And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). The peace of God will not only keep your mind but your heart, your soul. His supply of peace is stored in the soul of the born-again Christian. Carry the fruits of the Holy Spirit in your soul, and let the soul feed the mind peace, love, or anything of God needed.
There is no limit to the capacity of a soul. You can have God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost, all the greatness of Heaven within your soul. The soul came from the breath of God; it is like God Himself, eternal. The soul is so much like God that no one can find it, only what it contains. Sooner or later the contents of your soul rise to the surface and become obvious to others, but just as people cannot look upon the face of God, they cannot look on the soul as it is. Through the gift of discerning of spirits, God lets me look inside a soul to see what is there.
Those Carnal-Minded Corinthians
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men (I Corinthians 3:1-3)? Paul, writing to the church in Corinth, said he had fed them with milk. Why didn’t he feed them with meat? They were carnal-minded, too much a part of the world, not separated unto God. Great distress occurs when a church gives in to the mind of carnal nature.
The message the Lord gave the church at Corinth when it failed wasn’t necessary in the very beginning. But then the enemy got in; all kinds of sin, strife, disobedience and confusion appeared. They were embroiled in confusion over speaking in tongues, over the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Why? They wouldn’t receive the meat of the Word. Even the milk they digested was contaminated by the erroneous opinions of those who served it. Paul told the people at Corinth they walked as men, not as Jesus, not as saints of God.
Churches passing up the meat of the Word become involved in the same types of problems as the church of Corinth. Some churches have much division, strife, clamor, murmuring, grumbling, complaining. They lack the meat of the Word.
The meat of the Word gives great strength, God’s strength. What is contained in God’s strength? Love, faith, goodness, mercy, grace and all the greatness of God. Those who have not received the strength of God remain babes. If in that state they take in contaminated milk they become sick. Sick Christians abound today, fed the contaminated opinions of others. The pure meat of the Word is what brings the strength they must have.
God’s Paths Aren’t Meant to Be a Mystery
You must be separated from the world before you can receive the meat of the Word. Little babies thrive on milk, but if they are to grow, they need something stronger. So it is with Christians. Some, however, never mature, never go on to the meat of the Word. Like babies, they can’t think for themselves when it comes to the things of God. God’s paths are a mystery to them, and consequently they become entangled in much confusion. Living their adult lives as babes without the strength of the Word, they never grow in the Lord.
A baby doesn’t have knowledge of this life; it doesn’t know how to act in the valley of life’s problems, how to solve them. Christian babes are like that, too, baffled and frustrated by problems until they find the plain path laid out for them in the Word of God.
The Lord carefully looks after each new convert who comes into the Kingdom, seeing that that one receives the milk of the Word. But this is meant to last only a short period of time.
In the baby stage of salvation, the milk is sufficient because minds are filled with joy, peace, contentment. Excited over experiencing the Jesus life, the things of God, the new convert is caught up into heavenly places; all is beautiful. But then they must grow up, start walking into the deepness of God. The cry of each honest heart: Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path (Psalm 27:11).
God’s people are to mature into the stature of Jesus Christ so they will be strong, facing life without discouragement and weakness, overcomers through Jesus.
In this hour, the Bride will dine daily, saith the Lord, on the meat of the Word, not milk. In the meat lies her strength, her power, her greatness. Many fail to go to the Word for power and overcoming strength to solve problems. Because they are not eating the meat of the Word, only the milk, they fail to receive the strength they need.
Slow Learners
We have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 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 (Hebrews 5:11,12). Without the meat of the Word you will be dull of hearing, dim of vision. The vitamins of the strength of the Word are necessary for good vision, hearing and the ability to follow the paths of the Lord. Unless you take the meat of the Word, you won’t even know where the paths of the Lord are. Many Christians can’t find their way because they won’t take the meat of the Word; they haven’t mastered the first principles of the oracles of God. The meat of the Word gives the strength of God, the eyesight and vision of God, the hearing to listen to what thus saith the Lord in the Holy Scriptures. You can have knowledge and wisdom from the Word of God, but without the meat, no. How much wisdom and knowledge does a baby have, anyway? Not much.
When you are mature in the Lord, you enter the prayer chamber blessing and being grateful to God, thanking Him for His marvelous grace.
A baby is limited in how much it can learn, and that’s the way it is with a babe in the Lord. But some Christians never mature because they are not teachable, never get anywhere with God. Their limited capacity for learning has come about because they refused the meat of the Word. Without the meat of the Word you will never learn about the greatness of God, never have the Jesus victory. It’s an impossibility.
Strength to Cry, Kick and Complain
Just as Paul told the Hebrews they ought to be teachers rather than needing to be taught, he could say the same thing today to many: be real witnesses for the Lord to others. So weak, some Christians depend on others to be their constant crutch. Living for the time they run into someone who will listen to their troubles, they never touch the meat of the Word.
A baby has strength enough to cry over trifles. So do a lot of Christians. Often they exercise their strength to cry, kick and complain. Mother gives her baby food stronger than milk so it will grow, develop and begin to walk. The Lord also seeks to nourish His children so they will grow. He doesn’t want to carry them when they are fully capable of walking, when they are so big their feet would drag on the ground.
Babies want a lot of attention; if they don’t get it, they whimper, cry, pout. They’re spoiled. Some Christian babies are spoiled, too. Babies must develop, grow out of wanting to be the center of attention, wanting someone to wait on them hand and foot.
Almost from day one, a baby learns that when it gives out a scream someone will come running. It screams to get service. Some people try to get God’s attention that way. Like a baby, they expect to be waited on themselves.
Have you ever tried to reason with a baby? Try telling it there is no need to cry. Explain why it should be sleeping. Mention, too, that you need your rest and would rather not be awakened in the middle of the night to carry it around. Reasoning with Christians whose spiritual diet consists only of milk is difficult, also. Weaning time can create a great fuss because there is no understanding why meat is better than milk.
