Tag: maturity

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How To Govern Knowledge by Agapé Love

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Knowledge Must be Governed by Agapé Love

© 2024 C. O. Bishop

1st Corinthians 8:1-6

1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him. 4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Introduction:

There are several possible lessons we should gain here:

One is that our knowledge, while it may free us from fear, is not enough to build up other believers. That requires the Agapé Love, considering how to meet the needs of those around us.

Another would be knowing that the food is physically and spiritually undamaged by someone having sacrificed it to an idol.

Still another would be that the idols themselves are nothing: just lumps of clay, stone, precious metals, or wood.

Finally, even the evil spirits associated with the worship of those idols are just created beings like ourselves. They are fallen angels, and we are fallen humans. They are called “gods,” but they can’t be compared with the One True God. He created all of us and them!

Real Life Example:

One of the missionaries we support, Jim Burdett, told of an incident that occurred years ago in Papua New Guinea. He and Gena, his friend and Language Helper, were coming home to Gena’s house one evening. (Gena is one of the Dom people in the Chimbu district of Papua New Guinea.) When they approached the gate, they saw a slim bundle of grasses knotted through the latch of his gate.

To any Westerner, the knot of grasses would have been meaningless…a childish prank at worst. But, to Gena, it was a frightening message. It meant that a witch doctor, or some other practitioner of black magic had placed a curse on his home.

Jim had been living in that culture long enough that he knew what it meant, too. But Gena was a relatively new Christian. So, Jim waited to see how Gena would respond. He did not “decide for Gena.” He wanted to see what Gena would do, on his own initiative.

Gena stood quietly, for a few moments, staring at the taboo symbol knotted through his gate. But then he stepped forward, ripped loose the bundle of grass with his fingers, and he threw it aside. His actions silently discarded the symbol as meaningless. The two men entered the house together, with nothing more to say. But Jim was rejoicing, because he knew that Gena was maturing! He was confident in the indwelling Holy Spirit, not crippled by fear of the Evil Spirits he had once served.

“Knowledge Puffeth Up”

Jim had known the God of the Bible for many years before he ever met Gena. He could have scoffed at Gena’s fear. That would have demonstrated carnality and pride on Jim’s part: (“Knowledge puffeth up!”) But, Jim had taught Gena the principles of the Bible for several years by the time this incident happened. He could see that the attempted curse was going to be a test for Gena: So, he waited. (How would Gena respond?)

Had Gena still been too fearful to enter, Jim might have done more teaching. He probably would have prayed with Gena before persuading him to cast aside his fears.

Also, Gena had the (relatively new) knowledge that the Holy Spirit who indwelt him was immensely more powerful than the evil spirits surrounding him. Just “passing the test” himself was good, but, what if Gena had then turned to the other people living around him and shamed them for fearing the evil spirits? (He did not do any such thing.) If he had done so, he would have damaged his people, forcing them to go where they felt it was unsafe to go, and pushing them to dosomething they believed to be wrong.

“Love Edifieth (Builds up)”

Jim built up Gena’s maturity and strength as a believer, by allowing Gena to handle the situation with God alone as his help. Gena continues to do the same thing today, as a Bible teacher and evangelist in his village and the surrounding villages.

The long-range effects might have been much different if Jim had just stood back and verbally coerced Gena, forcing him to remove the taboo symbol.

Similarly, it is not a loving action, to persuade a “weaker” brother (See Romans 14:2) against their conscience to eat food that they think is forbidden. On the other hand, such a brother is not to accuse those who have the freedom to eat.

Don’t Be An Accuser!

An acquaintance at work confronted my brother-in-law-to-be at lunch, aggressively asking, “Why are you eating ham??” Bill stared at him for a moment with his mouth full of his ham sandwich. So, I blurted out, “Because he’s not Jewish!” Bill swallowed his food and said, “Yeah! It’s because I’m not Jewish!” Both of us understood what God said in Exodus 19:5, that Israel was to be a holy nation, a “peculiar” nation…  “a special case!”  None of the dietary laws that God gave them were to be passed to the Gentiles.

But the man doing the accusing was raised in a Seventh-Day Adventist environment, and he was adamant that pork was forbidden. So, we did not offer him any ham: we only explained that the prohibition against pork was specific to the children of Israel. He was free to maintain his “non-eating” stance.

