We grow in many ways and mature in many ways. Does life feel predictable? Do you feel a little in a rut? Is something missing in your life? OR are you on a “Magical Mystery Tour”? Loving the challenge and fulfillment of each day, of each new thing? Do you long to live a passionate life?
The writer of Hebrews, when he was talking about our spiritual growth, mentions living on “milk” and living on solid food or “meat”. It is a common misconception that “MILK” is the lightweight or simple teachings about our faith and the “MEAT” is the deep theological teachings about our faith.
It is revealed to us that “Milk” represents the elementary truths, some of the most basic things that you know: who Jesus is, for you on the cross, what baptism means, and on and on. And that “Meat” represents simply the teachings about righteousness–the way we live our lives–putting these elementary truths into practice–the solid food is being able to distinguish between good and evil Putting into practice the wisdom of God…indeed, the wisdom of Jesus!
I want to ENCOURAGE you–I want to SHARE with you this GIFT FROM GOD! That gift is a MATURITY IN LIFE, indeed a maturity in Christ.
How many times have you said, “If I knew then what I know now, things would be different, things would be so much better!”
Hebrews 6:1-3 (TNIV)
1 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites,[or about baptisms] the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so.
The Jewish believers to whom the book of Hebrews is written were drawn to the rituals and practices of their ancient faith. The writer pictures them constantly reexamining, wondering, rather than accepting the basic teachings of Christianity and growing toward maturity. So let’s dig in, let’s first examine these basic teachings–the MILK that the writer of Hebrews was talking about:
This next part of the Scriptures in, verse 1, I found particularly intriguing! This first phrase “repentance from acts that lead to death” which in Greek is “metanoia apo nekros ergon“, is simply “repentance” a change of mind from inanimate, lifeless things that we do that are wrong–sin.
This next phrase, “of faith in God”, which in Greek is “pistis epi theos” is simply a trust–belief and conviction in the truth of and in God.
TOGETHER: these two thoughts equal “salvation”, an eternity with God
Salvation is defined in Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary as “deliverance from the power and effects of sin (The wages of sin are death), liberation from ignorance or illusion, preservation from destruction or failure, deliverance from danger or difficulty”
This is the beginning of the journey–this is the milk.