Lesson 7

Nourishment For New Life

I Peter 2:2

The Goal Is Growth

I Peter 2:2 is about spiritual growth, one of the most important topics a believer can study in the Word of God. Early in the first practical epistle from Peter and at the end of the second practical epistle from Peter are injunctions for Christians to grow. Our text says, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." II Peter 3:18 says "Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen."

Just as physical growth is essential to the life of a child, spiritual growth is essential to the life of a believer. Because God commands us to mature spiritually, we need to understand what that means.

To understand what spiritual growth is, it will help us to see what it is not.

It is not the means of salvation. A person doesn't grow into being a Christian. Conversion is an instantaneous miracle. Time moment one exercises saving faith, he is born into the family of God. Although exposure to the gospel may be a process, salvation itself is not. It is a sudden passage from death unto life, from "the power of darkness ... into the kingdom of God's dear Son" (Colossians 1:13). According to Colossian 2:10, we are "complete in Christ" and II Peter 1:13 says that we have received "all things that pertain unto life and godliness." Spiritual growth is now how you become a Christian.

Spiritual growth is not related to time. Many people saved for a long period of time have grown little and many people saved for a brief period of time have grown much. Spiritual maturity cannot be measured by the calendar. The Christian's commitment to growth is what matters, not the amount of time lapsed since his/her conversion.

Spiritual growth is not necessarily related to knowledge. As you grow spiritually, you will gain more knowledge. But the issue is not just what you know but what you do with what you know. I Corinthians 8:1 says that "knowledge puffeth up" that is, that knowledge can make a believer prideful, considering themselves on a different, on a higher spiritual plane than others and thus, actually retard spiritual growth. So spiritual growth isn't necessarily related to knowledge.

Spiritual growth isn't even related to religious activity. Some people think that they grown spiritually if they have been active and involved in ministry. They assume that if they are busy in spiritual activities, then they must be spiritual people. But the Pharisees were very busy with spiritual matters and no one was further from the truth than them. According to Matthew 7:22-23, Jesus says that "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord have we not ... done many wonderful works. And then will profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me." Being busy doesn't even indicate salvation, let alone spiritual maturity.

So if it isn't related to time and it isn't related to knowledge and it isn't related to activity, what is is? How can we define spiritual growth?

Spiritual growth is not sentimental or devotional or psychological. It's not the result of some clever secret or formula. Here comes a "Darrell definition" for spiritual growth. It is simply matching your practice with your position in Christ. In Christ, you are complete (Colossians 2:10). In Christ, you have "all things that pertain to life and godliness" (II Peter 1:3). In Christ, you have "received all spiritual blessings" (Ephesians 1:3). In Christ, you are perfect. Spiritual growth is when your daily life begins to match your exalted position. Spiritual growth is happening when what you do matches who you are in Christ. That means that if we are growing spiritually, there will be increasing obedience and a decreasing frequency of sin.

That is the goal, "that ye may grow." The goal is growth.

The Means Is The Milk

How are we to grow spiritually? How can our obedience increase and the frequency of sin decrease? The answer is in the text. "Desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby" (by it). The means of spiritual growth is the "sincere milk of the word."

Mother's milk is all that a baby needs in those early days of child development. All of the nutrients, all of the vitamins, all of the calories, all of the ingredients that build up that baby's immunities are in the milk. The milk is the means through which a baby grows.

Here, Peter compares God's word to mother's milk. He emphasizes that it must be the "sincere" milk. The word means "pure and unadulterated". There is no mixture of the word + something else that is needed for spiritual growth. The means of growth is the pure word of God.

When Sarah was a little baby, our pediatrician told us not to feed her any sweets. We heeded his advice and she had the best appetite. And then we brought her home for Christmas to our parents homes and grandpa started feeding her some sweets. She loved it but I noticed after that, for the first time, she started turning her nose up at some of the good stuff.

There are a lot of people that turn their nose up at being offered a diet of God's word. They've gotten a taste of the cotton candy that's light and sweet and full of air -but when bitten into there's nothing there! Cotton candy tastes good but it will not cause you to grow.

Peter says that it is the pure word that causes us to grow spiritually. Don't turn your nose up at anyone who gives you the pure word of God. Don't reject God's word for something sweeter and more appealing nor feel as though you must mix something syrupy in with milk in order to make it tastier. Acquire an appetite for the word of God.

The word translated "the word" here is not the typical Greek word for "the Word." It is in the adjectival form of that word and is used only one other place in the Bible where it is translated "reasonable" (Romans 12:1). It is the word from which we get our English word "logical". The idea is that God's Word is directed to our reason, our logic, our rational faculties, our mind - not our emotions. You will not grow spiritually from emotional appeals (although a lot of people want to "feel" something and thing that that is how they will grow spiritually. But the avenue of spiritual growth is the mind, not the emotions. Increasing obedience and decreasing frequency of sin comes to us from the pure word, through the mind and enables us to grow spiritually.

The goal is to grow spiritually. The means is the milk - the pure word of God.

The Demand Is To Desire

The singular command, the only imperative, from Peter in this verse is that we would desire the sincere milk of God's word that we may grow by it. The demand, the application of the verse is for desire.

Strong's defines this word desire as "to yearn, to earnestly desire, to greatly long for". It is an intense craving. In fact, when this word is used in a negative sense, it is sometimes translated "lust". Do you get he feel for the degree of intensity which our desire which we should havefor God's word?

Peter illustrates this desire with a vivid simile. "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word..." Immediately after he or she is born, the doctor will often give the baby to the mother to nurse. From that moment on, that baby has an ongoing intense craving for mother's milk. Baby cries and screams and kicks because that natural desire is so strong.

That is the kind of desire we are commanded to have for nothing more than God's word. An intense craving for God's word is as natural for a Christian, as a newborn baby's desire for mother's milk.

Do you have that intense singular desire? What are your spiritual cravings? For some, it would be music. For some it would be fellowship. For some it would be involvement. But Peter says that it should be for the Word. And if we cultivate a desire for the pure and unadulterated word of God, we will grow spiritually.

A teacher and a pastor can give you the word of God. He can prepare and set before you nutritious spiritual meals. Occasionally, it may be a feast and particularly delicious, probably not always. But it always can be nourishing and wholesome.

But there is one thing that no pastor nor teacher can give you. And that is desire for God's word. Mom can prepare and serve a wonderful and nutrious meal only to have some in the family turn their noses up at it. Mom cannot control your appetite, nor your cravings. Neither can a pastor give you the desire for God's word. That part is your own responsibility.

So be honest with yourself. Do you have that desire for God's word? If so, praise God for it today. If not, confess it to the Lord and ask for such a desire.

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness; for they shall be filled.

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby.