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"As newborn babes"

Text: 1 Peter 2:2

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

The Apostle Peter was deeply concerned about the growth of his readers. Being born again was just the starting point.

“Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit,
hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,
as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word,
that you may grow thereby.”
1 Peter 2:1-2

1. The things that hinder growth

Peter made a short list of the things that would hinder spiritual growth:

a) Malice

b) Deceit

c) Hypocrisy

d) Envy

e) Evil speaking

This was not meant to be an exhaustive list. But highlighting them would help us to be aware that spiritual growth does not come about easily. If these sins are not dealt with, they will hinder spiritual growth.

2. What do we do about these sins?

a) “Lay aside” was Peter’s strong word.

b) Though this word was a participle, there was a strong imperatival force.

i) The nature of sin is such that it must be put away (“lay aside”).

ii) Whose work is this? The responsibility lies squarely on the believer.

c) The word “all” must also be noted. It was used three times in a single verse.

The emphasis is obvious!

3. “As newborn babes”

a) This word harks back to what Peter wrote about being “born again” (1 Peter 1:23).

b) As physical newborn babies need to feed, so newly born again believers need to feed.

4. What is the food of spiritual newborn babies?

a) That which is spiritual food.

b) One great source is the pure milk of the word of God.

5. How should we regard the word of God?

a) We must strongly desire it.

b) It is our spiritual food for growth.

6. Two readings:

a) Some texts add the phrase “into salvation”.

That is, growth will help us grow in our understanding of our salvation.

b) The NKJV text

“That you may grow thereby”

i) Feeding on the word of God will help us grow.

ii) This was written to encourage spiritual growth.