SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD

1 Peter 2:2-3 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that he may grow thereby. If so be that ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

One of the greatest experiences a husband and wife will ever achieve is childbirth. Very few things, if any, are more precious than a newborn baby. The new parents beam with pride as they watch every action of their new baby. Grandparents, as well as the whole family, are overjoyed with the new addition. Much thought was probably given in selecting the name for the child. In most instances, clothing had been obtained, diapers and other supplies purchased, beds, sheets, and blankets were ready and waiting for the new arrival to come home. And generally, with the advice of their pediatrician, the parents had decided whether to feed the newborn child mother's milk or its best substitute. To a certain extent, all other needs of the baby are arbitrary, but milk is essential to the early growth of the child.

Peter uses the physical birth of a child, to teach us how one becomes a child of God. In 1 Peter 1:23, he says, Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. This teaching did not originate with Peter. He could have very well learned it from Jesus as He answered the questions of a Pharisee named Nicodemus. Jesus told him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3b). On this new birth, Jesus states further, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (Vs. 5b). To distinguish between physical and spiritual birth, Jesus adds in verse 6 and 7, That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.

The first birth we experience is when we are physically born into the world - born of the flesh. The second birth is spiritual in its nature. We experience this birth when we obey God's plan of salvation and are baptized into the body of Christ - being born of water and of the Spirit. The first sermon preached invited men and women to become born again. Peter and the other eleven apostles delivered it on the Day of Pentecost. Initially, three thousand souls received this rebirth. Acts 2:41 says, Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. As the apostles continued proclaiming the gospel message of salvation, it says in verse 47 that the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Not only did they receive a new birth, but they were also born into a new family - the church - the body of Christ. The apostle Paul, writing to the Christians of Rome, said that we are the children of God (Romans 8:16b), and refers to them, in chapter 7, verse 1, as brethren. Our new family, then, is made up of those that have been added to the church of Christ. All members are brothers and sisters in Christ's body, the church. The new family was given a new name - they were called Christians first at Antioch (Acts 11:26c). Here we have a child of God, that, through belief and baptism for the remission of sins, has experienced a new birth, born into a new family, the church of Christ, and has received a new name, Christian. We can see that many aspects of being born again are similar to the physical birth of a child.

This new child of God, this new babe in Christ, needs food to grow. A new food is provided. A newborn baby needs milk at the beginning of life for good, healthy growth. Solid foods come later as the child continues its growth process. Likewise, the newborn child of God needs milk. Our lesson text teaches that this new food should be the sincere milk of the word. It is sincere - it is pure and unadulterated; not mixed with the words and wisdom of mankind. It is essential for spiritual growth, because without it the new born Christian cannot survive. Paul recognized the Corinthian Christians were still babes in Christ, by telling them, I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye ere not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able (1 Cor. 3:1b-2). The writer of Hebrews sums up this short lesson on the necessity of the sincere milk of the word. Although he is referring to older, but unlearned Christians, the same would apply to babes in Christ. The author of Hebrews 5:12-14, wrote that the new born Christian needs to be taught the first principles of the oracles of God, because they have need of milk, and not of strong meat. If you have not put on the body of Christ in baptism; if you are not a member of His church, the invitation to do so still awaits. Come taste the word of God - the sincere milk of the word.