells us exactly what to do: “make disciples.” A mission for us to go and tell others of the hope we have in the gospel and the hope they can have too. However, this isn’t a solo mission, something you do alone . . . This is the mission of you and ALL other followers of Jesus, to make disciples. 

The Great Commission that leaves us with a powerful promise “I am with you always, to the end of the age”. This changes everything! This changes your purpose! Now go, and make disciples!