I don’t know whether he ever changed his beliefs. He was a very troubled man in many ways. But we went out of our way to try to be a blessing to him, for years afterward. I can’t say for certain that it helped any.

The Food Is Unchanged.

There is no change to the food, because of having been sacrificed to an idol: it is not “dangerous” in any way. But some people are deeply afraid of such things, supposing that they could be attacked spiritually through the food, because of the contact with idolatrous worship.

In Mark 7:15, Jesus said, “There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.”

This is an important concept: When I was a child, I had a classmate who was alarmed to see me swallow my chewing gum. He insisted that it would “stick to my heart” and kill me. I tried to explain that things we swallow do not just “trickle down” past our internal organs to approach our stomachs: they go directly there, through the esophagus, and eventually out the other end.

But the boy was adamant, saying, “My grandmother told me!” So, we asked the teacher. He seemed quietly amused by the question, and confirmed that there was no danger of the gum “sticking to your heart.” But he was kind about it: he did not shame the other boy in any way.

It is What Comes Out That Defiles Us

Jesus also said, later in the Mark 7 passage, that the things you take into your mouth do not enter your heart. (Meaning the seat of emotions and the soul, not the blood-pumping organ.) He said that the things that come out of the heart defile the man, and listed some in Mark 7:21-23. “21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”

Food has no spiritual value. Is it possible to poison good food? Certainly, it is! But that is not the question in this passage: The people thought that some “spiritual danger” was attached to the food because it had been sacrificed to an idol. But, in reality, the food was unchanged.

The Idol Itself Is Nothing

I am always a little disturbed to see physical idols in our society: but some more than others. Buddhist figurines are the most common, but so “foreign” that I am not alarmed by them: They are just a curiosity. Statues of Mary and other humans who have been elevated to semi-deity status are more disturbing because I have known so many people affected by that particular teaching. One rarely sees the statues of specifically satanic idols, but they are truly chilling: Probably because we see that people today are willingly enslaving themselves to evil.

Siddartha Buddha

But the historical man, Siddartha Gautama (Buddha,) despised idols, and he taught against them. So, it is especially ironic that there are more statues dedicated to him than any other deity.

Mary

Mary was a Godly, young, Jewish woman, living in Nazareth. She only gave one recorded command in her life: She told some servants at a wedding (in John chapter 2) to do whatever Jesus said to do. She would be deeply offended by the images of her now in existence! The Jews were forbidden to have images of any kind, specifically to avoid idolatry.

So, as a Godly Jew, she would be horrified that the images were made at all, and even more, that She is now called the “Queen of Heaven!” Why? Because “the Queen of Heaven” was a specific female pagan deity, by whom the Jews had gotten into trouble with God, in Jeremiah’s time!

(Jeremiah 7:18 says “The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.” There are more verses about this female deity, in Jeremiah 44. The people insisted that they would continue to worship the queen of heaven.)

Other Idols

The various other deities, once common there, also included Molech, the vile god to which people sacrificed their children. And today, there is a large statue of a character called “Baphomet:” a monstrous creature with a goat’s head, horns, and hooves. The picture is very disturbing.

But What is the Real Danger?

When we look at the picture more closely, we see that the abominable carved image includes images of little children worshipping at the knee of the monstrous idol. There is the real danger: people are drawn away from the living God to serve idols, and their children become the slaves of those evil spirits that are behind the idols.

In Galatians 1:6-9, Paul warns against “false gospels.” He says that anyone bringing a false gospel (in contrast to the Gospel of Christ,) is to be accursed! Even if the person bringing it seems to be a wonderful (or even angelic) person, they are to be accursed.

We do not take lightly the danger of cults and false religions. We also do not tremble in fear of them. As born-again believers, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God, and He guarantees our security. But the danger is very real for anyone who is not one of God’s children.

The Evil Spirits Cannot Undo the Work of Jesus at the Cross.

Remember that Satan was unable to do anything to Job without God’s permission. The Evil spirits are defeated enemies.

The Creator God of the Universe now lives in you in the person of God, the Holy Spirit. He is the only “Real God” there is. Jesus said so, in John 17:3 addressing the Father as “the One True God.” In John 14:17, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would be in the believers. In John 14:23 Jesus promised that He and the Father would also take up their abode with them. As Pat James used to say, “You’re bullet-proof!”

