Discovering God’s Purpose in Spiritual Growth
Reflections on Chapter 4 of The Green Letters
Miles J. Stanford’s Chapter 4, Purpose, unveils the incredible truth of God’s eternal plan for each believer: to conform us to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. By understanding this purpose, we gain clarity, rest, and assurance in our walk with the Lord, as well as a deeper appreciation for His sovereignty in every circumstance.
1. God’s Eternal Purpose: Christlikeness
From creation, God’s intention has been to make humanity in His image. As Genesis 1:26 declares, “Let us make man in our image.” However, Adam’s fall disrupted this plan, turning humanity into a self-centered race, spiritually dead and alienated from God (Eph. 2:1).
Yet God’s purpose was not thwarted. Through the “last Adam,” Jesus Christ, the image of God was restored to humanity (Heb. 1:3). In Christ, believers are not only reconciled to God but are also actively being transformed into His likeness.
Romans 8:28–29 summarizes this beautifully: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Every event, whether joyful or painful, contributes to this glorious purpose.
2. The New Birth and the New Race
Our natural birth placed us in Adam’s sinful race, but through the new birth, we are grafted into Christ’s lineage.
New Identity: We are partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) and hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).
New Life Source: “Christ, who is our life” (Col. 3:4), becomes the source of everything we are and do.
The transformation into Christlikeness is not self-effort but a result of His life expressed through us (Gal. 2:20). God’s purpose is to manifest the life of Jesus in our mortal flesh (2 Cor. 4:11).
3. The Role of Failure in Growth
Stanford presents failure as one of God’s most effective tools for conforming us to Christ’s image. Failure exposes self-reliance, drawing us to depend fully on the sufficiency of Christ.
Purpose of Failure: It shifts our focus from ourselves to the Lord, aligning us with the truth that “not I, but Christ” (Gal. 2:20).
Response to Failure: Rather than resisting or rationalizing our failures, we are invited to embrace them as a means of God’s transformative work.
Norman Douty captures this idea powerfully: “Don’t try to be like Him, just look at Him… Forget about trying to be like Him. Instead… let Him fill [your mind and heart].”
4. The Process of Transformation
Stanford emphasizes that spiritual growth is gradual, requiring a consistent gaze upon Christ.
Beholding Christ: Transformation occurs as we behold the glory of the Lord through the Word, leading to a progressive change “from glory to glory” (2 Cor. 3:18).
God’s Work in Us: Philippians 2:13 assures us that “it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” This transformation is entirely His work, and our role is to yield and trust Him.
5. The Motivation of God’s Love
Fear may produce compliance, but love inspires devotion. Stanford contrasts worldly conformity with Christlike transformation:
Worldly Influence: If we focus on the world or ourselves, we become increasingly worldly and self-centered.
Christlike Transformation: By centering our love and attention on Jesus, we are conformed to His image.
“Set your affection on things above” (Col. 3:2) becomes the practical key to spiritual growth. As we gaze upon Jesus through His Word, we are drawn away from the world’s distractions and drawn into deeper intimacy with Him.
6. Resting in God’s Sovereignty
Stanford concludes with an invitation to rest in God’s purpose. Recognizing that every trial, joy, and experience is orchestrated to make us more like Christ, we can echo Job’s declaration: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15).
Our ultimate calling is to manifest Christ’s life. As Paul declared, “For to me to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). This is both our purpose and our privilege as children of God.
Conclusion: Christ in You, the Hope of Glory
Chapter 4 of The Green Letters offers a liberating truth: God’s purpose for us is not rooted in our efforts but in His eternal plan to conform us to the image of His Son. Through failure, trials, and daily dependence, we are transformed into His likeness.
This process invites us to rest, trust, and rejoice in His sovereign work, knowing that “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6). Let us fix our eyes on Jesus and allow Him to do His perfect work in us, for His glory and our ultimate joy.