Babe in Christ

According to Scripture,what are the characteristics of a christian who is a "babe in Christ?"

In Christ
Jeff

rookie wrote:
According to Scripture,what are the characteristics of a christian who is a "babe in Christ?"

In Christ
Jeff

What I could find, Jeff:

[color=993300] Hebrews 5:5. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
6. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
7. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
8. Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
10. Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
11. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
12. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

1 Peter 2:1. Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.[/color]

Blessings,

Forrest

Sis quoted:

11. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

The writer of Hebrews attributes "dull of hearing" to those who are babes in Christ.

Anyone have an idea on what the writer means by "dull of hearing?"

In Christ
Jeff

Sis also quoted from Peter...

2. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

How is "dull of hearing" and the exhortation of Peter, "desire the SINCERE milk of the word," connected?

In Christ
Jeff

Dull of hearing.

I believe it's referring to the hearing of the voice of God. Throughout Acts, numerous believers, not just the Apostles, heard the voice of God.(Acts 9:10 "Now there was a disciple at Damascus named [b]Ananias;[/b] and [u]the Lord said to him[/u] in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord.") This was unlike the Old Covenant. Someone would have to go to a prophet to learn of God's will.

Now, we read Scripture and follow His Spirit.

'Babe' in Christ is just that. Needs to be trained and helped. After time, the 'child in Christ' grows and can be 'self-sufficent' or 'self-substaining'.

Now by 'self' I do NOT mean 100% 'self' because it's ALL through His Spirit that we truly GROW in Him. But His Spirit works through others when we are young, weither they are leading a bible study or just being a personal mentor. After time when someone is 'mature in Christ' they will dig deep in the Word, pray for others, and help the 'new babes in Christ'.

It's an awesome circular theme, the Lord has designed. Praise the Good Father of Heaven! 8-)

lovegrace wrote:

I believe it's referring to the hearing of the voice of God. Throughout Acts, numerous believers, not just the Apostles, heard the voice of God.(Acts 9:10 "Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord.") This was unlike the Old Covenant. Someone would have to go to a prophet to learn of God's will.

Have you ever considered what this section of Scripture teaches...it is similar to what you said above...

Job 33:

14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. 19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: 20 So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. 21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. 22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. 23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: 24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. 25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth: 26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness. 27 He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; 28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. 29 Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, 30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

Throughout Scripture, we find that God speaks in these ways to man.

Now, we read Scripture and follow His Spirit.

How does God enable us to "follow His Spirit."

God Bless
In Christ
Jeff

Brother Christopher wrote:

These I personally feel are relevant to this topic, Although you know them, they are good no matter how many times heard.

I would like to make this distinction on the Scripture you point to...

As a father, there was a time where my children were totally dependent on me and my wife for there well being. They believed everything we said. We were their all in all. Now as they have grown older, they also see our shortcomings. We are no longer perfect in their eyes.

When Jesus spoke of the nature of a child like faith, He was speaking to this idea of how a child sees his father and mother and believes everything that the parents tell them.

So it is that we should all submit in the same way. Yet Scripture also teaches that a "babe in Christ" lives in a condition of life where he or she has not learned to follow the Spirit. This attribute is pointed to in Hebrews as being "dull of hearing."

Does that make sense?

In Christ
Jeff

Hebrews 5:

13. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Dull of hearing and being unskilled "in the word of righteousness" go together. How?

In Christ
Jeff

Brother Chistopher wrote:

My common sense tells me, if one is dull of hearing, one has not matured into the ways of the spirit yet, so are still unskilled because the spirit has not yet to reveal all unrighteousness and righteous truths.

Hbr 5:13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
Hbr 5:14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

In this diagnosis found in Hebrews, one who uses the word of righteousness in their daily life will be given the ability to discern what is of God and what is of Satan.

Peter exhorts us...

1Pe 2:1 THEREFORE, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,
1Pe 2:2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby;

All of the qualities found in verse 1: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and evil speaking find it's source in Satan's dominion.

In verse 2, we are encouraged to "desire the pure milk of the word" which will enables us to "grow" spiritually.

As we feed on the Scriptures, the Spirit of God will reveal to us the intents of our heart, either convicting or confirming that these intentions are of Satan or God. "By reason of use," our ears are opened to the hearing of God's voice. Our ears as "babes in Christ" have not been exercised in this way.

God Bless
In Christ
Jeff

Paul also teaches us about those who are 'babes in Christ."

1Cr 3:1 AND I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.
1Cr 3:2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;
1Cr 3:3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

Like the attributes mentioned by Peter, we find that there exists the same attributes spoken of here in Paul's epistle to the Corinthian church. Again we see mentioned here in Scripture that many members of the Corinthian church are still in captivity to manifestations of envy, strife, and division. They are not able to discern the evil. They have not grown, but remain tossed to and fro by the manifestations that Satan has grown in their flesh. They have not desired the pure milk of the word. They have not grown spiritually. Paul states that they have remained dependent on their old ways and not the ways of God. We see that Scripture states that babes in Christ are carnally influenced and thus afflicted by this bondage.

In Christ
Jeff

Is. 7:13 Then he said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. 15 Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings.

We often see this section of Scripture fulfilled in the birth of Christ. Yet there is more, much more to this than a one time event. There comes understanding in the ways of God and man.

Have you ever meditated on what this Scripture means to man...

15 Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.

What does this say of man's position in the spiritual world?

In Christ
Jeff

How does God enable one to ....

"know to refuse the evil and choose the good."

In Christ
Jeff

brother wrote:

the Spirit of truth, also the Spirit of God.

By what means does God provide for man to recognize His Spirit, His truth?

In Christ
Jeff

It is more than the blood, for the blood reconciles us to God.

1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

His word gives to us the Life that saves. The power of His word renews us daily, transforming and conforming us into the image of His Son...

God Bless
Jeff