Sunday, 2nd May, 2021
By Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
"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 3:18 KJV)
In 1 Peter 2:2, Peter writes to Jewish Christian pilgrims in certain cities, and he says to them, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” The word “babes” there is “brephos” (Greek) and it refers to infants, children. Peter was writing to infant churches and young Christians; they had recently given their hearts to Christ.
But then there’s another group of Christians described in 1 Corinthians 3. The Apostle Paul called them “babes in Christ.” He said, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:1).
The word “babes” in this case is the Greek “nēpios.” It means one who can’t talk right. He may be twenty years old, but he’s not able to communicate correctly. He’s unskilled, untrained, not mentally coordinated, in spite of his age. So, when it’s applied spiritually, it’s dealing with somebody who is a spiritual babe, one that’s not cultured, even though he’s been a Christian for many years. Such people can neither grasp spiritual communication nor communicate spiritual truths. Paul berated them, saying, “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat...” (1 Corinthians 3:2). “Milk” refers to the elementary principles of the Word of God, the elementary doctrines of Christ.
One who’s a spiritual babe will pray and cry to God to bless him. If he were spiritually mature, he’d have known that God already blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). He hasn’t grown to understand the mystery of Christ, that the day he was born into Christ, he may be an heir of all the blessings of God in Christ Jesus.
Grow in the things of God. Press on for more knowledge, for more understanding. Keep learning the Word, with an unquenchable desire to know the Lord more and have His glory revealed in your life.
CONFESSION
"Our God is great, and greatly to be praised. There’s no end to the awesomeness of His Majesty. As I keep learning His Word, His glory is revealed in my life; I’m constantly transfigured and renewed more and more in knowledge into His image. Blessed be God!"
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 5:27; 2 Peter 1:3; Proverbs 11:9
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 24:36-53 & 2 Samuel 12-14
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Mark 7:1-13 & Numbers 5