Monday: Milk and Solid Food
Compare 1 Corinthians 3:1–3 and 1 Peter 2:2. What do you think Paul and Peter were specifically referring to when they spoke of milk and solid food and the need to grow? In your mind, what is theological milk as opposed to solid food?
Happiness Image © Sally Weimer from GoodSalt.com
Evidently the members of the church at Corinth had not progressed very far in their spiritual development after Paul had established the group. Consequently, when he preached to them, his message was an appeal for them to surrender themselves to God and grow in spirituality to the extent that they could grasp the deep truths of the gospel. His preaching at this time would have been evangelistic rather than edifying. Paul would not preach on the deeper themes while the people were not spiritually mature enough to understand and respond to them.
As we reach out to people today, we must be ever mindful of Paul’s strategy. We must lead people to surrender to Christ before we expect them to accept the deep, life-changing truths of His Written Word.
When we speak of an evangelistic sequence, it can refer to a long strategy or a short process. When people have progressed through a sequence of programs to the place where they are open to God’s call, they can be led through a full evangelistic series or begin a personal Bible study series. Whatever the program is, the principle is still the same: first the milk (simple gospel themes to begin a relationship) and then the solid food (deeper and more testing truths leading to firm commitment).
Read John 16:12. What important point do we find here? How can we learn to apply this principle in the ways in which we deal with others?
A new Seventh-day Adventist was so excited about the truth he had learned that he wanted to tell everyone. Often, the first thing he wanted to share with others was all about “the mark of the beast.” However well-meaning, he was a prime example of how truth needs to be presented in a sequential manner.
Think about some Bible truth that you struggled with at first that you found hard to accept. Over time, how did you eventually settle into that truth? What did you learn from this experience that could help you to be more sensitive in your outreach to others?
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I respect the author on his interpretation of John 16:12, but I don't think Paul is referring to steps of biblical knowledge towards understanding bible truth. I could be wrong, " I've been wrong before", but, Hear me out.
What I think Paul is talking about is that he wished that he could have spoken with the members of the church on a more personal level, but they were still like strangers to the gospel way. Just like an outsider. Many people live on your street, and many more live in your neighborhood, but only family live in your home. Only those who are on the inside can truly understand the emotions and joy that are expressed.
When Paul says,"as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" I see this as command to all people who want to be one with Christ. Not to learn more doctrine, to be more knowledgeable in the word of God, but to spend more time with their heavenly Father, that they may be transformed into His likeness and be a part of the family of God.
The Gentiles at Corinth had heard the gospel from Paul and it made them wish to join the fold because it was good news in its simplest form. However, the problem arose when they went to congregate with the church, these would go out to smoke because they hadn't quit smoking yet, at lunch they wanted to share their meal wth the church but they had pork. Paul had told them a simple gospel truth that Christ loved us while we were still sinners, but the chrch couldn't fathom it, they sent these people out of the synagogues instead of teaching them, taking over from Paul's wooing gospel to a walk with xt, then they went crying to Paul and Paul wisely told them that the church was right then they said why don't you tell us, Paul replied, l couldn't give you solids because you were young, even now you are still young.
Even our baby Doctors say no solids till 6 months but some parents introduce earlier depending wth the growth rate of their child.
Exactly, the reason why we don't have lots of young people in our church today.
Reason why we lose more of our converts too early.
The church judges those who come to church insted of teaching them the bible doctrines, taking over from the simple gospel that wooed them.
Exactly the same reason Jesus denounced the Pharisees in Matthew 23.
There are 3 stages in a christian life
1. justification
2. Sanctification
3. Glorification
Justification - a sinner just repents from an evangelistic outreach and stands for Christ, that person is justified he wears Jesus' righteousness, even if he hasn't done any good from that day if Jesus comes he will go to heaven, remember the thief on the cross, justification is our passport to heaven.
Sanctification - its a process, day to day. Sanctification is our fitness for heaven, here we are given solids, bible doctrines state of the dead, foods to eat from the bible, Christian marriage, Lords Sabbath, true Bible baptism.....
We quit smoking and alcohol through temperance lessons, we are being santified daily till Jesus comes, Peter says, Jesus is not delaying but want all of us to be fit for Heaven (sanctified life).
Glorification - we will only be glorified, when this mortal shall put on immortality, when Jesus comes and we go to heaven people who are glorified are Enoch, Moses, Elijah and Jesus..and you, if you are sanctified.