The Pure Milk of the Word

sermonindex Jul 5, 2014

2 Peter 2:1-2
Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect of salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

I am stunned by the simplicity of Peter`s exhortation. He tells his hearers to put aside all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander in their lives. In other words to put sin away.

But then Peter encourages his hearers to long for the pure milk of the word as a new born baby. Peter probably was remembering the words of Jesus who said unless you become like a little child you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

A new born infant will crave the milk from its mother's breast. The infant will not stop to analyse the the chemical content of the milk. But will drink it as it provides life for its body.

Should we not approach the word in the same way?. Should we not read it or listen to it? Just drink it in to provide life for our soul. Why do we need to do inductive chapter analysis or word studies? Why not just read it, listen to it, wash over us? Provide the quenching of our thirst for Him who is the Word.

Peter tells us to.long for the pure milk of the word. An infant will not grow on watered down milk. A mother's pure milk from her breast is far superior to baby formula for an infant to grow.

Yet we water down the word with the opinions and theologies of men. Certain theologians, church fathers, preachers, theological systems, etc become far more desirable than the pure milk of the word. Indeed those caught up on such systems often dis those who read the New Testament alone.

I remember watching a video where Chinese believers got their first Bible. When the box of Bibles were open these precious saints thought it was Christmas. They ran and got a Bible. They would hold it, caress it, and kiss it To them it was precious food from heaven for the soul.

But what if that box had been open and their would have been Calvin's Institutes or some other theological works. I think.their would have been great disappointment.

The persecuted in N. Korea will long for and crave the word so much they will die to own a copy of scripture. Pray tell what does this say to us in this forum where we debate the word.

I only pray that God have mercy on us. That we repent. And be as a new born baby longing for and craving His pure word.

Bearmaster

sermonindex Jul 5, 2014

Brother Blaine,

Amen in regards to this wonderful verse of Scripture. One comment I would like to make is that first the early Church used the Old Testament as their main source of Scripture. Secondly the purpose of the Scriptures is to bring us into worship and reality with the person of God. The Scriptures are not an end in themselves. a

There are godly traditions that were followed and believed by the Apostles and followers of Christ.

The verse says as newborn infants to desire the basic "milk" of the word that we can "grow." Hebrews speaks of the "meat" of the word of those able to discern between righteousness and unrighteousness. So may we grow!

P

PaulWest Jul 5, 2014

(As I write this I wonder what our Reformed brethren wound make of this).

Was this comment really necessary to add? It actually defeats the whole point you are trying to make and turns everything "sour" - which, by the way, milk can also become.

sermonindex Jul 5, 2014

Paul I apologize for the offending remark and removed it. But I have noticed when I have posted OP`s about our need to be in the word, particularly the New Testament, you tend to oppose me on this.

I find this puzzling since you have often said if you gave a New Testament to a person in a foreign culture. And that person read the New Testament would they come to the same religious convictions we hold so dear on the BibleÂ belt.

Blaine

P

PaulWest Jul 5, 2014

But I have noticed when I have posted OP`s about our need to be in the word, particularly the New Testament, you tend to oppose me on this.

Brother, I was actually enjoying your post until I came to the reformed brethren zinger. I do not oppose you or anyone else reminding us of our need to be in the word of God; what I oppose is when it is done in a legalistic, condemning way that puts people under a guilt trip. I oppose it because for many years I suffered under the weight of such straw-to-brick making, but once I was able to see that Pharoah was not the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit was not Pharoah, I entered into rest and grew in grace and in understanding of God's Word exponentially.

I find this puzzling since you have often said if you gave a New Testament to a person in a foreign culture. And that person read the New Testament would they come to the same religious convictions we hold so dear on the Bible belt.

It is true that I've put tremendous emphasis on reading the New Testament in particular, for that is where we find the substance of the New Covenant whereas in the OT we find all the shadows. But reading the Old Testament is also tremendously important if we are to gain a richer understanding of what God has afforded us in the New. My point is that Christian spiritual exercise should never be done out of compulsion, guilty necessity, or fear of what people (or God for that matter) will think about you if you don't clock enough hours in the prayer closet or bent over a book.

For the record, I agree with the OP for the most part. I also like what Greg had to say. If the swipe at reformed brethren hadn't been there, I would have just passed by and not said anything.

Brother Paul

sermonindex Jul 5, 2014

Greg it appears that 1 Peter 2:2 is more of an attitude of how we should approach the word. I do not know if he is making a distinction between milk and meet.

