|
The incapacitating effect of…
Blindness, Darkness, Starvation, Dehydration, and Drunkenness ---> is scripturally the same condition as when a man is a Baby Child in grace. |
Newborn children, known as infants or babies, are what the scripture is referring to in the passages of scripture which we are studying. They are those children which are of such a young age that they cannot eat meat (or strong foods). At such an age, the children are utterly reliant upon the milk from their mother’s breasts. They are such, which Isaiah 28:9 described them, children not “weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts,” or as the New Testament puts it, they are “babes in Christ” which are “fed” with “milk and not with meat: for hitherto [they are] not able to bear it” (1 Cor. 3:1-2). In the NT, furthermore, Hebrews 5:11-14 uses the same descriptive terms – they are such as “have need of milk and not strong meat,” because they are as “a babe,” and “strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age.” In these two passages just referenced, 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 and Hebrews 5:11-14, it must be noted that the audience the writer is referring to are regenerate Christians (called “babes in Christ”), but they are incapacitated in such a way that they cannot “discern good and evil” (Heb. 5:14). In other words, these individuals have fallen from a state of Christian “perfection” (1 Cor. 2:6, Heb. 6:1). In Hebrews 6:1, the author states that their need is to “go on” (or grow up) into “perfection”, which is a man who does not have to lay again the foundation of what is called, “the principles of the doctrine of Christ” (Heb. 6:1), or, “the first principles of the oracles of God” (Heb. 5:12), which are those things which maintain a saving relationship with the Lord in the life of a regenerate believer (otherwise known as a present progressive faith in the gospel). Two of six things mentioned which refer to the first, foundational, principles of faith in the gospel are: “repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.” If a man falls away from believing and following these six things (the foundation and first principles), he will then become carnal instead of spiritual, as Paul says of the “babes in Christ” in 1 Corinthians 3 – “ye are yet carnal” (1 Cor. 3:1-3). Carnal men are fools, and fools are not wise, therefore these “babes in Christ,” who can only drink milk, are as Isaiah says they are – those who are disqualified and unable to learn “knowledge,” those who cannot “understand doctrine” (Isa. 28:9). To deny “repentance” and “faith toward God,” my reader, is the same deed as denying the gospel itself. As a result, the individual is excluded from the gospel’s saving powers which effectually work in them that believe, namely, the powers to “mortify the deeds of the body” instead of living “after the flesh” (Rom. 8:13); therefore these babes in Christ are called “carnal” men.
Spiritual infancy is not a condition which is of immediate onset after the second birth, like as it is in the first birth. It is not a condition which is inevitable, subjective to the slow process of growth through time until finally, the child reaches an adolescent’s coherency. The physical and biological first birth, which is unquestionably in comparison, would suggest that the second birth has a gradual growth pattern of a similar timeline, that growth out of spiritual infancy should be the same as growth out of physical infancy, but the scriptures are careful to withhold and deny such an application.
Spiritual infancy is not a condition which is of immediate onset after the second birth, like as it is in the first birth. It is not a condition which is inevitable, subjective to the slow process of growth through time until finally, the child reaches an adolescent’s coherency. The physical and biological first birth, which is unquestionably in comparison, would suggest that the second birth has a gradual growth pattern of a similar timeline, that growth out of spiritual infancy should be the same as growth out of physical infancy, but the scriptures are careful to withhold and deny such an application.
|
The scriptures speak unitedly concerning the operation of God in salvation begun: there is a sudden and instantaneous formation of the image of Christ when a man is born again (Eph. 4:24, Col. 3:10, Gal. 4:19), and spiritual infancy is a spiritual condition wherein this salvific image is lost. Therefore, my reader, any regenerate man, at any degree of glory and growth, at once and suddenly, at the loss of faith and repentance, will fall into such a state where the image of Christ is lost, and therein, until the man recovers faith and repentance again, is henceforth considered a spiritual infant. Spiritual infancy is not ruled or determined by carnal time, therefore, as is commonly the problem, regenerate men who have been saved for 10 years are still spiritual babies! We must understand that spiritual infancy is not exactly comparable to physical infancy, and therefore, we must strictly apply ONLY what the scriptures apply. At salvation begun the image of Christ is formed, but the brilliance of its shining strength is differing in each regenerate man henceforth according to the differing proportions of sovereign grace which God has distributed to every man. Meaning, not all have the same measure of faith as others (Rom. 12:3), and not all have the same fruitfulness as others do yield (1 Cor. 15:10), but “some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred” (Mark. 4:8). This image may have variations of glory and brilliance, but infancy is when the image which was formed is lost, the spiritual dominion of Christ is compromised, and there is a great war for the soul within and without the regenerate man!
|
“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:3-7) |
With more doctrinal terms: the second birth, at the moment of regeneration, is so drastic that it can be called a new birth, and it is of such transforming power that, afterward, the man is declared to be a new creation that all the world can behold (2 Cor. 5:17; see also the conversion experience described in 1 Thess. 1:4-10). This conversion is of such power that the image of Christ is immediately formed, with overwhelming evidence, within the man’s heart, words, and deeds! However, spiritual infancy is when the regenerate man is turned back from NEW to OLD again. All of the doctrinal terms which describe salvation unitedly speak the same. At salvation the image of Christ is immediately formed so that the individual is brought from blindness to sight (Acts 26:18), darkness to light (Acts 26:18), death to life (Eph. 2:1), alienation from God to communion with God (Col. 1:21-22, 1 Jn. 1:3, 1 Cor. 1:9), enmity of mind to Divine friendship, which is “in Spirit and in Truth” (Rom. 8:5-8, John 4:24), a slave of sin to a bondman of grace (Rom. 5:21), a captive now made free (John 8:34-36), and foremost of all terms, the man is brought from the carnal man into a spiritual man, or, the carnal mind into the spiritual mind (Rom. 8:5-8) – all of this, because the man is indwelt with the Holy Ghost. After this instantaneous, sudden, and miraculous change has taken place, then the experience of these salvific virtues of grace depends upon the maintenance of saving faith and repentance in the gospel message that, at the first, saved in this grand envelopment of glory, and as long as saving faith is presently and progressively held firm unto the end, so also, all the virtues of salvation will live in and through the man, welling up, as it were, carrying him into eternal life (Gal. 2:20, John 7:38). “The Spirit is life because of righteousness” (Rom. 8:10).
|
You see, beloved, God has given mankind salvation in Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but men must walk in Him by the maintenance of saving faith henceforth. If a man fails to maintain saving faith – he falls – from the glory of grace in which he formerly stood, from the virtues heretofore described, so that the image of Christ which was formed within him is now marred and distorted – being conflicted and disrupted – by all that Christ had before (suddenly, instantaneously, and miraculously) saved the man from: blindness, darkness, death, carnality, alienation of mind, the absence of God, thoughts of enmity against God, malice and wickedness (1 Cor. 5:8), and the captivity of sin through the devil (2 Tim. 2:25-26).