A baby begs and cries for what it wants. Some Christians beg and cry to get their prayers through instead of asking God in faith believing. The Lord said, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened (Matthew 7:7,8). The Lord didn’t say to scream your lungs out and hope He would hear. Just beg, beg, beg and I’ll come—but first learn how to beg. No, Jesus didn’t say that at all. Jesus never told us to beg Him for anything. We’re to grow up in the Lord so we won’t beg. I’m not talking now about babes in Christ who really need the milk of the Word, those just beginning in their Christian walk. Many feel the cry of God in their hearts but have no idea how to respond. I’m talking about those who have been Christians for years yet have never grown up in the Lord, never accepted the meat of the Word. They’re always on milk and always weak.
Trust God with All Your Heart
The Bible says to trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5,6). That’s a promise. God will direct your paths when you trust Him with all your heart. He is not the author of confusion; He doesn’t give it to His children. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace (I Corinthians 14:33). The meat of the Word removes confusion when you yield to God in perfect trust.
After a baby has been fed milk long enough, it’s time for that one to walk. It needs the strength of solid food. We must have the solid food of the Word if we are to work for the Lord, walking the paths He wants us to walk. The Lord made paths that would take strength, His strength, paths that are beyond man and woman to walk on their own. Jesus came to bring that strength, that solid food of trust. It’s yours to dine on if you really want it.
Christians who refuse the meat of the Word, taking only the milk over and over, never really learn to walk. They haven’t the strength to stand. The overcoming power and greatness of God do not operate through them. Unhappy, bound with fear and despair, they collapse as the devil spins them around like tops, totally disorienting them. No wonder they can’t find their way! They won’t use the meat of the Word for the spiritual body, only meat for the physical body. The body needs more than milk—and so does the soul.
You can have the meat of the Word. The way God will lead and direct you then will amaze you, using you to help others.
The Right Foundation
After I received salvation, I started helping others immediately because as a child I had received much of the meat of the Word. Gathering the family around, my dad would get out the Bible and begin to read the Word of God to us. It was family prayer time. They served us the meat of the Word in holy living, the meat of the Word in righteousness, the meat of the Word in the holiness of God, the meat of the Word in regeneration, sanctification, the baptism in the Holy Ghost—the meat of the Word. My parents served us signs following believers, the promises of God. Although we didn’t use all we were served, it was put into us in such a way that we had much to draw from. I can’t remember ever not being able to separate sin from the righteousness of God. From the cradle up we were taught the difference.
Many Christians today have no foundation on which to build because they either weren’t taught the Bible when they were children, or else they learned it the wrong way and now won’t accept the meat of the Word. They think they must have a crutch all the way to Glory. I’m not talking about those who from time-to-time need extra help. Anyone who drives a car can at sometime or other have a flat. If, however, they have a flat every day, something is basically wrong. Pastors are accustomed to fixing “flats,” but when a person starts having an unreasonable amount of spiritual problems, it’s time to reach for the meat of the Word.
Enoch was raptured because he dined on the meat of the Word. The Lord came down and served him personally—meat. Jesus came down to serve us personally. The Holy Ghost lives in you who are saved and baptized in Him. Jesus didn’t come to serve us milk every day, but meat. We’re in the final hour; the Lord told me that His people must have the meat of the Word to do what He wants them to do, to have His understanding, His knowledge, His greatness. To please Him, they must have the meat of the Word, I say again. Get rid of the bottle; stand up with the adults and be counted.
The Bread of Heaven
Thomas, following Jesus for over three years, had not gone on to the meat of the Word; if he had, he would not have doubted. So many times we doubt, fail God because we don’t have the meat, the strength of God’s promises working on the inside. We don’t realize the power of the meat from Heaven. Jesus said, I am the living bread which came down from heaven (John 6:51).
Heaven holds much food; the supply is unlimited, but we must eat it. Looking at food will never give a baby strength. That food must be eaten. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). The Word is the spiritual strength, the life of the child of God.
Vision of This Endtime
In my name, Jesus said, shall they cast out devils (Mark 16:17). In the name of Jesus it will be done; but it can’t be done without the meat, the power and the greatness of the Word. Just as the baby has no knowledge, no vision of the future, no concern for lost souls, so it is with many babes in Christ. They have no burden for the lost at all, no vision. They don’t see what is coming upon the earth nor feel the need of evangelizing the world.
Those living on the meat of the Word have vision of this final hour. Anyone feeding their spiritual being on the meat of the Word today knows that we are the Rapture generation. They know that our generation is the one that will be on Earth when Jesus comes, that the nations are getting ready for the Battle of Armageddon. They know because they have the meat of the Word to give them God’s vision, God’s hearing, the go ye into all the world to preach the Gospel.
Sin Shall Not Have Dominion
For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 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 (Hebrews 5:13,14). If you use only the milk of the Word, the Bible says you are unskillful in the word of righteousness, babes without understanding. Those who stay on the milk of the Word of God don’t understand the holiness and purity of Him or how He operates. They don’t know how to explain the Word, much less how to use it. That’s the reason some people claim they cannot live free from sin. They don’t have the meat of the Word.
The meat of the Word declares he that committeth sin is of the devil (I John 3:8). When you are born new, sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace (Romans 6:14). The meat of the Word declares, sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee (John 5:14). You have that power through His righteousness to sin no more.
By the meat of the Word you are able to discern that which is good and that which is evil. You can separate them. No one can convince you that you can’t live free from sin, for the Word tells you otherwise. You recognize sin for what it is. You recognize righteousness. Babes do not. They are on dangerous ground.
