New Life : Extreme Makeover
Rev. Warren Lai
May 8, 2005
(I) God’s Plan & Design
• God’s wonderful plan= our destiny
• Meant for & attainable by allnot just the elitewhoever has
new-life-in-Christ
God’s Design & Promise 2 Pet. 1:3
• [Christ has accomplished for us] “through … Him” “… has (already) granted to us …”
• [our appropriation to make it concrete] “… knowledge (of Christ) …” επιγνωσκω experiential knowledge
• “everything• that we need for life & godliness” esp in 2 areas: “His glory & goodness”
The Goal of God’s Design 2 Pet. 1:4
• “so that … ” purpose & goal of
giving us the promise (v.3)
• (the positive side) “to share in” = the divine nature / virtues / character
• (the negative side) “to escape” = the corruption in the world - caused by
evil desires / nature / character
(I) God’s Plan & Design
(II) Going into the depthsof life: our Character
(II) Going into the depthsof life: our Character
• Beyond doings, actions on the outside
• But our very beings, a ‘metamorphosis’ of our lives = a change in the very nature deep inside
Rm. 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world,
But be transformedby the renewing of your mind…
• offer yourselves asa living sacrifice
• do not be con-formedconfined & tied up
• be trans-formed (meta-morphoo -word used in ‘transfiguration, 2Cor.3:18)
change in the deepest partchange in the very nature
(II) Going into the depthsof life: our Character
(I) God’s Plan & Design
(III) Reaching into to all areas of life: every Virtues
(III) Reaching into to all areas of life: every Virtues
• As it is an out-flow of our Nature/ our Character, it reaches into all areas of life.
• As it reaches into all areas of life, it requires the adaptability of:
learning, discernment, wisdom
Proverbs 1:1-7 The proverbs of Solomon:
To know wisdom & instructionTo discern the sayings of understandingTo receive instruction in wise behavior
righteousness, justice & integrity
To give prudence to the naïveTo the youth, knowledge & discretionAs for the wise, he hears
- to increase his knowledgeAnd a man of understanding
will acquire wise counselTo understand …
“To …” Purpose & Goal
To understand proverbs parables words of the wise paradox
The awe of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
Only a fool would despise wisdom and instructions
:2 Overview :2a = character & nature
:2b = spirit of learning
:2 Overview :2a = character & nature
:2b = spirit of learning
:3 = character & nature
:4-5 = learning community
:6 = spirit of learning
:7 = the key & ultimate goal
:2 Overview :2a = character & nature
:2b = spirit of learning
:3 = character & nature
:4-5 = learning community
:6 = spirit of learning
:7 = the key & ultimate goal
(A) Nature & Character 1:2a :3
• beyond head knowledge - but concrete, experiential knowledge
• wisdom & ‘instruction’ = coaching, mentoring
• especially in: wise behavior righteousness justice integrity
Ingredientsof
character
:2 Overview :2a = character & nature
:2b = spirit of learning
:3 = character & nature
:4-5 = learning community
:6 = spirit of learning
:7 = the key & ultimate goal
(B) Spirit of Learning 1:2b :6
To understand proverbs parables words of the wise paradox
All forms & kinds – they will not be barriers
To discern the sayings of understanding
:2 Overview :2a = character & nature
:2b = spirit of learning
:3 = character & nature
:4-5 = learning community
:6 = spirit of learning
:7 = the key & ultimate goal
(C) The Learning Community 1:4-5
• the naïve = those with little potential• the youth = those with little experience• as for the wise …
he is wise enough to be eager, to increase his knowledge even furtherProv. 9:9
“ Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser; Teach a righteous man And he will increase his learning.”
:2 Overview :2a = character & nature
:2b = spirit of learning
:3 = character & nature
:4-5 = learning community
:6 = spirit of learning
:7 = the key & ultimate goal
(D) The Key & Ultimate Result ofLearning & Wisdom 1:7
• Both the key to any true knowledge & wisdom
• And the ultimate result of any true knowledge & wisdom
(II) Going into the depthsof life: our Character
(I) God’s Plan & Design
(III) Reaching into to all areas of life: every Virtues
(IV) Dynamic process: from exercising the virtues to formation of the character
(IV) The Dynamic process: from the exercising of the virtues to the formation of the character
The formation of the character is:• not a status that
we can establish once-&-for-all
• but a state that requires our moment-by-momentcommitment to maintain
The formation of the character is:• a state that progresses & grows
with each committalthat requires practice &
discipline
2Pet.1:10-11, 4“… Be all the more diligent, … as long as you practice these things, … you will enter abundantly into the Kingdom.”“ Through these … we may sharein the divine character.”
• also a state that has no bound in its growth
(II) Going into the depthsof life: our Character
(I) God’s Plan & Design
(III) Reaching into to all areas of life: every Virtues
(IV) Dynamic process: from exercising the virtues to formation of the character
Top Related