Foundation Series
SPC – Week No.4
26 Oct 2005
Foundation Series – 4 weeks
Week No.1
• God and I
• Sin & Grace
Week No.2
• Transformation & Repentance
• Faith vs Worry
Week No.3
• Restoration Plea – The Attitude
• The Pattern – Tupos
• The search for the True Seed
Week No.4
• Covenants
• Loving the Unlovable
Covenants
• Covenant - a commitment or agreement between two or
more parties. The emphasis is on a commitment to
relationship and not "what can I get out of you" as in a
business contract. Each party of the covenant is to do
his or her part.
• Covenant is the best word to describe marriage.
• What is the difference between:
– a contract to buy a house; and
– a marriage covenant?
Covenants
• The relationship between God and His people is
described as a marriage:
– His bride is the church. Jer.3:14; 2Cor.11:2; Rev.21:9
• Breaking our covenant with God is spiritual adultery. Can
you think of specific examples as to how we may break
our covenant?
• Testament and will are are also used to refer to covenant
• Two covenants
– Old Testament
– New Testament
Old Testament - Mosaic Age
• Jews called the Old Covevant collectively as The Law
• The Law contains the 10 Commandments and all the Old
Testament practices mentioned in Exodus and Leviticus
eg. Ex. 20, 24:1-8
• In Exodus, the Law was given to the Israelites through
Moses. The Law is also referred by scholar as Mosaic
law or The Law of Moses.
• The Old law was temporary. Jeremiah prophesied the
coming of a new Covenant
– Jer.31:31-34 and Heb. 8:8-12
• The Old Covenant was between
– God and the nation of Israel
New Testament – Christian Age
• New Covenant is between God and individuals
• Old Covenant ended when Jesus fulfilled it when He was
nailed to the cross. The Old law was nailed to the cross
at the same time.
– Heb. 9:15-17; 10:9
• Old Testament is a tutor
– to teach us what is sin and trangression until Christ come
– Gal. 3:19
– to lead us to Christ Gal.3:24
• What happens when we bind ourselves to the Old
Laws?
– Gal. 3:10
Loving the Unlovable
• A summary – applying what we have learnt
1. Sin – missing the point(harmatia) set by God
2. Repentance – shifting our minds(metanoia) back to
God's way when we realise we have missed the point
3. Faith – the assuarance of the things hoped for;
conviction of things which you have not seen. Faith
gives you the courage to step into the unknown - we
dare to repent !!
Loving the Unlovable
4. The conviction and assurance are based on our belief in
– God's existence
– He is able to reward those who earnestly seek Him (His
omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, eternalness and
immutability in His attributes(fruit of the Spirit))
5. We have the Way – We have the same power that
resurrected Jesus. He has provided the Holy Spirit our
Helper(Paraclete).
6. The Fruit of the Spirit – a result/effect/fruit of allowing
God's Spirit working in us through His Word
• We live in an imperfect world of sins and mistakes.
• The Word of God is powerful because it works in an
imperfect world , empowering imperfect people to bear
the fruit of the Spirit with His help.
examples of Unlovable
• The people who we consider as unlovable have many
names:
– enemy,
– anyone who bullies me, make me lose face
– makes my life miserable, sarcastic, illtreat me,
– "some people",socalled Christians , relatives , irritating people,
rude, greedy people, etc.
• People who you find it hard to share good things with.
• Try to recall the above 6 points as you go through the
lesson below
A transformed life – Romans 12
• v1 A priest offers sacrifices to God. Christians are of the
Royal Priesthood. We bring offerings to God also. Our
offering to God is ourselves - our bodies - our way of life.
• v2 What should we not do?
How to be transformed?
Then you will be able to do what?
• v 3 Should we think highly of ourselves?
How should we think of ourselves?
• v4-8 Gifts/talents from God are to to be shared with one
another
A transformed life – Romans 12
v9-21 The transformed life is detailed in these verses
– The kind of love
– Our attitude towards evil
– The way we treat our brethren
– The way we serve the Lord
– Our attitude in serving the Lord
– Our attitude when facing troubles in life
– Our attitude towards prayers
– How to have emphathy for others
– How to treat your enemy
– What if your enemy does not want to make peace
– What if your enemy comes to you for help
– The bottom line v 21
Conclusion
Do not worry what you do not know,
obey what you do know