Grow Up in the Lord
Many come to the Lord without the knowledge of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. They need teaching; they need help. Even the honest-hearted can be confused if there has been no opportunity to have knowledge. We are here to help those people, to help them grow in the Lord. No one is to continue in the milk stage year after year.
The baby is without understanding; Mom and Dad have to make all the infant’s decisions for it. They decide when to feed it, when to bathe it, when to change its clothes, when to put it into bed. However, they don’t expect to do that forever. The Lord gives great care to babes in Christ, but He intends for them to grow up.
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby (I Peter 2:1,2). Notice, this verse says “newborn babes.” As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word and you will grow. However, if you have no desire for the sincere milk, you will never grow, never get into the meat of the Word.
If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious (I Peter 2:3). The meat of the Word is wonderful, indeed. Study what it means to be a newborn babe in Christ, to go on to grow into the meat of the Word. How long can you safely exist on just the milk of the Word? How soon will you be in danger of the enemy defeating and overcoming you? If he can’t overcome you completely he will try to cripple your mind so it won’t function in agreement with the Lord. You can’t think right, can’t pull your thoughts together. It’s time to grow up.
Of course you can seek help when you really need it, I say again. But let that help take hold through the meat of the Word. Don’t use others as crutches when you can walk alone with the Lord. God doesn’t expect you to be always in a fog, a state of confusion, always weak in the Lord. It can’t be. You never will get to Rapture ground, saith the Lord; you’ll never get there. Rise up and decide that the milk of the Word was fine for you when you were a newborn babe, but now it’s time to grow up and start eating meat. Look around for those who have just come into the Kingdom. They are the ones who require the most attention; show them God’s love and faith.
The Lord needs you. He wants you to help others around you. If you want the same help over and over, you are not growing. You are to get help when you need it, but don’t be a baby about it all the days of your life. Put that help to use. Growing up is the plan of God, living on the meat of the Word.
Like a baby unable to keep its milk, some won’t keep the Word. Something is wrong with their spiritual system. If you have a baby who can’t keep the milk it drinks, you do everything you can to remedy the situation so that baby will grow. Night and day you look after that baby, take it to various specialists. The Lord spends much time with babes in Christ, trying to help them grow up. Grow up we must in this final hour, if we’re going to make it, saith the Lord. You will have to grow up if you are going to do battle for God in this final hour. You need the strength, the power of Heaven to trample devils underfoot. To wear the shoes of Jesus, you must have that strong meat from Heaven that He brought down.
Jesus had trouble with His disciples: They had plenty of milk but not enough meat to provide them with strength to handle the Crucifixion and to expect the Resurrection. Only after Jesus ascended back to Heaven did they really go after the meat.
Strong meat belongs to them that are of full age. A child of God is meant to come to full age in the Lord. Have you come to full age, have you matured or are you still just a babe always getting your feelings hurt, always crying or pouting about something? Paul said, When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things (I Corinthians 13:11). Have you become an adult in the Lord? Have you put away those things that hinder? Strong meat belongs to those who are of full age.
Special Care
When a person comes to the Lord with little knowledge of Him, he needs special care from those who have gone into the meat of the Word. Day and night he needs the milk of the Word until he can begin to digest the meat. He needs strength in the Lord because the devil will be coming after him to defeat him. Everyone mature in the Lord should be helpful to new converts coming to Jesus.
My mother, who had gone to the aid of so many people, said, “I never helped anyone out of the valley but what I came out myself.” Often I have thought about that statement; it has meant much to me in my ministry. “I’ve been sick,” my mother said, “when someone wanted me to pray for them. In praying Heaven down on them and helping them out of the valley of sickness, I came out and had my healing, too.” In her discouraging moments, people came knocking, saying, “Mrs. Angley, I need help.” She always asked them in. It was prayer meeting time. I never saw my mother fail to be lit up, her face shining like an angel’s with the glory of God after she prayed for those who came to her. She had helped another soul out of the valley. You think a housewife can’t do much for the Lord? Mom had a testimony for the insurance man who came to collect each week. I’d hear her telling him about Jesus, how wonderful it was to serve the Lord. The grocery man would stop by; Mom talked to him about Jesus. Anyone that came to the house met a true witness for the Lord. She had something wonderful to say about Jesus, and then she would send them on their way.
I remember in the days of the Great Depression when we had hardly anything at all. An old man knocked on the door. He was hungry. His feet were in a terrible condition; he didn’t have proper socks. Mom fed him, gave him a pair of Pop’s socks—and poor Pop needed his socks, but this man needed them more. Mama handed him a little money out of her meager supply—it may have been the last she had in the house. But he needed help. Where would he go? Take this. Mom passed up her children—God would make a way for us. She passed up herself—God would make a way for her somehow. God would bring in money for the necessities, but here was someone who needed help desperately. She prayed over him and sent him on his way. I never saw him again, but I may meet him up in Heaven one day.
It’s wonderful to have the meat of the Word, to be strong enough to help those struggling in the Lord! My parents dined on the meat of the Word; they both loved it. Strong meat belongs to them of full age.
A Reluctant Baby Sitter
There were seven children in our home. Every time a new one came, the baby had to have the most attention. The other children were expected to help take care of the littlest one even though we didn’t always want to. My baby brother, now one of the partners in my ministry, was a cute one; but I thought we had been blessed with enough babies in our home. Now I was a reluctant baby sitter; I wanted to be out running across the plowed ground in my bare feet, chasing rabbits, throwing rocks at the wasp nests; but my job was to swing the baby to sleep on the front porch. He needed care. I just didn’t feel the need to give it.
That’s the way some Christians are: they don’t feel the need of caring for the newborn babes in Christ. They want the attention. Someone helped them get where they are, and now they aren’t willing to do the same for others.
