Bible Food by Degree

Bible food by Degree

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” (1 Peter 2:2)

This passage is directed to new converts who have only recently trusted God’s enduring Word. They must mature on simple truths in God’s word before moving to more complicated issues. 1 Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. Christians cannot forsake learning and remain babes on milk. There is a responsibility for them to learn, grow in faith and present the Word to others.

Because of this miracle of regeneration just experienced, a new Christian must now “lay aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies” (1 Peter 2:1) and partake—as babes—of the “milk of sincerity.” The word for “sincere” means, literally, “without guile,” so he/she must now build all future growth in his/her new life—not on the lusts of the flesh, but on the Word of God.

The ‘word’ must be explained. It is not the usual word for “word” (Greek, logos), but a closely related word (logikos) from which we get our words “logic” and “logical.” It is only used two times in the New Testament. We meet it again when it is used to mean “reasonable” in a passage dealing with “your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

Thus, Peter is talking about partaking of a spiritual milk which is both logical and simple. This can be nothing else than the incorruptible, eternal, regenerating Word of God, and the living Word (Jesus Christ) revealed therein. A friend of mine once said after being converted: “I feel like I have a baby Jesus in my heart.” He did not know the power of this concept.

As these truths are known of His Word they also are true of our Lord. The Scriptures are not full of secret meanings which only specially trained interpreters can fathom. They are sincere, meaning precisely what they say! Neither are they naive and unscientific, but fully logical and correct in everything they say. Therefore, they are genuine spiritual nourishment for babes in Christ and will certainly enable them to “grow thereby.” Know God, know peace. Amen 06-09-2019 Bll