Next week we will talk about how we are to use our freedom in ways that do not damage others, nor mar our testimony with others.

Lord Jesus, please awaken in us the reality of the indwelling Christ. Let us follow You intentionally, choosing moment by moment to do the things that please and honor You.

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Different Kinds of Trials

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Different Kinds of Trials

© C. O. Bishop, January 2020

James 1:1-4, 12-16

Introduction:

There are two large groupings in scripture, under the heading of “Temptation.” We need to see the differences between them and how to respond to each.

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.


James addresses himself (primarily) to the Jewish believers who were scattered by persecution, as well as those who had been scattered by the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities. He makes no further explanation, but plunges right into the purpose of the letter: He knew they had been through a great deal of hardship: first, by persecution from Gentile nations for being Jews; and now, from other Jews, as well as from the Gentile nations, for being followers of Christ. The first three centuries of the Church age were riddled with horrendous persecution against believers…and the Church grew stronger under that load.

In modern English, James calls it “testing”. KJV says “temptation”. The old English word “temptation” did mean testing. But the nature of the test depended upon the source of the testing. I wish there were two different Greek words for the two types of trials, but there are not: the Greek word is exactly the same for both: “peirazo”…”to try, prove, or test.”

So, we will come to see two general categories of trials: one meaning “hard experiences,” the sort experienced by all humans: (1st Corinthians 10:13 “…such as is common to man”,) or possibly harsh treatment from others because of our position in Christ.(1st Peter 4:12-14) The other is a specific “luring away to do evil:” it is temptation to sin. James says God is never the source of this sort.

When I read verses 2-4, I see one kind of testing, which will:

  • Make me strong,
  • Develop endurance (KJV “patience”) and
  • Help me mature as a believer.

But, when I read verses 13-16, I see that God is not the author of testing that “lures us away to do evil,” though, ultimately, He is the One who allows it to happen. When I consider the trials and testing of Job, for example, it is clear that God allowed Job to undergo terrible trials; but God was not the one saying “Curse God and Die!” We need to consider the type of trial, as well as the source. Consider the two categories as either “trials for training,” or “temptation to sin.”

Trials for Training


2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

So, under what circumstances should I consider trials to be a joy? “When” I fall into various trials. (Always.) This is in reference to the “hard times”. Sometimes they are literally from God, as a training discipline, just as an athletics coach prescribes calisthenics or weight-training, or roadwork, to toughen an athletic contestant against a coming trial—the next wrestling match, perhaps, or even the Olympic games. Such training is never easy; it is not intended to be easy. It is intended to produce strength and stamina, and increased skill, in some cases.

Sometimes they are just the normal “hard times” of life…which we endure as an honor to our Lord who endured far more than we ever will.

It is important for us, as believers, to grasp the idea that the way in which God chooses to strengthen us against hardship and to prepare us for coming spiritual battles, is through teaching, then testing, more teaching, more testing, etc. If we truly accept this concept, then the trials do become a source of joy, as we know that we are being strengthened for God’s Glory. We learn endurance by enduring. It is interesting to me that athletes know this, and accept it; and good athletes do not find a hard, grueling practice to be frustrating, but rather exhilarating. They know that they are getting strong, and the way they endured that testing has proved it!

So the admonition is to find joy in hard times, knowing that we are gaining endurance, and that we are to allow endurance to complete its work, and not short-circuit the process by fighting against God. Once in a while a member of a sports team will forget that the rigorous training is for his betterment, and will begin accusing the coach, saying that the workout is unreasonable, or misguided. In the case of a human coach, such an accusation could possibly be true, though as a general rule it is not. But in the case of God, the ultimate source of all true wisdom, the omniscient source of all our sustenance and hope, such an accusation is clearly unfounded. We can always be confident that His will for us is perfect…even when it is painful or even fatal. We don’t like that idea, but Job 13:15 says, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” 

Many believers have been brought back into a right relationship with God through a deadly disease. They were forced to look at life differently: no longer carelessly; and the result was that they repented of their wandering, and they walked with God for the time they had remaining. Was that fun? Absolutely not! Did they recognize God’s Grace, in bringing them back into a walk of faith, with Him? Apparently they did.