My two oldest sisters had taken care of me when I was little, but I didn’t want to take care of my baby brother. I thought people should just appreciate my presence and not expect anything from me. Some Christians have no time to listen to problems, no time to teach the babes. Here’s the Bible, take it and get what you can out of it, is their philosophy. Those feelings can be overpowering.
My little brother wasn’t in any hurry to fall asleep, and I didn’t have patience to wait for him. He stayed awake as long as he could. When Mama wasn’t looking, I would gently try to close his eyelids. I thought it would help him fall asleep faster.
Sometimes the Christian doesn’t have patience with newborn children of God. Be mindful; make sure everything you serve is the pure Word with nothing else mixed in that would hurt the babes in any way, upset their systems. Be very careful to give them the pure milk of the Word with all patience, love, understanding and wisdom. Then you can begin to feed them a little meat. They will begin to grow. After a while, they will be on their own.
Before long, my little brother was on his own. I didn’t have to swing him any more. Mom and Dad saw that he got plenty of milk and then made sure he had meat to make him grow. I was overjoyed to see him walking, being able to run and play; I was delighted to no longer hear my mother’s voice saying, “Come, put the baby to sleep.” It was an ordeal for me, but to many it’s a joy.
Take the Love, Patience and Greatness of the Word
Love does many wonderful things for babies, and love does many wonderful things for the babes in Christ. Just as you grandmothers and grandfathers take such loving care of your grandchildren, the mature Christian takes loving care of the babes in Christ. Never telling them anything that will discourage, they give love. When you meet someone who has been saved a long time but is still living without the meat of the Word, be patient to help him. Perhaps he doesn’t know about the baptism in the Holy Ghost or the gifts in the Spirit. Show great care, great patience in teaching him the meat.
I love to teach people who do not know the deepness of God. I love to work with people who have never had anything but the milk of the Word. I delight in telling them about the real Holy Ghost, teaching them the manifestations of the Spirit and how God works, how to serve God, how to walk with Him.
The meat and the milk of the Word: decide not to stay on the milk, but go on to the meat of the Word. Take it all. The Bride will take all of the strength of the Word in this final hour. All of the greatness of the Word will be hers, her meat, her strength and power, and she will be victorious, saith the Lord.
The Sinners’ Prayer
You who are unsaved, give your heart to God, and become a newborn babe in Christ today. It will be the greatest day of your entire life. Pray the sinners’ prayer with me now: Oh, God, save my soul. Forgive me of my sins. I’m so sorry I sinned against you. I’m going to serve you, Lord. I confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He died for me. I will live for Him. I believe the blood of Jesus washes away all of my sins, all of them. Come on in, Jesus! Come on in!
If you can say Hallelujah! and mean it, you have found the Lord today. Start praying, living in the Word, a newborn babe in Christ. You’ll find the milk of the Word is wonderful. In a little while you will be taking some of the meat and then more and more as you continue to reach for Him in prayers, fasting and living in the Word of God. Go on to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, on into the way of the Lord. Walk as Jesus walked; live as He lived here on planet Earth.
The Prayer of Faith Shall Save the Sick
You who are sick and afflicted, believe the Word that says, The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up (James 5:15). Divine healing is the meat of the Word. I am not the healer; I am a believer in His healing.
The healing power is flowing into your body if you accept it. Carry that healing power with you; let it get you well. It will, you know. It got me well. The Lord loves you just as much as He loved me that night He came and made me whole all over.
Take not only the milk, but reach out for the meat of the Word now. Really dine, oh, Child of God, on the meat of the Word, and be strong, strong like the Master, Jesus. Do His wonderful work in this last hour.
A Message from the Holy Ghost
Yea, saith the Spirit of God: I am moving for you. I am feeding you my greatness. I am feeding you that which you must have in this your final walk with me. I am giving you Heaven’s strength to win all the battles for me that I have willed you to win. I am giving you the courage of Heaven so that your hearts will not faint within you. I am feeding you my greatness [so] that you will go in the power of my Spirit, and you will defeat the powers of the enemy for the multitudes, and you will rescue the lost. You will bring them into my Kingdom because you will have my love and my faith and my compassion.
I am serving you everything that you need. There will be no lack. You will have abundance, and you will deliver my message of greatness to others. You will show my love to others, and you will serve my kindness, my gentleness to others. You will give others a desire to come out of sin into my righteousness, a desire to live and abide in my holiness.
I will give you great, great vision. You will see that which you could never see before, and you will know my Spirit like you have never known it before. Yes, you will know the mind of the Spirit daily, and you will walk in my greatness. Multitudes and multitudes will be turned to righteousness because of your faithfulness, saith the Lord.
THE MEAT OF THE WORD, All rights reserved. Copyright © 1992 Ernest Angley.
All literature available on this page is owned exclusively by Ernest Angley Ministries and is available for your personal, noncommercial use only. You may freely download, print or distribute this literature without prior permission, as long as it is NOT altered and is distributed in its entirety.
- 8 years ago
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I don’t know about you, but I sure do like a thick, juicy steak every once in awhile. But with the current price of beef being sky high, it’s a rare treat. Drinking milk is another thing altogether. I consider milk a breakfast drink, something I rarely drink for lunch or dinner. I like milk with my cereal. Paul, the Apostle, mentioned “meat” and “milk” in two separate books of the Bible, 1st Corinthians and Hebrews. Paul contrasts “milk” and “meat” to make an important spiritual analogy. Paul, in his address to the Corinthian church, wrote:
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (KJV) – “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”
The word “milk” in the above quote (Greek gala) means the basic, elemental teachings of Christianity first learned by new believers according to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments. The word “meat” in 1Corinthians is from the Greek word “Broma”. Its’ Strong’s number is G1033. It means the deeper, more complete teachings of God’s Word.