|
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.” (Col. 2:6)
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Gal. 5:16) |
“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you” – Galatians 4:19
If the regenerate man fails to maintain saving faith and repentance, then consequentially, Christ is no longer living in the man (so as to fill him and rule him), thus when Christ is no longer living through the man, the man is, now, walking as a normal man. Is this not a great FALL?! This is exactly what Paul was describing the Corinthian babes to be, saying, “are ye not carnal and walk as men” (1 Cor. 3:3), and again, “are ye not carnal” (1 Cor. 3:4)? Is this not a great horror, a great distortion of what once was a shining salvation, so that, we can see how Christ needs to be “formed” in such men again (Note: Galatians 4:19, in context, is spoken to backslidden saints who are, at present, in a damnable spiritual condition, which means, this re-formation of Christ within them is the restoration of salvation)! Until then, when Christ is re-formed, what these men represent and express to this fallen world is an infantile expression of who Christ is, a drunken distortion of His character and Person, and oh, what a shame! When the world ought to see a clear image of Christ in Christians, look at them - it is but a foolish man when Christ is wise, a drunken man when Christ is sober, a slothful, sleepy, and dark picture when Christ is diligent, watchful, awake, and full of Light! A revival of saving faith and repentance would suddenly establish maturity, which is grace that establishes a saving and “full” formation of Christ within, and this brings the man into what Hebrews 5:14 calls, a “full age” (like that of a responsible youth in comparison to the immaturity of an infant). This “full age”, in Hebrews 5:14, is the renewal of saving faith and repentance again (Heb. 6:1), the instantaneous ascent out of the drunken stupor of spiritual infancy, so that, again – Praise God! – the regenerate man is able to set his affection on things above (Col. 3:1-3)! This “full age” of Hebrews 5:14 does not mean to compare the age maturity of a “younger” man with an elder in the faith, for both of them do, already, savingly walk in Christ by the maintenance of faith and repentance. This revival from infancy is like when the man was first born again, how Christ was immediately formed within, for this re-formation of Christ is accomplished by the same old gospel-power and Godspeed! The man does not have to wait two or three years before this infantile, drunken display of carnality and death is removed. We must not look at this operation through the weakness of human flesh. Nay, we must not follow the ungodly suggestion that, year after year, at last, we can expect men to grow out of this woeful estate of infancy…but let us, rather, besiege these sick souls with gospel-healing – gospel preaching – “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2) – with gospel praying and weeping (1 Thess. 3:10) – until, God willing...these souls might have a revival of life through the power of the Spirit of God. My reader, hear the glad tidings! This is an operation as quick and powerful as the first regeneration, and the last, for it is like “the twinkling of an eye” is fast (1 Cor. 15:52)!
My reader, these sick souls are on the brink of the second death, and like Spurgeon exclaimed, though they may not want a reviving, or seek it, “they need REVIVING, and they MUST HAVE IT”! Oh the painful astonishment of it all, that infantile, backslidden, and sickly regenerate men are spirit-dead (Rev. 3:1), so much so that they cannot understand saving grace! You can plead with so many forcible words, and, alas, they cannot see it! It takes nothing less than the reviving powers of the gospel-grace to awake and restore them to health! Of such, Spurgeon did lamentably write:
My reader, these sick souls are on the brink of the second death, and like Spurgeon exclaimed, though they may not want a reviving, or seek it, “they need REVIVING, and they MUST HAVE IT”! Oh the painful astonishment of it all, that infantile, backslidden, and sickly regenerate men are spirit-dead (Rev. 3:1), so much so that they cannot understand saving grace! You can plead with so many forcible words, and, alas, they cannot see it! It takes nothing less than the reviving powers of the gospel-grace to awake and restore them to health! Of such, Spurgeon did lamentably write:
|
“There is, a condition of mind which is even more sad than either of the two above mentioned; it is a thorough, gradual, but certain decline of all the spiritual powers. Look at that consumptive man whose lungs are decaying, and in whom the vital energy is ebbing; it is painful to see the faintness which suffuses him after exertion, and the general languor which overspreads his weakened frame. Far more sad to the spiritual eye is the spectacle presented by spiritual consumptives who in some quarters meet us on all hands. The eye of faith is dim and overcast, and seldom flashes with holy joy; the spiritual countenance is hollow and sunken with doubts and fears; the tongue of praise is partially paralyzed, and has little to say for Jesus; the spiritual frame is lethargic, and its movements are far from vigorous; the man is not anxious to be doing anything for Christ; a horrible numbness, a dreadful insensibility has come over him; he is in soul like a sluggard in the dog-days, who finds it hard labor to lie in bed and brush away the flies from his face. If these spiritual consumptives hate sin they do it so weakly that one might fear that they loved it still. If they love Jesus, it is so coldly that it is a point of question whether they love at all. If they sing Jehovah’s praises it is very sadly, as if hallelujahs were dirges. If they mourn for sin it is only ‘with half-broken hearts, and their grief is shallow and unpractical. If they hear the Word of God they are never stirred by it; enthusiasm is an unknown luxury. If they come across a precious truth they perceive nothing particular in it, any more than the cock in the fable, in the jewel which he found in the farmyard. They throw themselves back upon the enchanted couch of sloth, and while they are covered with rags they dream of riches and great increase of goods. It is a sad, sad thing when Christians fall into this state; then indeed they need reviving, and they must have it, for “the whole head is sick and the whole heart faint.” Every lover of souls should intercede for declining professors that the visitations of God may restore them; that the Sun of righteousness may arise upon them with healing beneath his wings.” – Spurgeon, “What Is A Revival?”
|
Contextual Verses Addressed
Within the Quote “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” – Matthew 7:6 “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see” – Revelation 3:17-18 “Why should ye be stricken any more? Ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart fain” – Isaiah 1:5 |
My reader, open your eyes…
Do you feel the SHAME of what spiritual infancy is?
Do you feel the SHAME of what spiritual infancy is?
Paul said to the Corinthians, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal” (1 Cor. 3:1) – this is the woeful incapacity of infants! These backslidden saints are now in bondage to a spiritual condition which is without saving repentance and faith (Heb. 6:1), and therefore, when it states that they cannot “discern both good and evil”, it means that they are, as a heathen man, incoherently staggering in hypocrisy and rigidity, bent on rebellion to devour iniquitous-foolishness. Such men can’t feel the sting of the conscience, the fear of God’s rebukes, they can’t find grace to hate sin or love God! A babe has left off the hallowedness of “repentance”! And worse, they are not ashamed about it! Open their ears to their God-given conscience which shouts – CONDEMNED – then they would be ashamed of their evil behavior…then they would bow down in heavy repentance…yea, they would mournfully return to God…but their mind is rendered drunken like a shameless child reveling in wild behavior without a consciousness! Staggeringly, they are without a saving degree of guilt! Do you see how they are as a drunken man in this pointed and doctrinally precise way, for neither a drunken man nor an infant child can “discern both good and evil” (Heb. 5:14). Spiritual infancy is a wicked and evil incapacity - woe to them! Their heart is imprisoned in the foolishness of no-repentance and faithlessness – to a damnable degree. When an evil is committed, alas, there is no discernment that it is sinful and wicked, and thus there is no repentance, because there is no saving knowledge of the goodness of God and the sinfulness of evil. Before a man is able to “discern good and evil”, he will not choose the good for the love of it, or disdain the evil because he understands the sinfulness of it; thus, it is written: he is like an infant child who shamelessly wanders without knowledge of good or evil. Infancy is the time “before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good” (Isa. 7:15-16). Infant children are, biologically, rendered unable to discern the paths of righteousness and repentance in God, for they have “no knowledge between good and evil” (Deut. 1:39). Can you see it clearly now? This spiritual condition is as perverted and shameful as the unrepentant shamelessness of drunken men – cursed men – who are like a cursed field of thorns and briers, like heaping and entangling pricks with strangling arms, and they are choking out the holy seed of God at last. Under outpouring showers of promise and power for righteousness, lo, this ground is diseased-dull – unable to hear, fear, and obey (Heb. 5:11, 6:4-8).
