All Things Were Made By Him And Without Him Was Not Any Thing Made That Was Made -- In Him Was Life - Part 1389

"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby ... if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious!" (I Peter 2:2)

When we desire the sincere milk of the Word, we begin to understand in our heart and mind how good the Lord is -- that He Himself who knew no sin would offer Himself a perfect sacrifice, willingly taking our place on a cross so that our sins could be forgiven. Though our sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. And, thus, in so desiring His Word, our eyes become enlightened to the breadth and depth of His goodness and mercy. His abundant love that surpasses all human understanding. As this scripture reveals, there is so much more to learn and understand, and that in desiring the sincere milk of the Word -- "ye may grow thereby." (I Peter 2:2)

In context -- "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby ... if so be ye 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. Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, "Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious; and he that believes on Him shall not be confounded." Unto you therefore which believe [He] is precious; but unto them which be disobedient, "the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the Head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence" [even to them] which stumble at the Word -- being disobedient: where unto also they were appointed.

But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; which in time past [were] not a people; but [are] now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." (I Peter 2:2-10; Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 28:16; Isaiah 8:14)

What is the underlying message here? First, that when we choose not to accept Jesus the Christ as our personal Saviour -- the Word made flesh -- we are rejecting the very foundation and cornerstone of the gospel that He determined as His plan of salvation before the world was formed. The mystery that was hid in the bosom of the Father from the beginning of time. And thus, when we reject Jesus, we become "confounded" because we have not believed on Him who hath redeemed us on the cross.

“The stone which the builders refused is become the head [stone] of the corner.” (Psalm 118:22)

“Therefore," thus saith the Lord GOD, "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” (Isaiah 28:16)

“And He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 8:14)

Although Jesus has become a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness unto the Greeks, what did Paul command us to do? To continue to preach Christ crucified -- who for them which are called, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God -- "the weakness of God [being] stronger than men." (I Corinthians 1:23, 25)

"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called] but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are -- that no flesh should glory in His presence." (I Corinthians 1:23-29)

But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption that, according as it is written, "He that glories, let him glory in the Lord." (I Corinthians 1:31) 

Why the Lord Jesus? Because Jesus is the Light of the world.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  (John 14:6)

He is the King of kings and Lord of lords who changes and transforms people's lives from the inside, renewing us to fulfill the very purpose(s) that He placed in our heart while we were still in our mother's womb. And, as a consequence of Jesus coming to redeem those who were lost, and we in turn repenting and accepting His offer to follow Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, our heart's desire is set on the right foundation -- desiring the sincere milk of the Word -- our eyes opened being turned from darkness to light. 

As Jesus Himself shared -- "and [from] the power of satan unto God, that [we] may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me.” (Acts 26:18)

But we need to understand that God Himself willingly took on a sin prone flesh so that we could have life. Our response should be to desire His love and peace and joy in our life, making Jesus the Lord in our life. He paid the price for your sin and His desire is to have a personal relationship with you and I. He wants to clothe us in His righteousness.

What must we do to be saved?

As Peter standing with the eleven said on the day of Pentecost, we must "repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:36-47) 

Turn your life over to Jesus today. Be water baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost -- His Spirit living within you. Read His Word for your daily bread -- the Bread of Life, desiring the sincere milk of the Word. And know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that in Him -- the Him that is Jesus Christ our Lord God and Saviour -- is life.

Stand in the offering plate. w thereby”[1 Peter 2:2]