The Ultimate Purpose: Conformed to Christ's Image
When most of us pick up a Bible, we come with a certain goal in mind. Some want to learn the history. Others are after the rules—what to do, what not to do. Still others read it for encouragement, for comfort in the middle of life’s storms. And while all of these things can be found in scripture, if we stop there, we miss the main point.
Because the Bible, from cover to cover, is not just a collection of stories, prophecies and commandments. It’s one grand, God-inspired masterpiece with a single theme running through every page: Jesus Christ.
That’s the central truth that changes everything.
The Bible Isn’t Just About “What to Do”—It’s About “Who to Know”
Let’s be honest—sometimes we approach the Bible like it’s a rulebook or a textbook. We think, If I can just learn enough, if I can memorize enough verses, if I can figure out the right formulas, then I’ll be okay with God.
But Jesus made it clear that it doesn’t work that way. In John 5:39, He confronted the religious leaders of His day with some sobering words:
“You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about Me.”
Think about that. These men had studied the Word all their lives. They could quote the Law, they knew the prophecies, they were the experts. And yet, Jesus told them they missed the entire point. The scriptures weren’t meant to point them to themselves or to their own righteousness. They were meant to point to Him.
That same challenge comes to us today. Do we read the Bible just to fill our heads with knowledge, or do we read it to know the Person the whole book is about? (Reading and gaining knowledge without the purpose of becoming more like Jesus is why their are so many rude, arrogant, mean “Christians” in the world today- they have missed the main story and character of the Bible).
Jesus at the Center of It All
Let’s walk through it together for a moment.
The Old Testament points forward to Him. Every sacrifice, every priest, every prophet, every king—it was all foreshadowing Christ. The Law was never the end goal. As Galatians 3:24 says, it was our “schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” In other words, the Law was designed to show us our need for a Savior, not to save us by itself.
The Gospels reveal Him. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John don’t just tell the story of a good teacher or miracle-worker. They reveal the Son of God stepping into human history, living the life we couldn’t live, dying the death we deserved and rising again to give us eternal life.
The rest of the New Testament points back to Him. The letters of Paul, Peter, James, and John—all of them unpack what Jesus accomplished and how we are to live in light of it. Revelation? It’s the unveiling of Christ in His glory and victory.
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible has one main character. And it’s not you. It’s not me. It’s not Israel. It’s Jesus.
The Real Goal: Transformation, Not Just Information
Now here’s where this truth hits home. If the whole Bible is centered on Jesus, then our purpose in reading it isn’t just to become “smarter Christians.” It’s to be changed into His likeness.
Romans 8:28-29 spells this out clearly:
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God... For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son.”
Notice that word: conformed. God’s plan for your life isn’t just to give you comfort, success or prosperity. His ultimate goal is to shape you into the image of His Son. That’s what all the “good” is working together toward.
Think about it. Adam was made in the image of God, but sin marred that image. Jesus came as the perfect image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). And now, through the Word and Spirit, God is restoring us into that image so that we might look, think and act more like Christ every day.
(If we will allow Him, God will use every mountain and valley we experience in life to shape and mold us into the likeness of Jesus- the fruit of the Spirit tells what His nature is: Galatians 5:22-23 love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance).
What Does This Look Like?
So if the purpose of scripture is to lead us to Jesus, and the purpose of God’s work in our lives is to conform us to His image, what does that look like in daily life?
Following His example. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” Our faith isn’t about blindly following a set of rules—it’s about following a Person. Jesus is the pattern for how we should live.
Living His teachings. Jesus told us to love our enemies, forgive those who wrong us, serve the least among us and put God’s kingdom first. Those aren’t just nice sayings—they’re the blueprint for a transformed life.
Carrying our cross. Discipleship isn’t always comfortable. Jesus said if anyone would follow Him, they must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Him. That means surrendering our will to His and letting Him reshape us from the inside out.
Making disciples. Being conformed to Christ’s image isn’t just about us. It’s about multiplying that transformation in others. Jesus’ final command was to “go and make disciples of all nations.” When people look at our lives, they should see Him—and be drawn to follow Him too.
Conclusion
Here’s the bottom line: we don’t read the Bible just to gain knowledge. We read it to know Christ, to follow Him, and to be transformed into His image.
The Old Testament points forward to Him. The Gospels reveal Him. The rest of the New Testament points back to Him. From beginning to end, Scripture is the story of Jesus. And our calling is not just to admire Him from a distance, but to walk in His footsteps—living, loving, and serving the way He did.
So the next time you open your Bible, ask yourself: Am I looking for information, or am I looking for Jesus? Because when you find Him, you find the life you were made for.