Paul addressed several church-related problems in his first letter to the Corinthians. There was one problem that he knew was carnal. This problem was evidence of their spiritual immaturity. Some in Corinth had aligned themselves to certain teachers (Paul, Apollos, Peter). They were causing contentions and divisions in the church by arguing about which preacher was the most spiritual (verses 3 – 23)! Paul thought that teaching the church the deeper truths of God would be a waste of time. After all how could they understand the deeper principles of the scriptures if they continued to entangle themselves in petty debates over who was ‘the greatest!’
Paul contrasts the idea of spiritual “milk” and “meat” in his letter to the Hebrews.
Hebrews 5:12 (KJV) – “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.”
Paul does state, a few verses later, some of the teachings he considers are the “first principles of the oracles of God.”
• Repentance
• Faith in God
• Baptism and its meaning
• The laying on of hands
• The resurrection of the dead
• Eternal judgment (Hebrews 6:1-2)
Hebrews 6:1-2 (KJV) – “Therefore 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, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
In conclusion, if we use the Bible to interpret itself, the words “meat” and “strong meat” refer to deeper, more complex Christian teachings. However the word “milk” refers to the basics of Christian teaching. Interestingly, Peter uses part of this same metaphor when he writes to encourage scattered new believers.
1 Peter 2:2 (KJV) – “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”
I don’t know about you, but I want all of the Word of God, both the milk and the meat. I want to rightly divide the Word of truth. I want the scriptures to reveal themselves to me. Prayer and systematic study are the keys to feasting on the “meat” of God’s Word.
For more information on how to study the Bible refer to Rules for Understanding the Bible!
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I’ve studied and taught the good news of Jesus Christ and His kingdom since 1985. My goal is to reveal the biblical truths I’ve come to see through prayer and study. I believe that the scriptures are revealed to those that study and rightly divide the «Word of Truth.”
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Ron
I’ve studied and taught the good news of Jesus Christ and His kingdom since 1985. My goal is to reveal the biblical truths I’ve come to see through prayer and study. I believe that the scriptures are revealed to those that study and rightly divide the «Word of Truth.”
Answers to Bible Questions
Scriptures are from the KJV of the Bible
(Q) Milk or Meat of the Word, which one are you satisfied with?
(A) Are you satisfied to know the simple things of God’s Word? In the physical realm, milk is essential and needful for babes. Likewise in the spiritual realm “ newborn spiritual babes” desire the sincere (pure, unadulterated) milk of the Word that they may grow thereby as it says in 1 Peter 2: 2: 2As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
But, as the physical babe cannot grow to adulthood on milk alone, neither can “spiritual babes” grow to men and women of God on “the milk of the Word.” There must come a time when the babe begins to assimilate solid food or “meat.”
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers and reminded them that he “determined not to know anything among them, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” 1Corinthians 2:2. This was all they could understand at the time due to their carnality. He continues in 1 Corinthians 3:1-4: 1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
From these Scriptures it is evident that “being satisfied with the simple things” is actually a mark of carnality. Without a doubt this carnal attitude has contributed largely to the wide-spread Illiteracy in Bible knowledge among God’s people in our day. Instead of being men and women of God, many are still “children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine!’ Ephesians 4: 14.
Before going on I want to define some of the words found in the above verses from 1 Corinthians 3: 1-4.
(1) The term “spiritual” is applied to those who not only possess the Spirit, but who also walk in the Spirit. See Galatians 5: 16.
(2) The term “Carnal” in the Greek is sarkikos which has the meaning of walking after the flesh or controlled by the animal appetites, governed by human nature.
(3) “Milk,” means easy to digest “spiritually.”
(4) “Meat,” meaning solid food or the deeper “spiritual” things of God’s Word.
(5) “Bear,” is used metaphorically here of keeping food down or digesting it; “spiritually,” God’s Word.
1 Corinthians 2 and 3 deal with four classes of men into which the Bible divides the human race spiritually: (1) The natural man: 1 Cor.2:14: 14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.(2) The babe in Christ: 1 Cor.3:1, (3) The carnal, or fleshly, Christian: 1 Cor.3:1, (4) The spiritual man of God: 1 Cor. 2:15: 15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
In 1 Cor. 3: 1-4 quoted above the apostle Paul deals with the carnal Christian, for this is what the Corinthians believers, as a whole, were. Verse 1 bears special attention. 1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.Note the words “could not.” Why could he not? Verse 3 tells us: “you are yet carnal.” The word “yet,” indicates that they had been believers for some time, but had not grown, spiritually, thus they had to be dealt with as babes in Christ.
This “yet” reminds us of Heb. 5:12, where Paul writes to the Hebrew believers:
“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.”
The Corinthians fell into this same category. By now they should have been teachers of the Word, spiritual men of God, but they had not grown. Had they been new believers, babes in Christ, there would have been some excuse for their condition, but though believers for some years now, they simply had not grown, so Paul had to deal with them as though they were still babes.
Thus we learn that those who, though born of the Spirit, do not grow spiritually are called “carnal” Christians and must be dealt with as babes in Christ. This casts light upon the fact that in this letter the apostle had to continue along the line indicated in 1 Cor. 2:2, for the carnal Christian, like the babe inChrist, can take in the fact that Christ died for him, but can digest little more than this.
The carnal Christian continues in a state of protracted infancy. He must be kept exclusively on a milk diet because, though saved for years, he is still unable to “bear,” or digest, solid food, still “unskillful in the Word,” and needing to be taught the elementary things.
BELIEVERS RESPONSIBLE TO GROW: Let us put it down, and never forget it: God holds believers responsible to grow to spiritual manhood through sincere and diligent study of the Word. To the newly saved He says: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere (pure) milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby,” I Pet. 2:2. Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, II Pet. 3: 18.
And to all believers He says: “For every one that useth milk (exclusively) is unskillful in the Word of righteousness, for he is a babe. “But strong meat (solid food) 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.