I received a message, last year, about a young man (the son of a friend) who was diagnosed with leukemia. He was told he probably had a very short time to live. But they began chemotherapy, and six weeks later, he was in remission. Did he still have leukemia? Yes! Would he live, though? It was possible, but there were no promises.

But his comment was that, “I guess it took something like this to bring me back to the things that are important. But it may take some time, because I’d gotten so far away!” He saw life differently because of that trial, and chose to allow his disease to drive him closer to God, rather than railing against God, and becoming bitter. As a matter of fact, a few months later, the disease came back with a vengeance, and killed him. But, for the few months he had left, his life was transformed and both he and his family were at peace.

Sometimes hardships are just to equip us so that we can be a comfort to others who are in similar trials. 2nd Corinthians 1:3-11 gives a number of very positive reasons why we might endure hardships. Seven are easy to see, as they are spelled out for us:

3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. 8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.


Thus, when the trial (whatever it is) is not a “luring away to do evil”, we are to accept it as a trial in which we can rejoice, because we are “on God’s team,” and He is giving us a workout.

Temptation to Sin

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

This is the other type of testing…and it is not from God. We are told that the believer has three great enemies in this life:

  1. The World (The system of government, business, values and thinking that is common to unbelievers.)
  2. The Flesh (The old sin nature…usually called “the flesh” in scripture, but not meaning the physical body.)
  3. The Devil (Yes, this is the person called Satan. He is not a mythological creature, but a real enemy, with deadly intent toward us.

Any of these three enemies can be the source of such “luring away to do evil.” Our old sin nature is in full agreement with the other enemies, and is the “enemy within the gate”, so to speak.

The World around us will offer us the fruits of immorality, or the immoral acts themselves, and the people act very friendly, accepting and accommodating when making the offer. Bear in mind that the specific plan by which the Moabites and the Midianites attempted to destroy Israel was to send their most beautiful women to invite the Israelite men to feasts…which turned out to be idolatrous worship-feasts to the heathen Gods of Moab and Midian. They hoped to corrupt Israel, and bring down the judgment of God upon them. And, in a way, it worked: thousands of Jews died in the resulting judgment from God, and the Moabites were cursed, as well. Balaam, the traitorous prophet, who had counseled them to corrupt Israel, was killed along with the Midianites who died in the fight. (Numbers 31:8, 16) People want you to join them in their sin. (“Come on! Don’t knock it if you haven’t tried it! Everybody does it!”) The World is not “a friend to Grace,” the old hymn reminds us. And joining them in their sin will still not earn their friendship.

The Flesh, Our old Sin Nature, often called “the old man”, or the “carnal mind,” and sometimes “the heart”, is in full agreement with the other two enemies. It joins in the attempt to deceive and corrupt us. The only way to be sure that we are not being deceived by our sinful heart, is to continually, daily, submit our thinking to God’s thoughts, as recorded in His Written Word, so that we can recognize falsehood, and reject it; recognize temptation to sin and reject it, recognize wrong patterns of thinking, and reject them..

The Devil, also calledSatan, is not omniscient, but he is well-versed and practiced in the art of deceit. He knows how to “get to us”, so that we will say “Oh, follow your heart! You deserve to be happy!” and so fall prey to his snares. What do we know, from God’s Word, about the heart? (Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.”) God says that our heart is THE most likely thing to deceive us. So where will Satan most likely strike? He will offer us our “heart’s desire.”

This is why James begs his readers, “Do not err, my beloved brethren!” It is so easy to fall prey to such a deadly and invisible enemy. The only place a sheep can be safe is when it is close to the Shepherd. We need to learn to walk with Jesus, the Great Shepherd.

So, then, when the temptation is a “luring away to do evil”… when it is temptation to sin, how are we to respond?

Defense against Temptation

There are several layers of defense: The first is not one we would choose in the flesh: We find it in 1st Timothy 6:11 “But thou, O man of God, flee these things!” If there is a way to turn away from the temptation, and get away from the lure, then do so. We are not to dwell on the evil, longing after it. Jesus said if a man looks at a woman to lust after her, he has already committed adultery in his heart! So, the outward failing is not the only issue. Desiring it, and not fleeing the temptation is the key issue.

Another one, obviously, is to have already memorized enough scripture to do as Jesus did, and answer with Scripture. When Satan attempted (Matthew 4) to coerce Jesus to go outside God’s direction for his life, Jesus answered with the written Word, and defended himself in that way. The scripture is referred to as the “Sword of the Spirit”…and a sword can be both an offensive and defensive weapon.

