In the New Testament, the meaning of the Christian life is laced throughout Paul’s teaches to the Gentiles. Though Paul made it clear that he was an apostle called of God and sent to the Gentiles, Paul did not view his calling as an apostle as the great purpose for his Christian life.

Paul’s pursuit was to know Christ, and to be conformed to the likeness of Christ. And for Paul this was the “high calling” of which he was in pursuit.

Consider Paul’s words from the book of Philippians:

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 3:12-14

Forgetting those things that are past is contextually a reference to those things mentioned by Paul in the previous verses of which he could have boasted. Paul had many credentials to boast in.

Yet Paul considered these things as nothing in comparison to “knowing Christ”, which Paul considered to be the prize and high calling for which he was called.

Unlike so many today who parade themselves as apostles and prophets, suducing their followers with the proverbial “carrot of destiny on a stick”, Paul’s view of the meaning of the Christian experience was found in knowing Christ: a pursuit that is basically non-existent among the “purpose and destiny” preachers.