When Paul said to the Corinthian babes, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal”, it can very well be rephrased to, “I could not speak unto you as unto the living, but as unto the dead; as unto the seeing, but as unto the blind; as unto God’s friends, but as unto His enemies; as unto bondmen of grace, but as unto slaves of sin, as unto the free, but as unto Satan’s captives who need liberty; as unto the wise, but as unto fools; as unto the watchful, but as unto the sleepers; as unto the sober, but as unto the drunkards; as unto the righteous, but as unto the wicked; as unto the perfect, but as unto the fallen; as unto the blameless, but as unto the blamable; as unto the delectable fields of fruitful vineyards, but as unto thorny fields of pricking sinners; as unto gold, silver, and precious stones, but as unto wood, earth, hay, and stubble.” These are the weak cowards who run from giants, who will not “be strong in the Lord” (Eph. 6:10). These are the Christian soldiers turned deserters because they are afraid of the devil, which run away as though weaponless, and against God’s wishes and His cries, they will not be clad in the whole armour of God. These are weary of the narrow path, and sleeping, but they will awake to a nightmare at last. They are weary because they have forsaken the right: they have hated the Promised Land, the Promised Man, and the soul-rest of the weariless – the Savior’s Breast. These are the sleepers who won’t awake, who never prepare any oil to take, who cannot imagine standing before Judgment’s gates.
When Paul said to the Corinthian babes, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal”, it can very well be rephrased to, “I could not speak unto you as unto the living, but as unto the dead; as unto the seeing, but as unto the blind; as unto God’s friends, but as unto His enemies; as unto bondmen of grace, but as unto slaves of sin, as unto the free, but as unto Satan’s captives who need liberty; as unto the wise, but as unto fools; as unto the watchful, but as unto the sleepers; as unto the sober, but as unto the drunkards; as unto the righteous, but as unto the wicked; as unto the perfect, but as unto the fallen; as unto the blameless, but as unto the blamable; as unto the delectable fields of fruitful vineyards, but as unto thorny fields of pricking sinners; as unto gold, silver, and precious stones, but as unto wood, earth, hay, and stubble.” These are the weak cowards who run from giants, who will not “be strong in the Lord” (Eph. 6:10). These are the Christian soldiers turned deserters because they are afraid of the devil, which run away as though weaponless, and against God’s wishes and His cries, they will not be clad in the whole armour of God. These are weary of the narrow path, and sleeping, but they will awake to a nightmare at last. They are weary because they have forsaken the right: they have hated the Promised Land, the Promised Man, and the soul-rest of the weariless – the Savior’s Breast. These are the sleepers who won’t awake, who never prepare any oil to take, who cannot imagine standing before Judgment’s gates.
“Knowledge” = “Understanding” = “Doctrine” (Isa. 28:9) = Wisdom (1 Cor. 2:6).
“We speak wisdom among them that are perfect” (1 Cor. 2:6).
“The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.” (Prov. 11:5)
“We speak wisdom among them that are perfect” (1 Cor. 2:6).
“The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.” (Prov. 11:5)
Isaiah said that these babies can’t understand saving truth; therefore they are like the spiritual drunkards, but they are drunk and intoxicated by carnality - therefore, here also, the apostle Paul agrees with Isaiah. Paul restates the spiritual principles of incapacity in 1 Corinthians with great detail, revealing exactly, just as Isaiah spoke, the very same spiritual characteristics as with spiritual drunkards. Look with me carefully at the doctrinal case which is made from chapter 2 onward, into chapter 3:1-3, wherein Paul approaches unto, reasons with, and seeks the recovery of the spiritual babes, certainly from a different angle than Hebrews, but it is with the same argument pattern and final conclusion.
Paul said that when he came to preach to the Corinthians, he came not with “enticing words of man’s wisdom” (1 Cor. 2:4), but nevertheless, he did not deny that he did preach wisdom to certain persons who were of qualification. At Paul’s first interaction with the Corinthians, meaning, when they were unconverted, probably the time of his first arrival in Corinth, Paul preached “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” alone, avoiding all deviations from this foundation. Paul knew that if he were to go on to other matters, he would be going away from “the first principles of the oracles of God,” or, “the principles of the doctrine of Christ” (Heb. 5:12, 6:1). To go onward to more advanced things from this first foundation would then build upon this foundation – matters which were called “wisdom” by the apostle Paul – and if the foundation is not properly laid at the first, or, if it suffers some imperfection and breaks, that which is built aloft will suffer a great fall. At such a time when a formerly sound foundation is moved, is made imperfect, or breaks, all building which is aloft would be urgently ceased until all imperfections are revived into fixed immovableness. Let it be clearly understood, my reader, that Paul did not deny that he spoke in wisdom, but he only spoke of the wisdom of God with those who are “able” to “hear” it (Heb. 5:11), “bear it” (1 Cor. 3:2), understand it, and receive it, or in other words, the ones who are able to chew it up and swallow it, to eat and then digest it. Paul said, “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought” (1 Cor. 2:6). Paul called this “the hidden wisdom,” because it is hidden from two kinds of people (1 Cor. 2:7): it is hidden from “the natural man” (1 Cor. 2:14) and the “babe in Christ,” who also is called a “carnal” man (1 Cor. 3:1-4). Please read the following verses very carefully: -->
Paul said that when he came to preach to the Corinthians, he came not with “enticing words of man’s wisdom” (1 Cor. 2:4), but nevertheless, he did not deny that he did preach wisdom to certain persons who were of qualification. At Paul’s first interaction with the Corinthians, meaning, when they were unconverted, probably the time of his first arrival in Corinth, Paul preached “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” alone, avoiding all deviations from this foundation. Paul knew that if he were to go on to other matters, he would be going away from “the first principles of the oracles of God,” or, “the principles of the doctrine of Christ” (Heb. 5:12, 6:1). To go onward to more advanced things from this first foundation would then build upon this foundation – matters which were called “wisdom” by the apostle Paul – and if the foundation is not properly laid at the first, or, if it suffers some imperfection and breaks, that which is built aloft will suffer a great fall. At such a time when a formerly sound foundation is moved, is made imperfect, or breaks, all building which is aloft would be urgently ceased until all imperfections are revived into fixed immovableness. Let it be clearly understood, my reader, that Paul did not deny that he spoke in wisdom, but he only spoke of the wisdom of God with those who are “able” to “hear” it (Heb. 5:11), “bear it” (1 Cor. 3:2), understand it, and receive it, or in other words, the ones who are able to chew it up and swallow it, to eat and then digest it. Paul said, “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought” (1 Cor. 2:6). Paul called this “the hidden wisdom,” because it is hidden from two kinds of people (1 Cor. 2:7): it is hidden from “the natural man” (1 Cor. 2:14) and the “babe in Christ,” who also is called a “carnal” man (1 Cor. 3:1-4). Please read the following verses very carefully: -->
|
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).