We need to remember that when an enemy is attacking, we are to respond as befits soldiers, since God says that we are soldiers: He has given us armor, and tells us what it is for:

Ephesians 6:10-18 outlines the armor of the Christian, paralleling the physical armor of the Roman soldiers of that age. He first reminds us that the “enemy” is not other humans, but rather the forces of spiritual wickedness; then he lists the armor. The first five are entirely based on God’s Word, and His trustworthiness; the last two require some work on our part, in order to be useful, and readily available:

  • He begins with the Belt, possibly because the other items were hung from and depended upon that belt: He says we are to “stand fast”, having our loins girt about with truth. Everything depends upon the truth of God’s Word. If I am convinced of the truth of God’s Word, I have a good start toward a proper defense against the attack of the enemy. I need to believe God more than I believe anyone or anything else.

  • Next, the Breastplate of Righteousness, which is entirely dependent upon the truth of God’s Word…not our actions. The only righteousness, here, is the righteousness of Christ…not our own good works! (2nd Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9) His righteousness, not ours, guards our hearts and our lives.

  • The Shoes…the secure footing offered by the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. This is the only place this phrase is used. He did not say “the Gospel of Christ”, or any of the other phrases regarding the Gospel of Salvation. He means the “good news” that we have eternal peace with God (Romans 5:1), and the fact that God is eternally backing us. God is not angry at the church. Being confident in our relationship with God gives us the courage to face the enemy, and a solid footing from which to fight.

  • The Shield of Faith, with which we are to “quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.” This is easy to forget: I can become solidly entrenched in good doctrine, know I’m saved, absolutely believe the Bible is God’s written Word, but completely forget the critical issue of a faith-based relationship with God. Don’t forget the shield! He says, “Above all, taking the shield of faith…” We walk by faith, not by sight! (2nd Corinthians 5:7)

  • The Helmet of Salvation protects your head; your mind: If you are not convinced, in your own mind, that God’s promise of eternal life is good, then you will spend all your energy worrying whether you are good enough, whether all your sins are really forgiven, etc., and you will become entangled in the notion that your salvation is ultimately secured by your good works, not God’s Eternal Grace, and His Eternal sacrifice for you at the Cross. This is critical to your thinking, your confidence and your joy. You need to know you are saved, by the promises of God, not just “hope so.”

  • The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. This one takes some work: reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on it, in order to have it within easy grasp, and ready to use as an offensive or defensive weapon. If you are not really familiar with God’s Word, then He cannot bring it to your mind to defend you against doctrinal attacks; nor can you use it effectively in evangelism. Sharpen your sword by improving your knowledge and understanding of God’s Word.

  • Finally, Prayer is our link to God himself: our line of communication. By it, we are commanded to call for help for one another as well as ourselves: Even the Apostle Paul asked for Prayer on his behalf. Notice that he prayed for boldness to preach…not comfort or safety. It is instructive, to take note of the things for which Jesus and the Apostles prayed. Somehow their prayer list looks quite different from ours, as a rule. Prayer also takes time and practice, in order to be confident and effective.

We are told to labor in prayer, and to labor in the Word and doctrine. Prayer and Bible Study are critical in Christian service, as without them we will not only be ineffectual, but misguided, as well.

Conclusion

We can see, then, that trials and temptations are of two different types:

  1. The kind that makes us strong, because it is from God, and
  2. The kind that seeks to corrupt or destroy us, because it is from the enemies of our soul.

How you respond to any of these trials will determine the end result. You will either come out with joy, knowing that you have handled things well, or in shame, knowing you failed to respond appropriately. Neither result affects your standing with God. If you have been born anew as His child, God will never cast you away. But failing to walk with Him and to respond well to testing will definitely affect your happiness and peace.

Lord Jesus, help us to embrace the reality of our lives, knowing that the trials are part of your plan for our benefit. Help us to glorify you by our actions.

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Growing up into Christ

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Growing up into Christ

© C. O. Bishop, 5/17/17: THCF 5/21/17

Hebrews 5:10-14; 6:1-3, Ephesians 1:1-14; 4:11-16

Introduction:

We’ve been studying through Hebrews…We spoke about the priesthood of Christ, and mentioned Melchisedec, in passing, because Jesus was said to be a “priest forever, after the order of Melchisedec.” We only briefly explored that connection, as there simply is not a lot said about Melchisedec. Let’s see what the writer of Hebrews has to say about why there isn’t much said.

