The first purpose is seen in I Timothy 2:3-4, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
The second purpose is seen in Romans 8:29, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
The preaching of the gospel, Jesus Christ and Him crucified, is a means to save the lost. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the study of the word of God, and church attendance are the means to bring conformity about in the believer.
The Holy Spirit, who is a member of the Triune Godhead, is at work bringing conviction of sin to the unredeemed and He is revealing Christ, to the redeemed. So the Holy Spirit leads sinners to repentance that they may be saved. Then the Holy Spirit works in the believer to conform them to Christ.
Of these two purposes of God, I want to focus on the second purpose, conformity to Christ, ...