“I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal…for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able” (1 Cor. 3:1-2). |
“Hidden Wisdom” = Hidden Christ
“Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the Savior” – Isaiah 45:15 “Hidden Wisdom” = Hidden Face “And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth His face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for Him” – Isaiah 8:17 |
“Hidden wisdom” is only given to and received by those who are called a “spiritual” man (1 Cor. 2:15), which, at that time, the Corinthians were not. Paul clearly declared that he could not speak to the Corinthian “babes in Christ” “as unto spiritual” men, but rather “as unto carnal” men (1 Cor. 3:1) – because they were given over to the delusions of uncontrollable, incapacitating carnality. Paul was naming their ungodly behavior by the rhetorical question – “are ye not carnal” (1 Cor. 3:4)? In 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, Paul spoke of the “hidden wisdom” of God which is “a mystery” to all natural men and carnal Christians, and he explained the conditions whereby this mystery is revealed to men. It is hidden from “the princes” who crucified Christ, men who are “natural men,” simply because these things are not naturally understood. Paul explained that these things are spiritual in how they are “revealed” (1 Cor. 2:10). This means that it is not by the “eye” or the “ear”, the memory, mind, or “heart of man” (1 Cor. 2:9), but God has to grant to men spiritual eyes, ears, and hearts. Paul argued that the Spirit that comes from God makes men to “know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Cor. 2:12), things which are otherwise hidden; therefore a man cannot understand the things of God without the aid of the Spirit that comes from God.
Just as a man cannot know the mind of a man, but only the spirit of a man that is in a man does know the mind of a man, so it is with the mind, knowledge, and heart of God – “even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2:11). However, if a natural man is given the Spirit of God, and he is therefore born of God after His Spirit, AND HE IS ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT, then the conditions are met which allows those things which are “spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14) to be revealed, things which “the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:13). Paul explained how these things are held by, acquired, and committed to “the spiritual man,” when he said, “he that is spiritual judgeth all things” (1 Cor. 2:15). Why the spiritual man? That man has the Spirit of God, which knows the mind of God, so it is said – “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16). These spiritual men do know the mind of God, because the Spirit of God is instructing them of the mind of God, therefore they are said to have the very mind of Christ, or as Romans 8:6 puts it, they are “spiritually minded.” “For who hath known the mind of the Lord?” Indeed no one, except those who have the Spirit of God! And He, the Holy Ghost, reveals the mind of the Lord to the children of God who abide in Him. Therefore, “Whom shall He teach knowledge? And whom shall He make to understand doctrine?” – Isaiah asks! It is those that have the Spirit of God in a saving relationship, meaning that they are presently abiding in Him; therefore they are not natural men or carnal Christians. Both of these persons are ensnared by the natural, carnal, and fallen nature of man to a damnable degree – denying “repentance” & “faith” (Heb. 6:1) – which is what it means to fall from a perfect state while you are a regenerate Christian. Therefore these Christians need to learn again the saving gospel truths which they once knew, which is “repentance from dead works and faith towards God” (Heb. 6:1). Had they not left off from faith in these truths, then they would not have become carnal. They would still be abiding in the Spirit of God, and so, they would be enabled to eat the strong-meat wisdom in God. “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Rom. 8:13).
Just as a man cannot know the mind of a man, but only the spirit of a man that is in a man does know the mind of a man, so it is with the mind, knowledge, and heart of God – “even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2:11). However, if a natural man is given the Spirit of God, and he is therefore born of God after His Spirit, AND HE IS ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT, then the conditions are met which allows those things which are “spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14) to be revealed, things which “the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:13). Paul explained how these things are held by, acquired, and committed to “the spiritual man,” when he said, “he that is spiritual judgeth all things” (1 Cor. 2:15). Why the spiritual man? That man has the Spirit of God, which knows the mind of God, so it is said – “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16). These spiritual men do know the mind of God, because the Spirit of God is instructing them of the mind of God, therefore they are said to have the very mind of Christ, or as Romans 8:6 puts it, they are “spiritually minded.” “For who hath known the mind of the Lord?” Indeed no one, except those who have the Spirit of God! And He, the Holy Ghost, reveals the mind of the Lord to the children of God who abide in Him. Therefore, “Whom shall He teach knowledge? And whom shall He make to understand doctrine?” – Isaiah asks! It is those that have the Spirit of God in a saving relationship, meaning that they are presently abiding in Him; therefore they are not natural men or carnal Christians. Both of these persons are ensnared by the natural, carnal, and fallen nature of man to a damnable degree – denying “repentance” & “faith” (Heb. 6:1) – which is what it means to fall from a perfect state while you are a regenerate Christian. Therefore these Christians need to learn again the saving gospel truths which they once knew, which is “repentance from dead works and faith towards God” (Heb. 6:1). Had they not left off from faith in these truths, then they would not have become carnal. They would still be abiding in the Spirit of God, and so, they would be enabled to eat the strong-meat wisdom in God. “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Rom. 8:13).
“The Hidden Wisdom” (1 Cor. 2:7) --> “But if our Gospel be HID” (2 Cor. 4:3)
“Blinded the minds” (2 Cor. 4:4)
“Blinded the minds” (2 Cor. 4:4)
God hides wisdom from regenerate men when they leave off faith in saving truths, which a man cannot leave off and still be in a saved spiritual condition – presently & progressively saved. “We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end” (Heb. 3:14). In 2 Corinthians 3:6 - 4:6, we can see the language of the OT used again in the NT. Do you remember the saying of scripture of how God hides His face, and do you remember what the spiritual consequences are when this happens? Do you remember how often this spiritual reality was spoken about in the prayers, wrestlings, and strivings of all saints in the OT? Also, do you remember how they praised God, how they were exalted in glories, when, namely, He did not hide His face but reveal it – turning it upon them – and do you remember how they did exclaim that it SHINED with LIGHT?! Oh, how often did they cry out this same cry in so many different words: à “Cause Thy face to shine and we shall be saved” (Ps. 80:19)! And again, “Lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us” (Ps. 4:6)! They knew that this was the secret of how the living Lord would presently and progressively reveal the saving knowledge of God – even by the shining face of God, unhidden and beheld – thus the prayers went up: “Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant; and teach me Thy statutes” (Ps. 119:135). Without it, they could not have understanding, knowledge, doctrine, or wisdom. These very terms in the same metaphorical language, are the very way 2 Corinthians 3:6 - 4:6 does describe what happens when Christ savingly reveals Himself to lost souls! Is Jesus Christ shining His face upon you, or is He hiding it from you?
|
When men were lost, NT or OT, it is when “their minds were blinded,” and their minds were blinded because there was a veil over the heart, which is also directly connected to the spiritual meaning behind why Moses had a veil over his face as the light from it was dimming (2 Cor. 3:13-14). Moses was a typological picture of God and Christ, in that his face did shine with a bright light…but now the NT states that when the Lord Jesus Christ is revealed to men, “the vail shall be taken away” (2 Cor. 3:16)! This unveiling is done by the “Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:17), and so, “we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18). We have an “open face” because there is no veil over the face of Christ, like as, the rather, how there was a veil over the face of Moses, and at present – Hallelujah – the face of Jesus Christ does shine upon us! The face of Christ ever shines in unfading brightness! It is ingratiated with glory, and when men are saved, it is because God does the very same thing that what was so earnestly and repeatedly prayed for in the OT – that “the light” from “the image of God” would “shine unto” men, even “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6)! What is happening? God is lifting up the light of His countenance upon men by the unveiling of His face, which means that it is no longer hidden, and also, therefore, all the blindness of spiritual darkness is gone. What happened to men at the first – at regeneration and initial salvation – must be presently and progressively experienced, therefore the regenerate saints must abide in the shining face of Christ at all times.
