The main purpose of the Bible is to transform us into the image of Christ.
Why was the Bible written? The Bible was written to reveal Jesus Christ to us. In Colossians 1:15, Paul writes that Christ is “is the image of the invisible God”. He is the Word of God (John 1:1-14). Jesus reveals God to us just like a person’s words reveal his invisible thoughts. Yet, most psychologists agree that a person’s thoughts and his speech (his word, what he says) are one and the same thing. One is the expression of the other. More than that, speaking completes and complements the thought and the thought enhances speaking. So they are two sides of the same coin. So is Jesus and God.
Why did Jesus need to be revealed to us? So we can behold Jesus, so we can know him. When we know him, we know the father, when we have seen him, we have seen the father (John 14:7-14).
Why do we need to behold him? So that we can be transformed into the image of Christ. Transformation is the the reason. Take a look at what is written in the scriptures:
“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son” Romans 8:29 NASB
“Â And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NASB
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
So God predestined us to be conformed into the image of Christ (Rom 8:29) and Paul warns us not to do the opposite and be conformed to this world (Rom. 12:2). He tells us how to be conformed to the image of Christ. We do that by renewing our minds. How do we renew our minds? He answers that question in 2 Cor. 3:18. We renew our minds by beholding the glory of Jesus Christ in the Bible. When we behold him in the Bible, we are transformed into the same image as Christ. Then we will know God’s will for our lives.
The work of the Christian is not to labor for righteousness. It has been given to us. Our work is to labor to enter God’s rest by faith (to fight the good fight of faith) and simply behold Jesus in his word and be transformed by beholding.
Even in the physical world, there is a corollary of this principle. If a child grows up watching a lot of violence, listening to a lot of foul language, they begin to speak foul language and many times they become violent. Many people who abuse others were themselves abused. They are changed into those things by beholding. But for us, we have the holy spirit who helps with the transformation into the image of Christ when we behold. He is the catalyst of the reaction of beholding Christ that converts us into the final product which is the image of Christ. He is not only the catalyst, he is the limiting reagent as well.
Now that you know the purpose of the Bible (our transformation) and know the subject of the Bible (Jesus Christ), look for him and behold his glory in the Bible so that you can be transformed into his image.
