Tag: Christians

You Have Tasted

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

1Peter 2:1-4 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 you may grow thereby: If so be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious 

‘Laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings’ Five things Christians must lay aside: All malice; all guile; hypocrisies; envies; all evil speakings (Eph. 4:22-31).

‘Newborn babes’ in 1Peter 1:23 Peter speaks of his readers as being born again. Here he tells them how to grow as newborn babes in Christ. It is by taking the unadulterated milk of the Word of God, the pure doctrines of the gospel, as recorded in the new covenant.

‘Of the word’ [Greek: logikos] belonging to speech; belonging to reason; that which is rational; fit for reasoning; hence, logic. Translated ‘of the word’ (1Pet. 2:2) and reasonable (Rom. 12:1). The milk to be found in the Word of God is in the highest sense reasonable.

‘Grow thereby’ six facts about spiritual growth: Like a cedar of Lebanon (Ps. 92:12); like calves in the stall (Mal. 4:2); into a holy temple (Eph. 2:21); in grace (2Pet. 3:18); in knowledge (2Pet. 3:18); into Christ in all things (Eph. 4:15).

A five-fold former state of apostates is described in Hebrews 6:4-5: Those who were once enlightened but are not now enlightened. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says this refers to “those who have been made Christians.” Paul uses the same term of saved individuals elsewhere (Eph. 1:18; Hebr. 10:32; cp. Ps. 19:7-8; Luke 11:34-36). Only saints are called “children of light” (Eph. 5:8; Col. 1:12; 1Thess. 5:5), and only saved people are spoken of as being in the light (Matt. 5:14-15; Luke 16:8; John 3:20-21; 8:12; 12:36; Rom. 13:12; Eph. 5:14; Col. 1:12; 1Jn. 1:7; 2:9-10). Only people who have not been saved as spoken of as being darkened from gospel light (2Cor. 4:4; Eph. 4:18; 5:8; Col. 1:13; 1Thess. 5:5; 1Pet. 2:9; 1Jn. 1:6; 2:8-11). Those who have tasted of the heavenly gift (Heb. 6:4). The [Greek: geuomai] have experience of. Translated “to eat” (Acts 10:10; 20:11; 23:14) and “to taste” (Heb. 6:4,5; 2:9; Matt. 16:28; 27:34; Mark 9:1; Luke 9:27; 14:24; John 2:9; 8:52; Col. 2:21; 1Pet. 2:3). How could one taste of death, taste the Lord, taste the heavenly gift, and other things of these passages without experiencing them? They were made partakers of the Holy Spirit (Heb. 6:4). The Greek word metochos meaning a partner and fellow with (Heb. 3:1). No sinner is a partaker of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9-16). It is almost blasphemy to accuse the Holy Spirit of being a partner, sharer, and an associate with the ungodly. Jesus said that sinners cannot receive the Holy Spirit (John 14:17). Jude confirmed the same truth (Jude 1:19). They have tasted the good Word of God (Heb. 6:5). To taste the Word of God is to be saved, as proved in Matthew 13:20-23; Luke 8:13-15; John 15:3; Acts 2:41; 4:4; 8:14; 11:1; 17:11; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 5:26; James 1:18-25 and 1Peter 1:18-23. No man receives the Word and remains unsaved. They have tasted the powers of the world to come (Heb. 6:5). To taste of these powers means to experience eternal life. Every time such statement is found it refers to eternal life (Matt. 10:30; Luke 18:30; 20:35).  

‘Tasted’ to taste means to experience the thing tasted. Four heavenly things to taste: The Lord (2:3; Ps. 34:8); the Word of God (Ps. 119:103; Heb. 6:5); the heavenly gift (Heb. 6:4); the powers of the world to come (Heb. 6:5). ‘The Lord is gracious’ eight facts about Christ: He is gracious (2:3; Ex. 34:6; Ps. 86:15; 103:8; 111:4; 112:4; 116:5; 145:8); He is a Living Stone. The only foundation of the body (2:4, 6; Isa. 28:16; 1Cor. 3:11; Eph. 2:18-22); chosen or elected of God (2:4). He was chosen to be the Saviour of the world and founder of the congregation and body of believers (Luke 18:7); He was disallowed of people, (2:4) which is a fulfilment of Psalm 118:22 and Isaiah 53:1-12. The Greek word entimos translated “precious” (2:4, 6); “dear” (Luke 7:2); “hold in reputation” (Php. 2:29); and “honourable” (Luke 14:8). Regardless of the attitude of men, God holds Christ to be supremely precious, dear, and honourable. He is the chief cornerstone (2:6-8; Isa. 28:16) and a stone of stumbling (2:8; Ps. 118:22) and a rock of offence (2:8; Ps. 118:22).

Redeemed

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

1Peter 1:17-18 And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers 

‘And if you call on the Father …’ if you call on God through Christ and profess to be obedient children, pass your time here in reverence and fear.

‘Without respect of persons’ God cannot be anything but infinitely impartial in His dealings with all men. He cannot prefer one above another nor bless one above another when all meet the same terms and love Him with all the heart. The seeming preference of God between two men is based upon the attitude and disposition of the men toward God and conformity to His plan. Naturally, God cannot bless two men the same when one is in obedience and the other in rebellion. God will bless the ones more who conform more fully to His holiness as He is allowed in their lives to do to them according to His will.

Here it is clear that all judgment of God will be according to every man’s work (1Pet. 1:17; Matt. 16:27).

‘Redeemed’ the Greek word lutroo meaning to procure the life of a captive or a slave by paying a price (Heb. 9:12). The price here is not silver and gold, but the precious blood of Christ (1Pet. 1:18-19; Matt. 26:28; Eph. 1:14; Col. 1:20; Acts 20:28). Silver and gold, the most valuable medium of commerce among men, bear no proportion in their value to the souls of men to be redeemed. Nothing but the precious blood of Christ could pay the ransom price for the soul.

“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Gal. 3:13-14). The blessing of Abraham was that of being justified by faith, of having God as a friend to the extent that a whole nation was healed by prayer (Gen. 20), and of having all the good things of this life that could come to a human being through the gospel (Gal. 3:69).

‘Vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers’ empty, foolish, unprofitable and vain traditions and rituals. The Jews had added innumerable religious burdens and empty ceremonies which they held to be essential to salvation and handed down to generations, much like people do today in keeping religious activities (traditions Matt. 7, 15:9; Col. 2:8) because they believe it to be what a Christian should live according to, instead of the obedience to God’s Word to be a doer of the Word (Jas. 1:21-25) who lives without sin (Rom. 6; 1Pet. 2:21-23; 1John 3).