|
Psalm 34:12-16 & 1 Peter 3:10-12 are other references which cite “the face” of God which is a spiritual signal for you, or against you, which is parallel to it being hidden or shining. |
“Blinded the minds of them which believe not” – 2 Cor. 4:4
If the light of God’s face shines upon regenerate converts – they see – for darkness has fled away, but it is the contrary when regenerate converts do backslide from saving faith, repentance, and gospel-grace…then the saints are described in such ways as – the man is “blind and cannot see afar off” (2 Peter 1:9), is “in darkness,” “stumbling,” “walketh in darkness,” “and knoweth not whither he goeth, because darkness hath blinded his eyes” (1 John 2:9-11). In such a spiritual condition as this where the shining face of God is evidently hidden from them, Christ is able to drop upon them the damnable charge – “knowest not thou art…blind?” And, “I counsel thee to buy of Me,” to “anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see” (Rev. 3:17-18). My reader, just as those who are natural (unconverted or unregenerate) have their minds blinded (2 Cor. 4:4) because of the absence of Christ’s shining face, even so, regenerate Christians can temporarily or forever be overcome into the woeful state of Christ turning away and hiding His face (like as the OT describes). Such a man as this is blinded in darkness just as the cited passages do declare! The man has thus become the fool who is unable to bear wisdom, and “the wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit” (Prov. 14:8). These men don’t understand their way anymore, just as was cited: he “knoweth not whither he goeth.” Likewise Christ rebuked him, “knowest not thou,” and therefore, both of them, are utterly “stumbling.” These men have become babies in need of constant attention! They have become as the sleeping, foolish virgins who need to WAKE UP, as Ephesians 5:7-17 delivers the striking charge – “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee Light” (Eph. 5:14)!
|
“…the rest were blinded (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day” (Romans 11:7-8, Isa. 29:10)
|
Do you know the context of the passages written above? Men don’t sleep while under the hot rays of the noonday sun, nor do any Christians sleep under the shining face of the Holy and True, Only Brilliant Messiah. Such sleeping Christians are like dead men, lost in the darkness of dead carnality, therefore they cannot be rightly called spiritual men. With no recovery, such men will not be called Christian men. They have “a name that [they] livest, and art dead” (Rev. 3:3). To be dead is obviously a damnable condition, is it not? You will either be judged “quick” (alive) or “dead” “at [Christ’s] appearing and His Kingdom” (2 Tim. 4:1, 1 Pet. 4:5). Again it is written that these men need to arise from the dead, and it is because they have fallen from a “perfect” state (Rev. 3:2). If they don’t repent then Christ will say, alas, they are not “worthy”. This means, woe to them! He will blot out their names out of the book of life (Rev. 3:4-5)! “Ye are all the children of the Light, and the children of the day: we are not of night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thess. 5:5-6). Sleepers – “their eyes they have closed” (Matt. 13:15) – and therefore they need to hear the saying, “Awake thou that sleepest” (Eph. 5:14), but if they do not hear the “cry made” (Matt. 25:6) to wake them up, sleeping on and on in their horrid slothfulness, then lo, they will wake up to find no oil in their lamps, feeling sluggish and “foolish,” wishing they would have woken up with the wise at the sundry times they did go “to them that sell” oil to buy it (Matt. 25:2). If you don’t guard against the enchantments of the devil, then you too, as they did, will somehow fall asleep, here and there, “ten times” (Num. 14:22), and it is because you are not walking “circumspectly,” guarding against surprise or danger. “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise” (Eph. 5:15).
|
“For Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with Thee. The foolish shall not stand in Thy sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity.”
(Ps. 5:4-5) |
If a child’s heart is bound up in foolishness, then children are fools (Prov. 22:15). If a man is a baby child in spiritual maturity, or a fool, can such a one go to heaven? Are not the fools those that did not go “in with Him” (the Bridegroom) “to the marriage” because “the door was shut” (Matt. 25:10)!? Did not those fools stand without, crying, “Lord, Lord, open to us” (Matt. 25:11)! When infant children grow up, then they are enabled to understand carnal responsibilities, consequences, and dangers, and then they responsibly meet the demands of life. The warning of God is, therefore, consistent and SURE. When a regenerate man turns back into this state of foolishness, irresponsibility, and untrustworthiness which constitutes him as obedient to God as a “babe” in Christ, it is just as a regenerate man can turn from holiness into unholiness, spirituality into carnality, light into darkness, sight into blindness, righteousness into sin, likewise therefore, they can turn from the spiritually perfect or mature man into baby children – from wisdom into foolishness. This putting off of the new man and putting on of the old man is a putting off of Christ, and “of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30). To put off Christ is to put off wisdom, and to put on the old man is to put on foolishness.
|
“…the rest were blinded…God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear…”
-Romans 11:7-8 “For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them” – Matthew 13:15 |
-->
--> |
“Stay yourselves, and wonder; CRY ye out, and CRY: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.” -Isaiah 29:9-10
“Dull of Hearing” – Heb. 5:11 |
Are you beginning to see what the NT writers were referencing when they used such vocabulary as we have, heretofore, been biblically defining? Are you discovering how the Bible interprets itself? These baby children are incapacitated from a saving relationship with God. They are said to be overcome in the very same state that Christ said was a damnable, blinding, darkness upon the Jews – “their ears are dull of hearing” (Matt. 13:15) = “dull of hearing” (Heb. 5:11) – which is the same state which was just previously addressed, called spiritual sleep, or in Romans 11:7-8, “the spirit of slumber.” How is it so? These regenerate Christians have become woeful babies – now they are blind, darkened, famished, starving, spiritually drunk, and utterly incapacitated under a delusion from God – where saving wisdom is utterly hidden from them! Are these understandable parallels to you, my reader? So also it is comparably parallel to see that spiritual infants are spiritually incapacitated like spiritual drunkards. Think about these two individuals still more: Children are utterly incapacitated, for, they have no able “senses”, and why? Their mind is underdeveloped so that they cannot “discern both good and evil” (Heb. 5:11-14). They have underdeveloped organs and no teeth, which means, if they were served strong foods or meats then they would choke on it or vomit it up, as they would be unable to chew it or digest it. They are those who cannot bear to eat meat. They are cast upon the only hope of life, which is, the breasts of a woman for milk, and their minds and memories are underdeveloped so that they easily forget about things. This is as 2 Peter 1:9 states: “he hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins,” or as James 1:24 puts it, he “beholdeth” himself in a mirror and then “goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth” what he saw. Their eyes are underdeveloped, and literally, they “cannot see afar off” (2 Peter 1:9)! Babies can see things only if they are right in front of their face. They have as much capability to see as a full-grown man who has “pricks in [his] eyes,” which, again, is an OT parallel to the NT spiritual experience of a blind babe (Num. 33:55). “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:25). A man dull of hearing is a forgetful hearer, a “foolish man,” and Jesus Christ said, “every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it” (Matt. 7:26-27).
What is the bottom line? Babies need milk so that they can develop and grow, and when they grow, then they are made more able to stand against all of the opposing forces which assail regenerate Christians, namely, “every wind of doctrine by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Eph. 4:14). Those who fall away are rendered unstable by the winds of the devil’s doctrines, and again it is clearly stated, these men are said to be “the children” who are “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind,” because they have fallen from the state of “a perfect man” (Eph. 4:13). They are in need of the ministrations of grace by preaching (like the giving of milk) which is to the “perfecting of the saints” (Eph. 4:12). Do you see the perfect parallels addressed thus far?
