Indeed you Have Tasted
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When I got a message from Pst. Brady that I should teach about how to have a productive bible reading or study. I was like, that’s a hard one right there.
For many of us, we get to have our personal bible study during our devotional.
In most cases, we all practice several styles.
Some of us read a verse and meditate on it.
And we have the commentrary gurus. During their bible study they are always with their commentaries.
And some are the apologetic gurus. They find ways to defend the faith from every verse.
There are many ways to study the Bible or have a bible study.
But to have a personal bible, study, we need to first discuss why this is needed.
If there was a part two for this teaching, I will teach on the how to conduct a Bible study.
But for some of us, we struggle with why we need to have a Bible study.
Or, why is it important.
Or should i say, why is it still important.
For some of us, we heard the gospel over the years, or even taught the gospel, and we see little to need to have a productive bible study.
The first question we need to ask is why? Why are we doing this?
Are we reading our Bibles so that God will bless us.
Are we studying the Bible to avoid calamity in our lives
Are we studying the Bible to get more intelligent, to get more holy, to feel the presence of God.
Why?
Are we scared of God. Do we see God as a task master, where if we miss one day of reading the Bible, he would punish us and not protect us.
Sometimes, how we identify God and how we view God will determine how we appraoch his Word and even interpret his word.
If I view God has all knowing, transcendant, loving, kind, and just, that will appeal to how I confront Scripture, no matter the number of commentaries I have right in front of me.
Therefore, we need to ask the why question before the how. Why? Why? Why? Maybe some other time, we can discuss the how?
Can some please read 1 Peter 2:1-6.
The Lord is good (2:1-3)
The Lord is good (2:1-3)
From a contextual basis, Peter was encouraging here that since the believer has received the gospel (vs 25) and this gospel is the word of God, they ought to put away Malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and all slander.
1 Pet 1:25 states
English Standard Version Chapter 1
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
But I have one issue with the verse. As people, who study the Bible, you must always be opened to observations. You must always be willing to ask questions about a verse or passage that you are reading. Why?
Because you are created in God’s image. You should ask questions because that contributes to the process of interpretation.
Although Peter is saying we should rid ourselves of deceit and hypocricy, he provides the solution to that issue.
He states in 1 Pet 2:2
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—
From my observation, this solution does not correspond to the problem.
If a believer has issues with hypocrisy, and they come to you, will you just tell them, “Long for the pure Spiritual milk.”
But after several study, we can realize that Peter is calling believers to “CRAVE” for the pure spiritual milk as a solution because deceit and hypocrisy is a sign of misplaced identity.
Peter is going to the root of hypocrisy and malice, not its surface problem.
When believers become malicious and envious, it shows that they are not nourishing their desires with God’s word.
They ought to because they are children of God.
More so, they have forgotten that God’s word is all they need.
Therefore, Peter is calling them to crave for milk like infants.
Why?
We can only find the answer to that question from studying the context of the passage.
Before 1 Peter 2, Peter glorifies God because he has caused the believers to “be born again” 1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Therefore, he identifies the believer as born again.
In verse 23 again, he repeats the use of the word, born again. 1 Pet 1:23
since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
As a result, since the believer is born again, the believer most long for spiritual milk.
The believer must depend on this pure spiritual milk because they are infants and will always be dependent.
After viewing the context of the need for pure milk, we can now understand that that the phrase, “like newborn infant” is not refering to new believers, but to all believers, who think they are mature.
All believers must study their bible. Infact, the lack there of, shows that the believer has forgotten his need for God’s sustainance. .
But what is the milk here. The idea of pure milk is a metaphor. Therefore, how do I determine the meaning of the metaphor.
Yes through context.
Quickly, you all should read 1:20-25. and tell me what verse could be used to determine the literal meaning of milk?
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
Studying the Bible is not for us to be intelliengent, but for us to grow in maturity of faith from one degree to another.
But wait, Peter is saying here that we we wil grow up into salvation if we drink of the milk.
What is one question any gospel believing brother will ask after observing that passage.
Yes, I though our salvation is by faith alone, grace along, and Christ alone, why do I need to grow up into faith. Does, drinking the milk of God’s word save me.
What methods can we use to find what that passage is likely talking about when it uses salvation:
The context and non-contradiction posture.
The ideas of non-contradiction is that scripture does not contradict itself.
Peter cannot say, we are born again, and again say that we need to be saved. No!
From context, we can realize what salvation means there. 1 Pet 1:5
who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Salvation here is discussed from an eschatological point of view. Hence, from context we see that Peter is not discussing growing up into salvation as being baptized into Christ, but salvation with respect to the believers impending rapture with Christ.
Therefore, the believer who practices hypcrisy does not only have misplaced identity (as an infant), but misplaced focus from Christ’s second coming. He has forgotten all about salvation.
We pursue the pure word of God because we cannot afford to forget who we are, our spiritual priorities, and finally, the character of our God.
Finally, in verse three, Peter states,
if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Peter is saying, that believers must drink of this milk of God’s word since they have tasted that God is good.
How has God been good.
From context again, we can argue that Peter demonstrating God’s goodness by stating how God ransomed them through the blood of His son.
knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
The believer has tasted of God’s continued goodness and kindness. Therefore, the believer pursues that milk.
Like a baby has seen the goodness of the mother, he can trust the moms milk more and more, and drink from the milk more and more.
The believer’s devotion to God’s word is not from a place of seeking God’s goodness, but from a place of having experienced God goodness.
They now can run to him both in suffering and rejoicing because they have tasted God’s goodness upon the cross.
All this that I have demonstrated proves two things:
There is nothing wrong with having a formal bible study approach in your bible study.
Bible study is hard work.
Bible study reaches the heart while you ask questions.
After reading all this. The next thing you should focus on is application.
How does this passage point me to the gospel?
How is this gospel calling me to transform my life to God’s will?
Now, we lie to ourselves when we read a passage and then think that it does not apply to us.
Repentance from sins: James 1:21
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Repent from works based salvation.
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
Repent from ingratitude
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
You are within God Sight(2:4-6).
You are within God Sight(2:4-6).
In your small group: You have two assignments:
In your small group: You have two assignments:
Reflect on all you have learned from the passage of 1 Peter 2:1-3 and discuss how they may apply to you.
If there is time, briefly read 2:4-6 and practice some of the steps we took.