But none the less we need to be in the word to grow in respect to salvation in Jesus.

Granted the scriptures are not an end in themselves. They testify of Christ. But then we cannot grow in Christ without the scriptures.

I only emphasize the New Testament as it is the clearer revelation in the flow of redemptive history.

Blaine

B

brothagary Jul 5, 2014

good post

what i find a bit anoying is that if i believe in the sovernty of god and the bodage of will a type of sourvern election ,,im denomilisiad and branded a reformed brother who pays to much atention to theoligy ,,,when i disoverd my views from scripture and solidafied them with some times 4 to 6 hours of bibles readings in a day ,,never read calvin or luther

we need to watch out we arent the ones creating a denominational mind set in the opasite direction ,,by seeing other blood bought christian as some our not in our camp due to minor doctrines like that ,,even a non denominal brother can set up the fences around is own personly theoligy and project this view as being no denominal ,,but in essence it is just as devisive as any denoination

i think all veiws should be expressed and expounded from scripture in our congragation and let owr own minds decide through prayer and bible study what we want to believe

like a brother said mark i think he said it humbles him and he learns to listen ,,when he sits in a reformed gathering

when we get to the pint and feel we can fellwoship with a calvinist and a carsmatiic ,,or an strait talking ariminian ,,,we are then the verry problem we see in others

we are all the product or the shisim from the catholic ,,,and that is realy the camp we are in , and that is whare the line is drawn and the fences have been erected ,, on deviding doctrines ,,we dont need any more fences

sermonindex Jul 5, 2014

Ignatius to the Philadelphians

St. Ignatius of Antioch (35 -117)

Chapter IX.-The Old Testament is Good: the New Testament is Better.

The priests indeed, and the ministers of the word, are good; but the High Priest is better, to whom the holy of holies has been committed, and who alone has been entrusted with the secrets of God. The ministering powers of God are good. The Comforter is holy, and the Word is holy, the Son of the Father, by whom He made all things, and exercises a providence over them all. This is the Way which leads to the Father, the Rock, the Defence the Key, the Shepherd, the Sacrifice, the Door of knowledge, through which have entered Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, Moses and all the company of the prophets, and these pillars of the world, the apostles, and the spouse of Christ, on whose account He poured out His own blood, as her marriage portion, that He might redeem her. All these things tend towards the unity of the one and only true God. But the Gospel possesses something transcendent [above the former dispensation], viz. the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, His passion, and the resurrection itself. For those things which the prophets announced, saying, "Until He come for whom it is reserved, and He shall be the expectation of the Gentiles," have been fulfilled in the Gospel, [our Lord saying, ] "Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." All then are good together, the law, the prophets, the apostles, the whole company [of others] that have believed through them: only if we love one another.

O

Oracio Jul 6, 2014

I agree that the Word of God must be the main thing that we study above all else. We must make time for it each day and meditate on it day and night. Yet there is a place for learning from gifted teachers of the Word with whom God has blessed us. Ephesians 4:11-12 says, "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

Some Christians are opposed to the use of commentaries because they say it is not allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us directly. Yet if we follow that line of reasoning to it's logical conclusion, it would mean doing away with sermons, because sermons are like commentaries on the Word of God from men, they are teachings of the Word. It would mean doing away with websites like this. And it would mean doing away with discussion forums like this because they too are teachings of the Word, like commentaries.

"It seems odd, that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to themselves, should think so little of what he has revealed to others. My chat this afternoon is not for these great originals, but for you who are content to learn of holy men, taught of God, and mighty in the Scriptures. It has been the fashion of late years to speak against the use of commentaries…A respectable acquaintance with the opinions of the giants of the past, might have saved many an erratic thinker from wild interpretations and outrageous inferences” (C H Spurgeon).

B

brothagary Jul 6, 2014

exactly oraco that whar that logic must led

sermonindex Jul 6, 2014

Gary respectfully brother I probably spend as much time in the word as you and come to a different conclusion. But since these discussions are frowned on in the forum we may have to lovingly agree to disagree on a certain theological system.

I might add I was in this system for several years before a simple reading of the New Testament brought me out of it.

Blessing to you bro. Appreciate your love for the truth.

Bear

sermonindex Jul 6, 2014

Brethren I am reminded of a comment by Richard Wormbrandt regarding the word of God. It went something line this.