What is the bottom line? Babies need milk so that they can develop and grow, and when they grow, then they are made more able to stand against all of the opposing forces which assail regenerate Christians, namely, “every wind of doctrine by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Eph. 4:14). Those who fall away are rendered unstable by the winds of the devil’s doctrines, and again it is clearly stated, these men are said to be “the children” who are “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind,” because they have fallen from the state of “a perfect man” (Eph. 4:13). They are in need of the ministrations of grace by preaching (like the giving of milk) which is to the “perfecting of the saints” (Eph. 4:12). Do you see the perfect parallels addressed thus far?
|
“Babes in Christ” (1 Cor. 3:1-2) -->
“He is a Babe” (Heb. 5:12-13) --> “Children” (Eph. 4:14) --> |
Paul says, “I have fed you milk” (1 Cor. 3:1-2) -->
Paul says, is in “need of milk” (Heb. 5:12-13) --> Paul says, are in need of “perfecting” (Eph. 4:12) --> |
that they might become “them that are perfect” (1 Cor. 2:6)
that they might “go on unto perfection” (Heb. 6:1). that they might become “a perfect man” (Eph. 4:13). |
Just as it was written in the OT concerning the necessity of knowledge, doctrine, and wisdom for salvation, so it is with these baby children. Children are tossed to and fro by every wind, which is to say they are being deceived by men “because they have no knowledge” (Isa. 5:13). "Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst" (Isaiah 5:13), God says. The time, when there is “no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land” (Hos. 4:1), is a terrible woe! God says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children” (Hos. 4:6). “The people that doth not understand shall fall” because they are those which “commit whoredom” (Hos. 4:14). In such a way, “Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart” (Hos. 4:11), and children are taken in spiritual adulteries against God – becoming carnal, worldly, enemies of God (James 4:4).
“A reed shaken by the wind” – Matthew 11:7
“Being rooted and grounded in love” – Eph. 3:17
“Rooted and built up in him” – Col. 2:7
“Grow up” – Eph. 4:15
“Being rooted and grounded in love” – Eph. 3:17
“Rooted and built up in him” – Col. 2:7
“Grow up” – Eph. 4:15
Baby children are underdeveloped and easily moved like the planting of a very young and feeble reed, shaken by the wind. They have need of growth like as a reed is in need of growth; otherwise it is helplessly moved by the winds of deceit and false doctrine. A man will be saved only if, the Bible says, “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister” (Col. 1:23). If a man becomes shallow-rooted (Mark. 4:6), or in other words, without the rooting and grounding necessary (Eph. 3:17, Col. 1:23, 2:6), then they will “endure but for a time” (Mark. 4:17) instead of to the end. But Christ declares: “he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matt. 10:22). As reeds without deep root do shake and turn with every wind, so do baby children, and as children are tossed to and fro, so are drunken men.
Ephesians 4:1-6 calls for worthiness of Christian vocation in being perfect in God’s unity and oneness, which means that Christians should be unified and one with one another, as the Trinity is unified and one with One Another. These verses (4:1-6) press upon the reader the shamefulness of disunity, showing how it is the inevitable woe of infant delinquency. According to Ephesians 4:11-16, babies are incapacitated from saving oneness with God, and therefore, incapacitated from saving oneness with the brethren in God. This pattern of addressing perfect oneness (Eph. 4:1-6) was for the purpose of leading into a focused address of individual and corporate perfection (Eph. 4:12-13), making plain for the reader exactly what is gained by perfection and lost by infancy. All of this is meant to enforce the strength of rebuke upon spiritual infants (here called “children” in Eph. 4:14). This very same pattern can be seen in 1 Peter 1:13-17 and 1 Peter 1:18-25, both of which prepare the reader for the rebuke of spiritual infants (here called “newborn babes” in 1 Pet. 2:2).
1 Peter 1:13-2:11 is the last passage in the NT, which we have yet to address with closeness, of those passages which directly focus upon the spiritual condition of infancy by name. 1 Peter 1:13-17 calls for the worthiness of perfection in God’s holiness, 1 Peter 1:18-25 calls for the worthiness of perfection in God’s eternality (or unfailing power and love), and like as Ephesians 4, the “newborn babes” of 1 Peter 2:1-2 are utterly delinquent and wildly transgressing the graces of God for perfection. Even though perfection is not explicitly mentioned in 1 Peter 1:13-17 or 1 Peter 1:18-25, the principles of perfection are carefully taught and applied. Henceforth, the apostle Peter calls for a calling which was first preached by the prophet Isaiah. To understand this, it is best to read the passages side by side:
Ephesians 4:1-6 calls for worthiness of Christian vocation in being perfect in God’s unity and oneness, which means that Christians should be unified and one with one another, as the Trinity is unified and one with One Another. These verses (4:1-6) press upon the reader the shamefulness of disunity, showing how it is the inevitable woe of infant delinquency. According to Ephesians 4:11-16, babies are incapacitated from saving oneness with God, and therefore, incapacitated from saving oneness with the brethren in God. This pattern of addressing perfect oneness (Eph. 4:1-6) was for the purpose of leading into a focused address of individual and corporate perfection (Eph. 4:12-13), making plain for the reader exactly what is gained by perfection and lost by infancy. All of this is meant to enforce the strength of rebuke upon spiritual infants (here called “children” in Eph. 4:14). This very same pattern can be seen in 1 Peter 1:13-17 and 1 Peter 1:18-25, both of which prepare the reader for the rebuke of spiritual infants (here called “newborn babes” in 1 Pet. 2:2).
1 Peter 1:13-2:11 is the last passage in the NT, which we have yet to address with closeness, of those passages which directly focus upon the spiritual condition of infancy by name. 1 Peter 1:13-17 calls for the worthiness of perfection in God’s holiness, 1 Peter 1:18-25 calls for the worthiness of perfection in God’s eternality (or unfailing power and love), and like as Ephesians 4, the “newborn babes” of 1 Peter 2:1-2 are utterly delinquent and wildly transgressing the graces of God for perfection. Even though perfection is not explicitly mentioned in 1 Peter 1:13-17 or 1 Peter 1:18-25, the principles of perfection are carefully taught and applied. Henceforth, the apostle Peter calls for a calling which was first preached by the prophet Isaiah. To understand this, it is best to read the passages side by side:
|
Isaiah 8:13-22
“Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 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. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth His face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward. And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.” |
1 Peter 2:1-10
“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 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 believeth 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: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous 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.” |
What was prophesied in Isaiah 8:13-22 has come to pass, and it is recited by Peter as a calling of continual relevance for all regenerate Christians, and thus it is re-urged upon the disciples of Christ in this letter - disciples who, unlike the heathen, have been brought out of the darkness. This call out of darkness (Isa. 8:17, 20, 22) is a call, namely, that worthily joins the regenerate saints with Christ in His reproach, rejection, suffering, and humiliation, which simultaneously, joins them with His glory, grace, hallowedness, sanctity, Divine-acceptance, and Divine-Building – The Temple – being built together in saving connection with Him. A man must therefore “purge himself” from defilement and darkness (Eph. 5:7-11), including those who are in darkness (2 Cor. 6:14-7:1), and “he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (2 Tim. 2:20-21). As Christ was disallowed, we must become “as He is” (1 Jn. 4:17, 2:6), that we might be a “lively stone” as He was “a Living Stone” (perfection in His rejection). Our rejection by worldlings verifies the ceremonial right of our communion and connection with God’s House, meaning that we are not in darkness but separate from it – Hallelujah! – and to all of such positional and spiritual grace God says, “I will receive you” (2 Cor. 6:17)! Therefore we are called out of darkness in how we are rejected by it, and likewise we don’t have fellowship with it (Eph. 5:11); herein we stand as a holy priesthood in the praises of God’s preciousness in light! This priesthood has been “called out of darkness into His marvellous light” (1 Pet. 2:9), and we can see this calling out of darkness expressly prophesied in Isaiah 8:13-22. Rejection is the priestly attire and robes of acceptance wherewith God calleth His children – “Come unto Me.” Therefore “we have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the Tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name” (Heb. 13:10-15).