“Therefore leaving the principles (basics) of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection (maturity),Heb. 3: 13; 6:1.
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ” Eph. 4:14,15.
How many believers in Christ today are content with simply being in Christ, and just as content with their present beliefs and religious practices, and esteem them to be more precious than gaining Christ? How many of us who are in Christ are content with our own righteousness which is of our denominational form of the “Christian Religion” and are not interested in having that righteousness, which is through the faith of Christ, that righteousness which is of God.
In Acts 3:1-8, we read of a lame man that was healed by Jesus Christ through Peter and John. In verse 7, we read that Peter “took him by the right hand and lifted him up” The Greek word here is egeiro. Peter aroused him. Through this arousing, “immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.” He then had the ability and potential to stand up and walk. “And he leaping up stood, and walked,” v. 8. Notice that Peter did not stand him up, he simply took him by the hand and aroused him. The lame man, his feet having been strengthened through the arousing, leaped up, and standing up on his own strengthened feet, he began to walk by his own effort.
This is the way it must be also with us. God did not stand us up together with Christ, He simply took us by the hand, as it were, and aroused us together with Christ. Through this, our feet, as it were, in like manner having been strengthened, we also should stand up and begin to walk in newness of life by our own effort. Because we have been enabled to walk in the likeness of Christ’s resurrection, by the power of His resurrection through our identification with Him in His death, and His arousing out from among the dead, ( spiritually dead). Yet, instead of leaping up to stand up and walk, praising God, as did the man in Acts 3, most “of us are just sitting there and complaining, or making excuses. (still on the milk of the Word)
In Eph. 5:14, the apostle Paul gave us a directive from the Scriptures. He said: “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” The word “awake” is the Greek word egeiro. The word “arise” here is the Greek word (anistemi), which means to stand up. It is the root word for anastasis, “resurrection.” So here we have the arousing command, to wake up, as out of sleep. Then the directive, to stand up, as out from among the dead ones. And the result will be (literally) that Christ shall shine upon you. But notice the next verse, v. 15: “See then that ye walk.” Notice the progression: wake up, stand up, walk. And how are we to walk? “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” Eph. 5:15-17. (Grow spiritually, start digesting solid food). Paul in 1 Cor. 14:37 tells us we should be studying and learning the things he writes in his letters because: 37If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.If you don’t study Paul’s Epistles, you will remain ignorant of God’s special program for the Body of Christ of which all believers are a part of today, but most believers don’t even know they are part of the Body of Christ. So to be ignorant of Paul’s writings means you are still a “babe” in Christ, and you are still in need of milk. Paul’s Writings are the “meat” of the Word, learn all you can of it!
In Rom. 13:11-14, the apostle Paul said: “Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake [egeiro] out of sleep: for now IS our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” Again notice the progression: “awake [egeiro] out of sleep” (as out from among the dead – v. 11) – “cast off the works of darkness” and “put on the armour of light” (as standing up and getting dressed for action – v. 12 – “let us walk” v. 13,14. This will get us “on our toes,” or standing up and
walking, (toward spiritual maturity).
I hope you realize that in order to comprehend the things written in the Bible, you need to have God’s Holy Spirit dwelling within you, 1 Corinthians 2: 9-16: 9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
If we are true believers in Christ, we should not remain in the baby stage of our Christian life, but get up on our feet and start walking, searching for the deep spiritual meat of God’s Word as it say’s in Ephesians 3: 17-19: 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Why should we be concerned with the deeper spiritual things in God’s Word, especially the Apostle Paul? Romans 2: 16: 16In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. At our judgment day it will make a big difference, because we will be judged only according to Paul’s gospel which is different from the gospel given to the 12 Apostles. Ephesians 3: 1-10: 1For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, Paul’s gospel is loaded with meat, the deep spiritual things of God.
In conclusion, we all need to be growing in grace and knowledge of God’s Word and get out of that milk stage, because you will lose blessings and rewards at the Judgment seat of Christ if you don’t: 1 Cor. 3:9-17: 9For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. 10According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Are you satisfied with the milk of God’s Word, or do you desire the meat that you may grow into a mature Christian? God wants you to dig out the real meat of His Word and grow up. Is that what you want? Do you want to remain a babe in Christ? I hope not!
Maranatha (Lord come)
John
Below are the best difference between milk and meat of the word topics edited and compiled by familycuisine.net
Something is moving in the area of consumer protection. In several legal cases designations of plant-based products likening to animal source foods have been forbidden to use the animal product names. This happened recently in Germany, where the start-up “The Hempany“, producer of plant-based drink from hemp seeds, had called their product “Milck“, clearly referencing the real cow’s milk. According to the court, the name “Milck” goes against the EU regulation protecting product names for milk and milk products. Unfortunately, such rules are still missing for the meat sector, where the debate on meat-sounding names is still open.
The German court strengthens consumer protection. The ruling is clear: “Milck” is too close to “milk” or the German word “Milch”, and the product is far away from sharing the nutritional qualities of milk. That was the judgment of the Stuttgart court: the name “Milck” cannot be used to refer to a plant-based drink that is not milk because it is a source of confusion for consumers, who deserve clarity and transparency instead. This is a new victory against misleading labels, similar to the story from England with Oatly, a producer of plant-based drinks from oats.
Here, too, the UK Advertising Standards Authority ASA banned Oatly’s marketing campaign, arguing that its claims were not scientifically proven and were misleading for consumers. Oatly argued that following a vegan diet would reduce a person’s environmental impact more than giving up flying, buying an electric car, or buying sustainable meat and dairy products. All false statements and not supported by scientific studies, according to the ASA.
Indeed, in examining this issue, the ASA said that Oatly overestimated the meat and milk industry emissions. In the comparison with transport it had not considered emissions from the whole life cycle of transport, but only direct emissions of vehicles, probably the most common error made when comparing emissions.