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.

Backslidden Babies

The “of whom”, here, is in reference to Melchisedec, not Jesus. The writer will make some rather mind-boggling points about Melchisedec, later, but for the moment, he is only making the statement that his audience is not fit to hear it. They are dull of hearing. He says that they have become less mature, not more, since becoming believers. This is an important point, as it underscores an uncomfortable truth about the new birth: it is possible to be saved and still be in terrible condition. Your position in Christ is perfect and eternal. Your condition, however, can change daily, or even on a moment by moment basis.

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.

The believers are the ones he is talking to, here: he says they have been believers long enough that they should have been teaching others by now: instead they require a teacher themselves. He does not say “you are still babies”, but that “you have become babies”—incapable of taking food more substantial than milk—incapable of chewing and digesting solid foods. They have regressed! The words translated “strong meat” in KJV (Greek “stereas” and “trophe”) simply mean “solid food”. Old English used the word “flesh” where we would use “meat”, today; “meat” simply meant “food.” It is not a mistranslation, just evidence that the English language has changed over time.

So he is sharply admonishing the Hebrew believers that they need to grow up. He says that he is limited as to what he can teach them because of their continuing immaturity. This is the passage we are referring to when we say, “I am tired of milk; I want the meat of the Word.” We mean, “I don’t want “baby-food” teaching. I want something age-appropriate.” Well, you do have to be able to chew and digest it.  He says that a person “unskillful in the Word of Righteousness” is not able to handle serious teaching. They are still babies, spiritually. But these folks had regressed to babyhood.

The word used here for “unskillful” is the Greek word “apeiros”, which comes from the verb “peirao”, meaning to try, or, to “test.” One “untested” in the Word is someone who has never had to use the Word of God in a real struggle. They have never had to lean completely on God’s Word instead of their own understanding, as The Proverbs command. So they have limited their understanding to human reasoning, which God says is rudimentary at best. Colossians 2:8 warns against being “taken captive” through philosophy, empty deception, the traditions of men, and the elementary principles of the World instead the things which are according to Christ.

There are some choices to be made, regarding God’s Word: when there is a conflict between the written Word (at least as you understand it) and what the World is teaching as “truth,” do you vacillate, trying to decide which one is truth, or can you firmly, immediately affirm in your own heart, “God’s Word is true!” and then move to see if there is simply a misunderstanding? Sometimes the issue is simple: I can misunderstand something in the Bible, and find out later that I was wrong in my understanding, but that the Bible was right all along. But when there is a clear conflict between the Scripture and what the World believes, I need to be comfortable with that conflict, firmly take my stand with the Bible, and cheerfully accept whatever consequences there are to being “out of step” with the World. I don’t need to “pick a fight” over it. I just need to know where I stand, and not have to do a lot of soul-searching over it.

My faith—faith in God’s Word—not the consensus of human opinion, has to direct my steps. We do not determine right doctrine, nor right behavior, by popular opinion, consensus, or a vote. The Righteousness and Authority of God are declared and taught in the Bible, and, whether I like it or not is not the issue. Only whether I subject myself to it: either I obey or I do not.

So: these folks were already believers, as a group—there were some among them who were uncommitted, as we have seen in the several warnings so far, but, as a whole, most of them were believers, and the writer is not questioning their status in the body of Christ. He was complaining that they had regressed in their faith. They had gone backward! How is that possible?

It is important to recognize that we still have two natures. We can still feed our old nature (and we often do!) If we revert to feeding the old nature instead of the new, then the old nature will regain strength, and the new will become weak and sickly. All the positional truths that are ours by virtue of the new birth will still be ours, but will be relegated to a “back-burner” status. We are still saved, but will not be living in the obedient, victorious life God has called us to enjoy.

All the things of the believers’ birthright were still the possession of the believers in this account: So, what did that include? What is the foundation we have to work with?

(Turn to Ephesians 1:1-14)

What things does God say are already true about us?