Do you see the exact call of 1 Peter 2:1-10? It is a call for priestly veracity, for living stones for a living building in God’s presence, beautified for a display of His praise, and those worthy of this are made worthy through saving faith and repentance – or perfection – which enables God to show the world His “praises” through you (1 Pet. 2:9), even “the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13)! Only one thing remaineth, the conditions of perfection in the plethora of callings through gospel-grace, and thereby, God’s people will be established in saving union with God. Then they, being built up in Him, will shine forth for Him in the zenith of His glory to a dying world! The call for perfection and suffering CLIMAXES with God’s happy acceptance of us, and He – the Builder – will join us to His Name, stature, and praise, so that, worthily, we shall be the famed and world-renown House of God (John 17:20-26, Eph. 4:12-13, 1 Pet. 2:9).
Men heavenly-wise, God’s robes despised, for rags-carnality (1 Cor. 2:6, 3:1, 3:3-4)
God’s fools they were, clad in promises sure, they captives-were-made-free (1 Cor. 3:17-18)
But turned back again, against Christ’s surety – sinned – and will not bow the knee (1 Cor. 4:8)
God’s way is mocked, the apostles left shocked, and who can make babies see? (1 Cor. 4:18-21, 2 Cor. 13:7)
Wisdom is sealed, and understanding locked, they’re unprepared for eternity (1 Cor. 2:6-3:3)
In a baby’s crib, by false prophets rocked, they’re thoughtlessly dreaming foolishly
Are you the man, clothed in earth, His Temple to defile? (2 Tim. 2:20-21)
Then you, be sure, no change from this, you’ll perish in the fire. (Jer. 6:28-30)
But others, who, in furnace go, will come out more entire, (James 1:3-4)
Because, like gold, the flames perfect, more purity to admire, (1 Pet. 1:7)
And these, God chooses, to array – He found them not a liar. (Isa. 63:8)
Heaven’s rain, upon cursed men, worsens the pain in the latter end, (2 Pet. 2:20)
Because they, a field, of open earth, drank heaven’s rain of life-giving worth,
And to what end? Against His grace they sinned – walking unworthily.
Behold then – God – His frowning face, over a field that yielded thorns for grace (Heb. 6:8)
This, God watches, and He waits, His longstanding patience to tire, (2 Pet. 3:9, Jer. 15:6)
For they aren’t right, in Heaven’s sight, they think of Him a liar, (1 Jn. 5:10)
Until, alas, their destined fate – a burning and unquenchable fire. (Heb. 6:8)
These, evil souls, to hell will go, and shall deeper torments know, (Heb. 3:12)
Because, they did, the Savior believe, and His graces happily receive,
But now, they hold, Him as a liar – they are destined for the fires, (1 Jn. 5:10)
God’s sons, they were, but now ‘tis sure, they are unsavable backsliders.
The House of God is not built with stubble, hay, and earth,
But gold, silver, and precious worth. (1 Cor. 3:12-15)
The stones twinkle and glow, in a glory alien to earth,
Showing “forth the praises” of the second birth. (1 Pet. 2:9, Eph. 4:13)
Out of darkness called, from sin cast away, such men are received by God, (1 Pet. 2:9, 2 Thess. 1:4-5)
Stones disallowed, by sinners make, the precious Temple of God. (1 Pet. 2:4-8)
Forsaken by, worldly-wise fools – the angels stand and applaud (Lk. 10:21)
You’re fitly joined, to Christ Who is, the forsaken Wisdom of God. (Isa. 8:14-16)
Are you the Lord’s, recognizable son, because you are glorified in His Image? (Rom. 8:29, 36, Heb. 11:16, 13:10-16, 1 Pet. 2:21)
Are you His choice stone, heaven-hallowed in light, set in His House for His Visage? (Rev. 21:9-22)
Are you His comfortable, garden increase, bearing gladsome fruits for His Vintage? (John 15:7-27)
Or are you strangling thorns which devour heavenly rain, (Heb. 6:8)
Unsalvageable metals which in the fires remain, (Ezekiel 22:17-22)
With the crackling thorns on cursed fields the same? (Eccl. 7:6)
Do you see the exact call of 1 Peter 2:1-10? It is a call for priestly veracity, for living stones for a living building in God’s presence, beautified for a display of His praise, and those worthy of this are made worthy through saving faith and repentance – or perfection – which enables God to show the world His “praises” through you (1 Pet. 2:9), even “the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13)! Only one thing remaineth, the conditions of perfection in the plethora of callings through gospel-grace, and thereby, God’s people will be established in saving union with God. Then they, being built up in Him, will shine forth for Him in the zenith of His glory to a dying world! The call for perfection and suffering CLIMAXES with God’s happy acceptance of us, and He – the Builder – will join us to His Name, stature, and praise, so that, worthily, we shall be the famed and world-renown House of God (John 17:20-26, Eph. 4:12-13, 1 Pet. 2:9).
Men heavenly-wise, God’s robes despised, for rags-carnality (1 Cor. 2:6, 3:1, 3:3-4)
God’s fools they were, clad in promises sure, they captives-were-made-free (1 Cor. 3:17-18)
But turned back again, against Christ’s surety – sinned – and will not bow the knee (1 Cor. 4:8)
God’s way is mocked, the apostles left shocked, and who can make babies see? (1 Cor. 4:18-21, 2 Cor. 13:7)
Wisdom is sealed, and understanding locked, they’re unprepared for eternity (1 Cor. 2:6-3:3)
In a baby’s crib, by false prophets rocked, they’re thoughtlessly dreaming foolishly
Are you the man, clothed in earth, His Temple to defile? (2 Tim. 2:20-21)
Then you, be sure, no change from this, you’ll perish in the fire. (Jer. 6:28-30)
But others, who, in furnace go, will come out more entire, (James 1:3-4)
Because, like gold, the flames perfect, more purity to admire, (1 Pet. 1:7)
And these, God chooses, to array – He found them not a liar. (Isa. 63:8)
Heaven’s rain, upon cursed men, worsens the pain in the latter end, (2 Pet. 2:20)
Because they, a field, of open earth, drank heaven’s rain of life-giving worth,
And to what end? Against His grace they sinned – walking unworthily.
Behold then – God – His frowning face, over a field that yielded thorns for grace (Heb. 6:8)
This, God watches, and He waits, His longstanding patience to tire, (2 Pet. 3:9, Jer. 15:6)
For they aren’t right, in Heaven’s sight, they think of Him a liar, (1 Jn. 5:10)
Until, alas, their destined fate – a burning and unquenchable fire. (Heb. 6:8)
These, evil souls, to hell will go, and shall deeper torments know, (Heb. 3:12)
Because, they did, the Savior believe, and His graces happily receive,
But now, they hold, Him as a liar – they are destined for the fires, (1 Jn. 5:10)
God’s sons, they were, but now ‘tis sure, they are unsavable backsliders.
