From Milk to Meat
Understanding how God justifies his people is not for babies; it is a truth for full-grown believers. Many Christians are still babies, drinking milk and refusing to go on to the meat of the Word of righteousness. All they understand is forgiveness of their sins.
“For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 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” (Hebrews 5:13-14, NKJV).
Babies need milk and constant attention. They are comforted when their mother is in the room, and they often cry out in fear when she leaves. Babies must be able to see, hear, feel and touch their mothers to feel secure.
Likewise, the believer who remains on milk lives in constant dread of his salvation. He is never at ease with the heavenly Father. Instead, he’s always uptight, thinking God is ready to send him to hell every time he fails. He does not understand his position in Christ and, therefore, never knows the peace of God. He cannot believe that God is fully committed to save and keep him.
Paul says in the Word that there is meat available to us, spiritual food that will cause us to grow into maturity, to become men and women in Christ, and to develop into full stature as believers. Beloved, this meat is the truth concerning Christ’s perfect righteousness. Understanding it allows you to remain secure in your salvation. You don’t have to fear that God will forsake you whenever you slip and fall. No, you will have victory!
If you do not have this truth, the devil will wreak havoc on your feelings. He will lie to you and push you around. Unless you have this truth as a foundation under everything you believe, nothing will be right in your doctrine, your theology or your life. You can’t even obey God until you understand it.
You must be convinced that nothing you can ever do will produce an acceptable righteousness before God. It has to come from another source. When I stand at the judgment seat, I have no other plea but the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
