Milk instead of solid food, infants instead of mature adults. Part two
In the last post, part one, I asked nine questions:
1. That does it mean to move beyond the elementary teaching about Christ?
2. What does it mean to be taken forward into maturity?
3. What does it mean, not laying again the foundation of repentance and acts that lead to death and of faith in God?
4. Why is Paul telling the believers in Corinth that they are still worldly?
5. That they are mere infants in their belief?
6. What does he mean by "I gave you milk"
7. Why does he tell them they are not ready.
8. What is going on in Hebrews that the author tells them they should be teachers but still need teaching, of the elementary truths?
9. Why does this author also tell them the need milk and not solid food?
Let us look at judgment. Each and every day we apply judgment to inanimate objects and people as we move through the day and make decisions. No matter how much one may say, "Who am I to judge." Yet, when we pick out a church to attend, when we decide to call someone pastor, elder, or teacher, we are making judgments. Truly, it isn't a question of someone's salvation when we use judgment, rather it is their walk with God that we inevitably and rightfully judge. One's salvation is becoming sanctified. The word means set aside generally for a holly purpose. This form of the word is a verb, an action. Sanctification is a noun, a process. Sanctification is the way in which we walk out our relationship with God. Sanctified, and sanctification means, a) growing in grace, b) being set apart for a sacred purpose, c) being freed from sin, d) and to be made productive of holiness and or piety. Is this not what judge in others?
The nine questions deal with one's process of sanctification. More specifically definition a) growing in grace and d) be made productive of holiness and or piety. Henry P.Van Deusen said "sanctification is s great and neglected aspect of Christian truth." Luther saw sanctification as an a necessary act of love, while Calvin look at sanctification as a striving to follow God's laws. In Calvin's eyes, a justified person has no choice, they will do their best to suppress their earthly desires. Adolf Koberle states, “The doctrine of justification establishes a new relationship between God and man, the spiritual gift introduces a new vitality. The first is an act of divine compassion (misericorida) the second is the beginning of the activity of divine training. So without detracting in any way from the reality and divine power of sanctification we can truly say that justification is complete, sanctification is always something incomplete” Another author, Murray stated, "We are always liable to distort emphases. Out of deference to all the stress that falls upon God's agency in sanctification we must not fall into the error of quietism and fail to take account of the activity of the believer himself."
We must not fall into the trap of quietism, we should ensure we are not neglecting sanctification!
When sanctified, we are set aside, but make no mistake, we are not safe from being led astray. The nine questions are derived from Paul trying to keep churches from going astray, being misled by other Christians with different ideas. These people were not growing. They basically said no to the process of sanctification. Sanctification demands you grow in your maturity in your relationship with God. Not to stand still holding your fire insurance policy in your hand but rather to step out of the boat as Peter did. Part of sanctification is letting go of the material world. A baby drinking milk cannot let go. They desire to stay wrapped up, warm and safe in a blanket of Godly love, drinking formula. Yet we are called to eat solid food, which means moving away from the elementary teachings of Jesus and into a more spirit led life. As Jesus said to the rich young man, sell everything you have, give it to the poor and follow me. A spirit led life is not necessarily a monetarily rich life, nor healthy life but it can be, very much so, a life of risk. Where are you in the process of sanctification?
1. That does it mean to move beyond the elementary teaching about Christ?
2. What does it mean to be taken forward into maturity?
3. What does it mean, not laying again the foundation of repentance and acts that lead to death and of faith in God?
4. Why is Paul telling the believers in Corinth that they are still worldly?
5. That they are mere infants in their belief?
6. What does he mean by "I gave you milk"
7. Why does he tell them they are not ready.
8. What is going on in Hebrews that the author tells them they should be teachers but still need teaching, of the elementary truths?
9. Why does this author also tell them the need milk and not solid food?
Let us look at judgment. Each and every day we apply judgment to inanimate objects and people as we move through the day and make decisions. No matter how much one may say, "Who am I to judge." Yet, when we pick out a church to attend, when we decide to call someone pastor, elder, or teacher, we are making judgments. Truly, it isn't a question of someone's salvation when we use judgment, rather it is their walk with God that we inevitably and rightfully judge. One's salvation is becoming sanctified. The word means set aside generally for a holly purpose. This form of the word is a verb, an action. Sanctification is a noun, a process. Sanctification is the way in which we walk out our relationship with God. Sanctified, and sanctification means, a) growing in grace, b) being set apart for a sacred purpose, c) being freed from sin, d) and to be made productive of holiness and or piety. Is this not what judge in others?
The nine questions deal with one's process of sanctification. More specifically definition a) growing in grace and d) be made productive of holiness and or piety. Henry P.Van Deusen said "sanctification is s great and neglected aspect of Christian truth." Luther saw sanctification as an a necessary act of love, while Calvin look at sanctification as a striving to follow God's laws. In Calvin's eyes, a justified person has no choice, they will do their best to suppress their earthly desires. Adolf Koberle states, “The doctrine of justification establishes a new relationship between God and man, the spiritual gift introduces a new vitality. The first is an act of divine compassion (misericorida) the second is the beginning of the activity of divine training. So without detracting in any way from the reality and divine power of sanctification we can truly say that justification is complete, sanctification is always something incomplete” Another author, Murray stated, "We are always liable to distort emphases. Out of deference to all the stress that falls upon God's agency in sanctification we must not fall into the error of quietism and fail to take account of the activity of the believer himself."
We must not fall into the trap of quietism, we should ensure we are not neglecting sanctification!
When sanctified, we are set aside, but make no mistake, we are not safe from being led astray. The nine questions are derived from Paul trying to keep churches from going astray, being misled by other Christians with different ideas. These people were not growing. They basically said no to the process of sanctification. Sanctification demands you grow in your maturity in your relationship with God. Not to stand still holding your fire insurance policy in your hand but rather to step out of the boat as Peter did. Part of sanctification is letting go of the material world. A baby drinking milk cannot let go. They desire to stay wrapped up, warm and safe in a blanket of Godly love, drinking formula. Yet we are called to eat solid food, which means moving away from the elementary teachings of Jesus and into a more spirit led life. As Jesus said to the rich young man, sell everything you have, give it to the poor and follow me. A spirit led life is not necessarily a monetarily rich life, nor healthy life but it can be, very much so, a life of risk. Where are you in the process of sanctification?
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