The House of God is not built with stubble, hay, and earth,
But gold, silver, and precious worth. (1 Cor. 3:12-15)
The stones twinkle and glow, in a glory alien to earth,
Showing “forth the praises” of the second birth. (1 Pet. 2:9, Eph. 4:13)
Out of darkness called, from sin cast away, such men are received by God, (1 Pet. 2:9, 2 Thess. 1:4-5)
Stones disallowed, by sinners make, the precious Temple of God. (1 Pet. 2:4-8)
Forsaken by, worldly-wise fools – the angels stand and applaud (Lk. 10:21)
You’re fitly joined, to Christ Who is, the forsaken Wisdom of God. (Isa. 8:14-16)
Are you the Lord’s, recognizable son, because you are glorified in His Image? (Rom. 8:29, 36, Heb. 11:16, 13:10-16, 1 Pet. 2:21)
Are you His choice stone, heaven-hallowed in light, set in His House for His Visage? (Rev. 21:9-22)
Are you His comfortable, garden increase, bearing gladsome fruits for His Vintage? (John 15:7-27)
Or are you strangling thorns which devour heavenly rain, (Heb. 6:8)
Unsalvageable metals which in the fires remain, (Ezekiel 22:17-22)
With the crackling thorns on cursed fields the same? (Eccl. 7:6)
The Book of HEBREWS
|
Hebrews 5:11-14
Hebrews 6:1 Hebrews 6:3-6 Hebrews 6:7-8 |
-->
--> --> --> |
A Babe’s Delinquency
A Historical Parallel to God’s Divine curse is in reference: they are “dull of hearing” (Matt. 13:15, Rom. 11:7-8). They are described as those who are “dull of hearing”, which is imprisonment in a heart without “repentance” and “faith” (Heb. 6:1); therefore they are unable to “discern both good and evil” in the sense of saving repentance and faith. Fallen from Perfection Recovery is unsure – damnation is the sure threat, and possibly, the inevitable end Typological Parallel – an effort to show the shamefulness of the estate Babes are described to be as a field of unworthy yield given the most valuable and life-giving rain of salvation (a rain which is biblically famed as salvific: Acts 2:16-21, Joel 2:28-32). The charging demand and hopeful call of God is: a demand of “perfect” (Lk. 8:14) fruitfulness worthy of so great a rain-shower’s wealth (Heb. 6:7-8). The THREAT – Babes, like the thorny field, are worthy to burn in fire. |
The Book of 1st CORINTHIANS
|
1 Corinthians 2:1-3:3
1 Corinthians 2:6 1 Corinthians 3:12-23 1 Corinthians 3:15-18 1 Corinthians 4:8-21 |
-->
--> --> --> --> |
A Babe’s Delinquency
Typological Parallel is used: the laws of revelation and hiding, which are like the laws of light and darkness, or God’s Face revealed and turned away, therefore babes are lost because, for them, wisdom is “hidden,” for they are yet “not able to bear it.” Fallen from Perfection Typological Parallel – an effort to show the shamefulness of the estate The typology in view is in reference to The Temple of God : Babes are of such a condition that they are unworthy vessels, defiling and unholy vessels which defile the house of God (called wood, hay, stubble, and earth), and for God’s House, God demands stones which do not defile, stones that are not worldly-wise, spiritual-fools. The THREAT – Babes, like the defiling vessels, are worthy to burn in fire (“him shall God destroy” - 3:17). Note: The value, preciousness, and acceptance of the stone is on this basis: is it worldly-wise or godly-wise? Recovery is Unsure – damnation is the sure threat, and possibly, the inevitable end (not all are saved by the fires). Threat to Chasten the Babes – because they are worldly-wise and rejecting the suffering of God’s wisdom |
The Book of EPHESIANS
|
Ephesians 4:1-6
Ephesians 4:12-13 Ephesians 4:14-15 Ephesians 4:16 |
-->
--> --> --> |
Perfection in God’s Unity – an effort to show the shamefulness of perfection lost
Perfection results in the zenith of God’s glory – “the stature of the fulness of Christ” A Babe’s Delinquency – those who are fallen from perfection (vv. 12-13), who are not, therefore, unified with the brethren and built up to God’s glory. They are rather, “tossed to and fro”, which is a reference of a Typological Parallel (planting, grounding, and rooting unto a saving establishment in the gospel), and they are not grounded – meaning that they are deceived from “the truth” that is “in love”. Typological Parallel – we should be nourished through oneness, like as a body is joined together and thus flourishes. Note: The bodily connection of togetherness is a metaphorical parallel to the building of the Temple, which, as well, has been aforementioned in Ephesians 2:19-22. |
The Book of 1st PETER
|
1 Peter 1:13-17
1 Peter 1:18-25 1 Peter 2:1-3 1 Peter 2:4-8 1 Peter 2:9-10 1 Peter 2:9 1 Peter 2:4-9 |
-->
--> --> --> --> --> --> |
Perfection in God’s Holiness – an effort to show the shamefulness of perfection lost
Perfection in God’s Eternality – and effort to show the shamefulness of perfection lost A Babe’s Delinquency – those who are fallen from perfection Babes do therefore abide in a state of unholiness (1:13-17), being without steadfastness (1:18-25), and therefore they have such damnable fruits as described (1 Pet. 2:1), and being thus, they are accepted by the world and rejected by God – contrary to their calling (see 1 Peter 2:4-8) – when they should be rejected by the world and accepted by God, or, as another typological parallel so calls it, staying out of darkness and showing forth the praises of the Light (1 Pet. 2:9). Typological Parallel – an effort to show the shamefulness of the estate The typology in view is in reference to The Temple of God : which demands elect, precious, and lively stones, and babes are of no such worthiness. Note: The value, preciousness, and acceptance of the stone is on this basis: is it like Christ and therefore disallowed of men, or in other words, is it worldly-wise or godly-wise? One cannot be savingly connected to Christ – the Living Stone – if he is not like Christ, who was and is disallowed and rejected of men. And if one cannot be savingly connected to Christ, the Chief Corner Stone, then he cannot be a stone for the Temple of God’s glory. *A call to be acceptable stones of the Temple Typological Parallel – we should be arrayed in glory and duty as God’s priestly ministers of old *A call to be acceptable ministers of the Temple (in the light so as to show God’s praise). Perfection results in the zenith of God’s glory – “the praises of Him” are shown forth and revealed, exactly as Ephesians 4:13 describes “the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Typological & Historical Parallel established in Isaiah 8:13-22 – the calling from darkness to light, worldly-wise to God’s wisdom, earthly acceptance to earthly rejection, unacceptable stones to acceptable stones, all of which are fit for the Temple’s building. |
For those regenerate men who still need a restoration from infant delinquency, from a fallen condition of imperfection in grace, they must be striven with by those who are right with God! The call to CRY out against the babes, to be their holy conflict – this is THE ROD for the baby-fools – and by this redemptive plan we must engage them, if so be they may be saved. However, let us be prepared to suffer, for this conflict will result in what Paul and Peter described as spiritual honor by earthly rejection (1 Cor. 4:8-17, 2 Cor. 4:8-18, 6:3-10, 11:23-33, 1 Peter 2:1-25, 3:8-17, 4:1-19). Henceforth unto the end of this chapter, we must examine this biblical method of salvation for infants. This is a method which is rightly named – “At Midnight There Was A Cry Made” (Matt. 25:6, Isa. 29:9)! – a method Paul calls God’s Rod upon the baby children.