Jesus is the Word of God. The Bible is the word about the Word. A commentary is a word about the word about the Word. A sermon is a word about the word about the word about the Word.

I probably did not get the exact quote right. But I think you get the picture.

Best to stay in the pure milk of the word itself. For this is how we grow.

My thoughts.

Bear.

M

MaryJane Jul 6, 2014

Greetings

While I do agree it is important to be reading the BIBLE each day and seeking to grow in HIM. I do also believe there are no limitations to the other many resources GOD uses to teach us and grow us who HE has for us to be. I have been blessed, challenged, and seen growth in my own walk by the words given and shared here on SI, by the writings of those who have gone before as well as those who are here with us now.So many times things everyday men and woman who come to the site and post have blessed me. I have come to appreciate that GOD uses the WORD to teach me, HE uses others to teach me, HE uses life to teach me. I find if I keep my eyes on HIM, walking with HIM then there is always a teachable moment happening and it does not matter where I am or what I am doing. The HOLY SPIRIT has no boundaries and GOD has no limits.

God bless
maryjane

T

TMK Jul 6, 2014

I was listening to a Bible teacher I really like the other day and he was saying how he values commentaries but does not like his Bible to have notes, or commentary, in it. The Bible should be just the word of God. If you want a commentary you should have to put your Bible down (or go to another screen).

I think this is great advice. When I was 16 my grandma gave me a Ryrie study Bible for my b-day. It's the one I wanted because my youth pastor recommended it.

Looking back I got much of my theology not from the Word but from the copious notes explaining almost every verse.

Over the years my theology on some pretty major topics differs from that expressed in that study Bible. I wish now that I had just read the word alone without the notes.

O

Oracio Jul 6, 2014

TMK I agree with that advice. The Word itself should be separate and we should not go straight to commentaries or sermons without first allowing the Word itself to speak to us directly. But once we read and meditate on a given passage there is nothing wrong with consulting other aids. That shows a teachable spirit and the Lord blesses that. I think it's interesting sometimes to hear Bible teachers discourage the use of commentaries. I think to myself, "If you don't believe I should learn from Bible commentaries, why should I learn from your Bible teaching which is similar?" In other words, "Why do you yourself try to teach others the Word if you don't believe we should learn from such aids?"

sermonindex Jul 6, 2014

I agree that the Word of God must be the main thing that we study above all else. We must make time for it each day and meditate on it day and night. Yet there is a place for learning from gifted teachers of the Word with whom God has blessed us. Ephesians 4:11-12 says, "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

The Word of God is not an end in itself. It speaks of a person. Once read the Bible memorize it, claim its facts but not have its life. Do we know Jesus Christ personally. Do we worship God with our entire body, soul and spirit? This is why the Bible does not just say belief but there is action with our belief including calls to gather as the Church, Lord's Supper, Baptism, etc. The Lord is to be experienced and worshipped and that does not happen through simply reading the Bible, it goes beyond that.

I have come to meet the God of the Word. Otherwise we will only hear of the God of the Bible and not experience Him.

John 17:3 to Know God is eternal life not to read about Him. So again the Word of God is simply a means to a more important Person. Yet of course the Word of God is the most valuable possession we have on this earthly sphere.

O

Oracio Jul 6, 2014

sermonindex writes:

The Word of God is not an end in itself. It speaks of a person. Once read the Bible memorize it, claim its facts but not have its life. Do we know Jesus Christ personally. Do we worship God with our entire body, soul and spirit? This is why the Bible does not just say belief but there is action with our belief including calls to gather as the Church, Lord's Supper, Baptism, etc. The Lord is to be experienced and worshipped and that does not happen through simply reading the Bible, it goes beyond that.
I have come to meet the God of the Word. Otherwise we will only hear of the God of the Bible and not experience Him.
John 17:3 to Know God is eternal life not to read about Him. So again the Word of God is simply a means to a more important Person. Yet of course the Word of God is the most valuable possession we have on this earthly sphere.

I completely agree with all of that. My main emphasis was regarding the use of time when it comes down to reading or studying God's Word. Yes, an intimate relationship with Christ is the main thing we must have above reading or studying the Bible, for without that first and foremost our learning about the Bible is in vain. Yet, once we have that intimate relationship the Lord commands us to get into His Word and meditate on it day and night if we have it in our possession. And the Lord has given to His Church gifted teachers to help provide helpful insights into His Word.

