Identity of a Christian - part 4
Having laid aside these sins, we can then function as new born babes.
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
John 3:7
“7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”
The new birth is a work of God in the repentant sinners heart and life. Peter tells us that we must see ourselves as newborn babes. We have never been in this place before. We have been given life through the blood of Jesus Christ. Now we need to learn how to live as children of God.
As newborn babes we should have a desire for the sincere milk of the word. Many times lost people are willing to accept false teaching. They will listen to a person that is an eloquent speaker, but really does not have anything worthwhile to say. However, the born again child of God needs to desire the sincere milk of the word. The sincere milk of the word is not deceitful. It is genuine. It is truth. The Spirit of God dwelling within the child of God will give discernment so that the child of God can tell the difference between truth and error. As the child of God grows through this sincere milk of the word, he or she will also gain in understanding and will be able to detect error quicker and will also appreciate the truth more.
Great changes take place in the saved person’s life. There is a genuine hunger for truth. However, because we are still in this world, the flesh is still there. The Bible refers to this as the “old man” or the “old nature”. The born again Christian is commanded to put off the old man and to put on the new man. There needs to be a conscience effort made to obey God’s Word and to follow the way of the new man.
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Here is another opportunity for the individual to examine themselves. Is there a desire for the sincere milk of the word? Is there growth taking place in the person’s life? The born again child of God has tasted that the Lord is gracious. He understands that it was of God’s mercy that he or she is saved. He did not earn salvation. It is a gift of God. Thus the child of God has a heart of gratitude and a desire to know the one who saved him more.
It is truly a blessing to be saved. The true child of God should not be found complaining about the fact that they have been saved. If in the flesh, they may envy the lost for a short while, but if they are genuinely saved, they will be brought to see the blessings they have and the lostness of the unsaved. They will repent of their sin of walking in the flesh and desire to walk closer to the One who saved them.