The Exhorter
1/24/2010

Skilled in the Word of Righteousness

Babies grow up in time. They start out with milk and eventually begin to eat soft food. It is not about appetite, but rather their ability to eat solid food. The baby must grow and mature to eventually eat adult food. Once a child begins to eat the solid food of life there is no need to go back to baby food.

Newborn Christians are told to desire the pure milk of the word, that they may grow (I Pet. 2:2). The Hebrew writer admonished the "dull of hearing" Christians to whom he was instructing (Heb. 5:11): "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb. 5:12-14).

One of the goals of every child of God should be to become skilled in the word of righteousness. This involves growing in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus. Each Christian begins with the first principles of the oracles of God. Commit to memory foundational teachings of Jesus Christ that involve such things as repentance from dead works, faith toward God, baptisms, laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead and eternal judgment (Heb. 6:1,2). These teachings are considered the milk of the word and once they are established in our understanding we strive to go on to maturity (Heb. 6:1).

The solid food of Scriptures comes through use and reasoning. We read and study God's word daily. We attend Bible classes and any other studies of God's word that are available to us. We do Bible correspondence courses and other written studies that are offered. We hunger and thirst for righteousness. We, like babies, in time mature to become skilled in the word of righteousness. Ron Drumm