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FROM MILK TO MEAT. Hebrews 5:12-14. 09/03/2023. #17.
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
1. Obligation neglected
a. The author is very disappointed that the readers had not grown to spiritual maturity
a1. God was disappointed in the immaturity of the Jews from the wilderness to the Exile
a2. That which does not grow, dies
b. By this time they ought to be teachers (ophelo = owe a debt, place under obligation)
a1. We are obligated to grow in Christ
a2. Tt. 2:1-5 mature believers are obligated to teach immature believers in spirituality
a3. 1 Tm. 3 church leaders are obligated to teach those over who they have charge
c. They had been believers long enough to be teaching others, but they were not doing so
a1. Having been believers for years, they still know very little Scripture, doctrine, or principles of the God
a2. Very little fervency for the things of God
d. Obligation = we are held accountable to grow
a1. 1 Cor. 3:12-15 loss or gain will in part be determined by desire to know the Word
a2. God can use us only in proportion to how much of the Word of God is within us
a3. Not to be equipped is not to be useful
2. To be retaught
a. Those who forget the truth must be retaught it
b. The Word must constantly be reviewed
a1. We cannot learn something once and then we have mastered what we have learned
a2. Rev. 2:1-5 the Ephesian church was told to remember from where they had fallen and go back and do the first works
c. They had the need to be fed spiritual milk (galaktos), when they should be eating adult food
a1. Believers should grow to know sound doctrine and principles (2 PT. 3:14-18)
a2. Believers who have been saved for 20 years should still not be seeking answers taught in a beginner’s discipleship class
d. Without a good understanding of the Word, its references, its meaning, and how to apply it, we are unskilled in both witnessing to others and helping them grow in Christ
3. Choose to grow
a. Solid food is for the mature
a1. Just as children begin to eat full meals, a mature believer learns greater truths
a2. In order to eat nourishing food it must be sought after, prepared, and consumed
b. Just like body and mind fitness, our spirits must be exercised (our word for gymnasium)
a1. Just as bodily exercise is a choice, exercising our spiritual minds is a choice
a2. Bible study, memorization, and meditating on Scripture must be consistently done
c. Christians do not grow naturally over time
a1. Ps. 1 there must be engagement on our part
a2. To exercise senses is to become fully aware of spiritual training and call to spiritual action
d. The acuteness of a spiritually driven believer discerns the battle of good and evil and his part in it
a1. Moves from dullness of mind to sharp focus
a2. Developing a keen curiosity and passion for God’s Word and His will
e. Devotionally level Christianity can’t produce spiritual growth just as milk alone can’t maintain health
Key verse: 2 Peter 3:14-1814 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.