new life : extreme makeover

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


(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



(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



: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

(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

(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.”

(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




(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




(IV) Dynamic process: from exercising the virtues to formation of the character

new life : extreme makeover

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