So, What is Our Purpose?

As I’ve been writing these early essays, something unexpected has come into focus.

I’m not talking much—at least not directly—about salvation in the way I was taught. Not the familiar script: “We’re all born sinners, Jesus died for our sins, accept Him, and you’ll go to heaven.” The classic Roman Road. The altar call. The central theme of nearly every sermon and evangelistic effort I grew up with.

But here’s what I’ve come to realize: that version, while true, isn’t the whole story. It’s not the full purpose of the gospel. And it’s not the heart of this journey we’re on.

The more I explore what it means to follow Christ, the more I see that our purpose isn’t just to be saved—it’s to be transformed. God’s goal is not merely forgiveness. It’s formation. Redemption. Restoration. Re-creation. He’s building something far greater than a crowd of rescued sinners waiting for heaven.

He’s shaping beings capable of agape love.

And once that truth settled into place—that we were created to love as God loves, that this is the very reason for our existence—it changed everything. It reorients the entire expedition. Salvation is not the finish line; it’s the starting point. The moment we step onto the trail.

It is as, A.W. Tozer said it’s, “ The purpose of God isn’t to save us from hell; it’s to make us like Christ.”

The debates between Arminians and Calvinists, the formulas and the altar calls—they all orbit around the question, “What does it mean to be saved?” But maybe we’ve spent too long circling the wrong center. Maybe the more urgent question is, “What does God want to make of us once we are?”

Because Jesus didn’t just say, “Get saved.” He said, “Follow Me.” He said, “Go and make disciples.” He called us to be transformed into people who love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength—and who love others as themselves.

That’s the journey we’re on. That’s the trail we’re tracing here. Salvation is necessary. But it’s not the point. The point is love.

And maybe—just maybe—that’s not as complicated as we’ve made it. We’ll see, as we keep walking through Part One of this expedition.