Posts
This short chapter took up pages in my commentary. It
explained how the writer continued to show the Jewish Christians that Jesus’
title, ordination, sympathy, and sacrifice was greater than those offered to
them by Moses under the old covenant.
He then told them that as Christians we need to make progress, not simply hold where we
are. He listed several marks of
spiritual immaturity:
--
Dullness
toward the Word – “These believers started on their backward journey by drifting from the Word, and then doubting the Word. As a result, they were now dull of hearing; that is, unable to listen to the Word, receive it, and act
on it.”
-- Inability to share spiritual truth – “Instead of helping others to grow, these Hebrew Christians were in need of learning again the simple teachings of the Christian life.
-- A baby food diet – “The milk of the Word refers to what Jesus Christ did on earth – His birth, life, teaching, death, burial, and resurrection. The meat of the Word refers to what He is now doing in heaven. We begin the Christian life on the basis of His finished work on earth. We grow in the Christian life on the basis of His unfinished work in Heaven.
-- Unskillful in using the Word – “An immature believer will listen to an preacher on the radio or television and not be able to identify whether or not he is true to the Scriptures.”
My commentary also quoted what a pastor said about most
Christians being “betweeners”: “They are
between Egypt and Canaan – out of the place of danger, but not yet into the place of rest and rich
inheritance. They are between Good
Friday and Easter Sunday – saved by the blood but not yet enjoying newness of
resurrection life.”
Father, help me to keep growing spiritually. Provide me with discernment and give me a
hunger for the meat of growth in
holiness so that I can continue to help others to find You and to discover Your
will for their lives.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
No comments:
Post a Comment