Bible Question:

In the section titled What We Believe, it says that God's reason for saving us is so that He may receive glory from our lives. I believe that He wants us to live lives that glorify Him, but I believe the foremost reason for saving us is to save us from our sins so that we may be able to have a personal relationship with Him.

Bible Answer:

Is our purpose in life to have fellowship with God? No! But the Bible reveals our purpose in life. You will also discover two things that God greatly desires for us. Both of them give us purpose in life.

Created for God’s Glory

First, God’s purpose for your life is to give God glory.  God created man for His own glory. God wants us to live in such a way that we glorify Him. That is the message of these Scriptures.

Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Isaiah 43:7 (NASB)

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.  Matthew 5:16  (NASB)

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31  (NASB)

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation — having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.  Ephesians 1:13-14  (NASB)

God did not create us to be self-centered people. If He had created us for the purpose of living for ourselves, then we would be sinful, unloving, self-centered people. So, He gave us purpose. God’s purpose for your life is to glorify Him. He did not do that because He needs glory or craves glory. He is already infinite in all of His attributes and He does not depend upon anyone else, nor does He need anything. He does not need someone to love Him, to care for Him, to help Him in anyway. He is an aseity. He is self-sustaining and completely self-sufficient.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. Isaiah 40:28 (NASB)

The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;  nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things. Acts 17:24-25 (NASB)

That is, God did not and does not need anything from us. When God created us, He gave us purpose to be selfless and to love others. So, we were created for the purpose of giving God glory, and we do that by our attitudes and actions.

Obtain Friendship with God

Genesis 3:8 tells us that after God created Adam and Eve, He would walk in the Garden of Eden in the later part of the day.

They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day . . . Genesis 3:8 (NASB)

The Hebrew verb, halak, translated as “walking” actually refers to repetitive and habitual movement in general. We are told that they heard Him moving. They recognized His movement because this was a habitual pattern. This means that God was visiting them every day. Why? Job gave us a clue when he said this,

What is man that You magnify him, and that You are concerned about him, that You examine him every morning and try him every moment? Job 7:17-18 (NASB)

Job states that God is concerned about us and watches us every day. He loves us!!

Therefore, God desires two things for us, in addition to giving Him glory. First, He desires to rescue or save us from the consequences of our sins. That is, to forgive us and grant us eternal life.  1 John 3:23 says,

 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 1 John 3:23 (NASB)

John 3:16 adds,

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NASB)

Visit Searching For God to discover how to be rescued from your sins and be granted eternal life. That is, how we begin to have purpose in life. Only then do we begin to give God glory and have a relationship with Him (1 John 1:3).

Second, God desires that we learn to know Him (Jeremiah 9:23-24). As we grow in our knowledge of Him, our relationship with Him will grow deeper. John 14:21 tells us that as we obey Him,  Christ will reveal Himself to us more and more. For more information visit God’s Great Passion.

Conclusion:

Luke 10:25 tells us that a lawyer asked Jesus what he should do to have eternal life. Jesus then asked the lawyer what he thought. He responded with this statement,

And he answered, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Luke 10:27 (NASB)

Jesus told him that he had answered correctly. Just think, true faith results in real love for Jesus Christ. Real faith really loves God. It results in a meaningful relationship.