Similarly, the Center against Unfair Competition in Frankfurt has decided that German start-up “The Hempany” cannot use the fancy name “Milck” for advertising its vegan drink under the slogan “let’s milk hemp seeds instead of cows”. The product is far from having the nutritional qualities of natural milk, and plant-based drinks are not comparable in any way to real cow’s milk, neither for dietary values nor for health benefits.
This marketing between bashing and imitation is questionable, as there can be room for both dairy products and vegetable juices without the two necessarily coming into conflict. A good example of this was the development of vegetable margarine alongside butter.
The issue of confusion is also far from being annecdotal, a 2018 CNIEL study in France had shown that among consumers already 1 in 2 thought that milk and plant juices provided the same nutrients and 1 in 5 thought that these juices met the needs of babies. These naming issues will increase in the coming years with the proliferation of plant-based and purely synthetic substitutes.
The market of plant-based products proposed as substitutes of animal source foods is expanding, and, in Germany for example, more and more people are switching from the classic cow’s milk, to drinking vegetable products based on soy, almonds or oats. According to the Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE), consumption last year was almost 50 kilograms per capita. But the Stuttgart start-up is not giving up and has appealed. “We are very disappointed with the decision of the Court of Justice”, explains Dave Tjiok, CEO at The Hempany GmbH: “Consumer behaviour has changed radically, and one thing is certain: we will continue to make noise“.
On the other hand, the European Dairy Association,commented: “The ruling is clear: dairy terms are protected at EU level, safeguarding consumers’ nutritional and quality expectations. The German plant-based company was trying to blur the lines between their product and real milk, but there is no comparison in terms of nutritional quality – plant-based products cannot provide the full nutritional benefits that come naturally from milk. To protect consumers, we must have rules that avoid that people are misled about what to buy. Trying to imitate the uniqueness of our milk and dairy products is simply a threat to consumers’ capability of making properly informed choices”.
Milk and Meat of the Bible
- Author: biblestudy.org
- Published: 06/17/2022
- Review: 4.6 (252 vote)
- Summary: The word “meat” comes from the Greek word Broma (Strong’s #G1033) and means the more solid, complete and deeper spiritual doctrines of the Gospel. Vintage …
- Matching search results: Paul addressed several church-related problems in his first letter to the Corinthians. There is one problem, however, that he knew was carnal, and which was evidence of their spiritual immaturity. Some in Corinth had not only aligned themselves to …
Whats the Milk and Meat of the Word?
- Author: scripturerevealed.com
- Published: 04/24/2022
- Review: 4.41 (326 vote)
- Summary: The word “milk” in the above quote (Greek gala) means the basic, elemental teachings of Christianity first learned by new believers according to Vine’s …
- Matching search results: 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (KJV) – “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye …
Difference between the "MILK" and the "MEAT" of Gods word
- Author: christianforums.net
- Published: 01/20/2022
- Review: 4.34 (508 vote)
- Summary: The “strong meat” in God’s Word involves deeper matters beyond the topic of The Gospel. It involves the “mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” …
- Matching search results: 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (KJV) – “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye …
Textual Sermon: Hebrews 5:12-6:3: Milk and Meat of the Word
- Author: bibleanswer.com
- Published: 09/07/2022
- Review: 4.04 (570 vote)
- Summary: “Milk” and “meat” are used by Holy Spirit to describe the teachings of God’s word that … I. WHAT IS THE MILK AND THE MEAT OF THE WORD?
- Matching search results: 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (KJV) – “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye …
Whats the difference between milk and meat?
- Author: graceatwork-atlanta.com
- Published: 12/15/2021
- Review: 3.95 (290 vote)
- Summary: Today, the phrase “spiritual person” is often used to describe someone who rejects biblical Christianity in favor of new-age practices. New-age …
- Matching search results: Not convinced? I’ll try again. In Ezekiel 16, God describes in surprisingly graphic detail how the Israelites were tempted into idolatry by the Chaldeans (or Babylonians), a land of merchants: “You also multiplied your harlotry with the land of …
The Milk and the Meat of Scripture
- Author: scripturethoughts.wordpress.com
- Published: 01/13/2022
- Review: 3.66 (264 vote)
- Summary: John MacArthur has described the difference between milk and meat in … The Amelekite’s use of the word “behold” which shows up in some of …
- Matching search results: Now, if you read that carefully, you’ll see that what he is doing is playing a little bit loose with the truth. And that little “behold” not rendered in the text that I have here — once as “there was” and then as “indeed” and then “here,” will give …
The Difference Between Milk and Meat
- Author: preaching.com
- Published: 01/31/2022
- Review: 3.53 (327 vote)
- Summary: Chuck, who is meaty, and Pastor Glen, who is milky. I was aware, of course, that this milk-meat metaphor has a Biblical origin (as, presumably, were most …
- Matching search results: Now, if you read that carefully, you’ll see that what he is doing is playing a little bit loose with the truth. And that little “behold” not rendered in the text that I have here — once as “there was” and then as “indeed” and then “here,” will give …
The meat of the Word
- Author: lifecenter.net
- Published: 02/14/2022
- Review: 3.26 (370 vote)
- Summary: This is “the meat of the Word: how to go deeper in God’s Word.” The Bible uses the metaphor of going from milk to solid food.
- Matching search results: Hebrews 5:11-14 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You …
The difference between milk and meat
- Author: bladenjournal.com
- Published: 11/21/2021
- Review: 3.17 (599 vote)
- Summary: My daughter’s birthday was three weeks ago. Normally we celebrate family birthdays at home by cooking something on the grill and having a …
- Matching search results: Here’s the same verse in a different translation … “You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and …
Whats the Diff between Milk and Solid Food (Meat)?
