TCH MINI-STUDY 45
DESIRE THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD
The apostle Peter wrote to the strangers scattered throughout
Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (1 Peter 1:1), As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may
grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom [Christ's] coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed
of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up
spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:2-5).
In verse 2, the English word desire is translated from
the Greek word epipotheo, which means to yearn, intensely crave, long after, or lust after, while the English word sincere is translated
from the Greek word adolos, which means undeceitful and unadulterated. Also in verse 2, the English word milk is translated from the
Greek word gala, which in context probably means nourishment, while the English word word is translated from the Greek word logikos,
which means rational or reasonable. Logikos is derived from the Greek word logos, which refers to Christ and His gospel. Two verses
indicate that the logos refers to Christ and the gospel, not the bible: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word [logos,
i.e., the Divine Expression, that is, Christ and the gospel] of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed,
ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13), and For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye
heard before in the word [logos, the Diving Expression, that is, Christ and the gospel] of the truth of the gospel (Colossians 1:5).
Also, in verse 2, the English word grow is translated from the Greek word auxano, which means to enlarge, grow up, or give the increase.
When
Peter instructs the scattered strangers to desire the sincere milk of the word, he is not instructing the strangers to desire the
bible, which many mistakenly refer to as the word, but instructing them to intensely crave and long after the undeceitful [truthful]
nourishment and strength found in the Divine Expression of Jesus Christ and His gospel. The strengh, growing, and increase of the
believer comes from Jesus Christ and the believer's knowledge of Him, and not the bible.
Regarding the idea of growing in Christ,
Paul explained to the church in Ephesus, And he [Christ] gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till
we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature
of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine,
by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into
him [Christ] in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which
every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body [church] unto
the edifying of itself in love (Ephesians 4:11-16). Within the context of these verses, Peter explains that our growing is into Christ
in all things, not into and from the bible.
In a later epistle, Peter wrote, Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such
things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord
is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his
epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable
wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before,
beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen (2 Peter 3:14-18). Again, Peter explains that our
growing is in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, not the bible.
THE CHRISTIAN HERALD
A
Judeo-Christian Bible Study
WISE UNTO SALVATION THROUGH FAITH
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise
unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good
works
(2 Timothy 3:15-17).
PLEAD MY CAUSE, O LORD
“A Psalm of David. Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that
fight against me (Psalms 35:1). For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for
my soul. Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let
him fall. And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto
thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him? False
witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge thin gs that I knew not. They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own
bosom. I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. But
in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I
knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not. With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. Lord, how
long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. I will give thee thanks in the great congregation:
I will praise thee among much people. Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the
eye that hate me without a cause. For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.
Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it, This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence:O Lord, be not far from me. Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord
(Psalms 35:7-23).
"My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise,
with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I
shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance"
(Psalms 42:3-5).
"And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first
commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater
than these"
(Mark 12:29-31).
THE ATONING SACRIFICE OF
JESUS CHRIST:
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly”
(Romans
5:6).
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us
(Romans 5:8).
“For
if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his
life”
(Romans 5:10).
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any
man sin, we have an advocate
with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And
he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also
for the sins of
the whole world”
(1 John 2:1-2).
“Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself
for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father”
(Galatians 1:3-4).
“ForChrist also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh,
but quickened by the Spirit”
(1 Peter 3:18).
FRET NOT THYSELF BECAUSE OF EVILDOERS
“A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither
be thou envious
against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon
be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the
LORD, and
do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou
shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee
the
desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also
in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy
righteousness
as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday”
(Psalms 37:1-6).
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE? IT IS EVEN A VAPOUR
"Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into
such a city, and continue
there a year, and buy and sell, and
get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.
For what is your life? It is even a vapour,
that appeareth
for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought
to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and
do this, or
that”
(James 4:15).