Because we are in Christ, we are:

  1. Already blessed with ALL spiritual blessings, (Ephesians 1:3)
    1. in the heavenly places
    2. in Christ. (This is the heart of “positional truth” (true because I am “in Christ.”)
  2. Already chosen in Him (in Christ) (Ephesians 1:4)
  3. Already predestined to be “adopted”; that is, recognized as full heirs with Christ. (Ephesians 1:5; Romans 8:23)
  4. Already accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6)
  5. Already Redeemed through His Blood (Ephesians 1:7)
  6. Already Forgiven for our Sins (Ephesians 1:7)
  7. We have already obtained an inheritance in Him. (Ephesians 1:11)
  8. We are already sealed in Him by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)
  9. We already have the “earnest” of our inheritance, the Holy Spirit, who will stay with us until the redemption of the “purchased possession”—us! The Church! (Ephesians 1:14)
  10. Further, according to Ephesians 2:6, we are already seated in the heavenlies with Christ.

Much of the above is simply beyond my comprehension. I accept it by faith. But I don’t see these things…I don’t see myself as “seated in the heavenlies with Christ.” I see myself trudging along, day by day, muddling my way through life on earth. I need to understand that God’s viewpoint is eternal, and correct. I am seeing things from a viewpoint completely limited to time and space, besides being distorted by my sin nature, and my wrong thinking.

So, the question remains: how can we step beyond the usual “wrong-headed” experience in life, and see things from God’s perspective?

We walk by Faith, not by sight

The first step is to accept God’s point of view as correct, by faith in his character, not because it “makes sense” to us. I need to trust him because He is trustworthy, not because I can prove all the truths in His Word. (I can’t, by the way.)

God says we are already separated from our old sin nature, positionally, and that we are to live as those resurrected from the dead. Now, I don’t feel very dead…does that affect the truth in any way? Nope. God says it is true, and it is true. I am not required to “feel” anything. I am required to accept God’s truth by faith, and depend upon the fact that I am dead in Christ.

That death, reckoned as being mine, is what sets me free from sin. I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

We Feed on the Word

The second thing is that God says we are to hunger for His Word, that we may grow thereby. (1st Peter 2:1-3) The scripture is the food for our spirit, and the food by which our new nature can grow strong. If you keep feeding your old nature, it will stay strong, and torment you daily with the struggles of the flesh. If you feed your new nature regularly, it will grow strong, and you will stabilize in your walk with God.

We are also fed and taught by the shepherds God has assigned to the church.

Turn to Ephesians 4:11-16 (read it)

Here we see that Jesus gave certain people as gifts to the church. The shepherds and teachers, as well as the other office-gifts, are given for a specific purpose: the building up of the Body of Christ, for the work of the service of God…the work of the Ministry.

And, notice that a time clause is given, here. These gifts are given “until we all come into the unity of the faith”, with the result that we are mature, and no longer easily swayed by bad doctrine, among other things. He says we will grow up into Christ, the head of the Body, in all things. The end result will be the increase of the body, in terms of both numbers and strength.

Conclusion:

Hebrews 6:1-3 says that we are to press on, leaving baby food behind, and move toward maturity.

6: 1Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

3 And this will we do, if God permit.

The message is that we are to go ahead and leave childhood behind, and grow up. Settle the fundamentals in our minds, once for all, by faith, and move on to deeper truth. It is no longer appropriate to “wade”…we need to learn to swim, so to speak.

I recall, when I was about nine years old, going to swim with my Dad and younger brother, in the Santiam River, at Waterloo, somewhere near Lebanon, Oregon. I was able to swim, but was anxious about the depth of the water, because I was not yet a strong swimmer. So I kept asking my Dad, “How deep is the water, here?” He was finally exasperated, and said “It doesn’t matter how deep the water is! When you swim, you stay on top of the water!”

Dad was right! If you are only wading, then you are dependent upon being able to reach bottom. But if you are swimming, you are completely suspended in the water, and not concerned with touching bottom.

That is true in spiritual matters as well. If you intend to live in your own strength, then you are limited to what you can handle. If you are dependent upon God, and walking with Him, then the circumstances are immaterial. He is the one managing life’s struggles, not you!

Lord Jesus, help us to grow up into you, and to trust your Word more than we trust our own judgment, strength, and wisdom. We know that apart from you we can do nothing. Help us to feed upon your Word, and to grow thereby. Make us the Men and Women of God that you have called us to be.

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