- Author: fountainoflifetm.com
- Published: 03/01/2022
- Review: 2.84 (123 vote)
- Summary: The Bible likens God’s word to spiritual food that we need to truly live. … word is the “milk” and what part is the “solid food” or “meat”?
- Matching search results: Notice how verse 14 shows that mature believers are able to distinguish good and evil, which means that they understand the differences between the fruit of the spirit and the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-23). Furthermore, it’s implied that …
Milk or Meat of the Word, which one are you satisfied with?
- Author: gracebibletimes.com
- Published: 07/16/2022
- Review: 2.76 (89 vote)
- Summary: (3) “Milk,” means easy to digest “spiritually.” (4) “Meat,” meaning solid food or the deeper “spiritual” things of God’s Word. (5) “ …
- Matching search results: From these Scriptures it is evident that “being satisfied with the simple things” is actually a mark of carnality. Without a doubt this carnal attitude has contributed largely to the wide-spread Illiteracy in Bible knowledge among God’s people in …
Prohibition of Meat and Milk: Its Origins in the Text
- Author: thetorah.com
- Published: 02/01/2022
- Review: 2.79 (61 vote)
- Summary: The context of the verse in Deuteronomy is very different. The phrase appears as part of a list of forbidden foods, specifically, the …
- Matching search results: Most scholars believe that the author of the Deuteronomy (D) was familiar with the Covenant Collection (the academic term for the laws in Exod. 20:19-23:19) and used it as a basis from which to compose his own work.[9] Since the source for the …
What’s The Difference Between Milk And Solid Food For Christians?
- Author: christianpost.com
- Published: 08/10/2022
- Review: 2.5 (153 vote)
- Summary: The Bible tells us that there are two kinds of spiritual food that Christians eat: “milk” and “meat” or “solid food,” both coming from the …
- Matching search results: Peter says the unlearned and unstable people twist Paul’s teachings to their own destruction (see 2 Peter 3:16), and unless we are grounded on the right foundations in Christ, we might end up doing the same (see 2 Peter 3:17-18). We need to be …
Milk and Solid Food (Meat) of God’s Word – BibleOne.net
- Author: bibleone.net
- Published: 10/07/2022
- Review: 2.49 (162 vote)
- Summary: In 1 Corinthians, chapter 3, we learn that the doctrine of Scripture is divided into two categories, milk for babes and food (meat) for adults. The carnal …
- Matching search results: Peter says the unlearned and unstable people twist Paul’s teachings to their own destruction (see 2 Peter 3:16), and unless we are grounded on the right foundations in Christ, we might end up doing the same (see 2 Peter 3:17-18). We need to be …
Milk vs. Meat | Perfect Word Ministries – Messianic Bible Teaching
- Author: perfectword.org
- Published: 02/03/2022
- Review: 2.38 (118 vote)
- Summary: The fact is that according to the Scriptures, the difference between being able to handle milk versus solid food is not a difference between …
- Matching search results: The fact is that according to the Scriptures, the difference between being able to handle milk versus solid food is not a difference between basic understanding of Scripture versus deeper understanding, but a difference between knowing foundational …
100 Bible Verses about Meat Of The Word
- Author: openbible.info
- Published: 11/21/2021
- Review: 2.29 (63 vote)
- Summary: Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come …
- Matching search results: The fact is that according to the Scriptures, the difference between being able to handle milk versus solid food is not a difference between basic understanding of Scripture versus deeper understanding, but a difference between knowing foundational …
We serve the meat of the word! We preach the bible as it is…
- Author: israelmyglory.org
- Published: 09/28/2022
- Review: 2.25 (197 vote)
- Summary: Paul is making a distinction between immature or “fleshly” Christians who are babes and can, therefore, only digest milk and mature or spiritual Christians who …
- Matching search results: We preachers often bemoan the fact that Sunday morning attendance is down, it’s impossible to get a crowd on Sunday night, and we’ve simply given up on Wednesday prayer meeting. We blame television, the culture, two family breadwinners, disinterest …
Greetings, David.
I agree with you that the «word of righteousness» (i.e. the teaching on righteousness) is the meat of the word here, although I think it involves more than simply walking in peace and avoiding divisions. I think the expression «meat of the word» relates specifically to those parts of Christian teaching that are the «toughest» to swallow, and by that I mean the teachings on enduring afflictions, trials, sufferings and persecution for Christ’s sake, to reign together with Him in eternity (2 Timothy 2:10-12).
It is summarized more clearly in Chapter 10:
32 But recall the former days in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and afflictions, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 “For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith. But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:32-39)
As for the context of Hebrews 5, in previous Chapters the writer is comparing the New Testament saints «sojourn» to Heaven with the Israelites sojourn to the promised land, (i.e. the «rest» of God he is referring to in both these instances). Thus, he starts off Chapter 4 as follows:
1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them (the unbelieving Jews), but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said, “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ”although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; 5 and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.” 6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disbelief, 7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said, “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.” (Hebrews 4:1-7)
Why did the Israelites harden their hearts and not enter in? Because they feared for their lives, knowing giants were in the land. Thus, the teaching here was simple: New Testament believers, if they would enter into the TRUE promised land which the holy land only typified, needed to believe God and NOT fear for their lives as the faithless Israelites did, but if necessary endure afflictions and persecution for His name’s sake. God was angry with the cowardice and faithlessness exhibited by the Israelites who would not enter in, and therefore swore in His wrath that they would not, even after they witnessed His power in manifestation. Thus, the writer was saying that we must not fall away in similar fear of what the enemy might do to us (more specifically to our flesh). This is why he will go on to say in Chapter 6:
1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. (Hebrews 6:1-8)
Thus, living out the gospel involves not just baptisms or laying on of hands to receive anointings and outpourings (the «milk» of Christian teaching). It must also involve teachings on enduring persecution and affliction in preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.