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."-2Tim.2:15

sermonindex Jul 6, 2014

Brethren many in nations that are hostile to the gospel do not have access to commentaries or Bible teachers. If these saints are blessed to possess even a portion of scriptures all they have is the Holy Spirit to teach them.

In our churches today there is a quenching of the Holy Spirit. Even a denying of His teaching role to the exposition of the word by seminarians. Because these men have come out of a leading seminary we accord more credit to them then to what the Holy Spirit may show a humble saint who prayerfully reads or listens to the word.

Some have made reference to Eph.4:11-12. In these verses Paul mentions that God has given to the church apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors, and teachers. Yet these are giftings of the Holy Spirit. Just because one has received a seminary degree does not make him a Bible teacher.

Men such as John Bunyon or D. L. Moody did not possess seminary degrees. Yet these men knew the word of God and were incredible preachers and prayer warriors in their day. It was said of Bumyon if you cut him he would bleed scripture.

The Anabaptists were so steeped in the word that they confounded the Catholic and Reformed theologians in debates over believers baptism. Denny Kenniston has noted that the Anabaptist saints always had an open New Testament near by. I once was part of a church where an open commentary was preferred over the open word.

The downside of commentaries and Bible expositions is we depend more on them then on the Holy Spirit to teach us about Christ.

Blaine

P

PaulWest Jul 6, 2014

I have come to meet the God of the Word. Otherwise we will only hear of the God of the Bible and not experience Him.

This is the difference between the letter of the law and the Spirit of life. Did you know there are two trees in the Bible? One is the tree of knowledge; the other is the tree of life. Depending on which tree you feed from, it can either transform you into a saint or a pharisee. This is why I never get excited when I hear about how much time a person "spends" in the word. Under which tree they are spending their time?

Both trees yield fruit, but only one brings true Christ-conformity. The other tree, the tree of knowledge, actually brings death. Legalistic believers love to use the scriptures as a weapon, having filled their bellies with the wrong kind of fruit. The tree of knowledge bears fruit that puffs you up; the tree of life bears fruit that deflates you and magnifies Christ. It makes us small, so we can fit through the eye of a needle, and so we can receive the grace of God to overcome temptation, bad habits, selfishness, unbelief - and ultimately become more and more like Jesus Christ in every fiber of our being.

The amazing thing is that when you partake of the tree of life, you don't need to keep gorging yourself. You just need to eat it once and get it into your spirit by obeying it. Now, the other fruit, from the tree of knowledge, needs to be gorged over and over again lest it escapes your mind and you forget it. These are good tests to see if you're eating from the tree of knowledge:

1. If you're forcing yourself to remember verses, via index cards or witty mnemonics, because they keep alluding your mind.

2. If you find yourself coming under guilt and possible condemation because you missed a day or two of reading the Word.

3. If you find your Bible reading laborious and forced.

4. If a preacher or teacher makes you feel worthless to God because you don't read the Bible as often as you should, especially on account of believers in repressed countries who do not own Bibles.

5. If you pride yourself for being able to fire off categorically-memorized scripture passages, replete with the chapter and verse in order to win a debate or make yourself appear "spiritual".

Conversely, when you eat the fruit from the tree of life, you get the life of Jesus Christ built up in you and none of these silly things matter. In fact, the exact opposite is often exhibited in many of the above points: You begin to shun Bible debates; index cards have no effect; preachers and teachers who operate in the letter of the law (i.e. the tree of knowledge) are exposed by the Holy Spirit and henceforth avoided; Bible reading is spontaneous, natural, joyous, unforced and never by the clock. When you come to the Word of God as the tree of life, there is rest. Prayer naturally follows the reading, like perfume.

You have no idea how many people get furious when I teach these things. It is only about knowing Christ more deeply, more intimately, more completely. The way you approach the scriptures will either bring you to Him, or drive you away.

B

brothagary Jul 6, 2014

that was exactly my point blain ,,,that we can spend much time feeding on scripture ,,and come to totally different conclusion ,, with out the influence of commentary's

I think also you need to make a distinction between the gifts of the holy spirit ,,and the offices of the holy spirit

I don't think we should look down and be divisive towards those who feel called to go to a seminary where a gifted teacher might reside,,,,the us and them ,,im better casue I don't go to a seminary I just rellie on the bible attitude is steeped heavily in pride and we must repnt of thinking like that,,,,im speaking generly not at any one

blessings