When you begin something like a video game, the first levels of the game are always the easiest. Usually the first levels are spent learning all of the controls, how to do things and what other things in the game do. You will then slowly progress further by maybe battling easier enemies, or solving simple puzzles or problems. The more experience you get by playing, the more you will learn and will be able to handle harder and more complex levels, enemies, or problems later on.
In a way, I guess another way similar to this example above would be like a man who decides to hire himself out to log off a section of land. Because he is just one person with the limited tools of a chainsaw, a small truck and trailer, he cannot handle too big of a job quite yet. But through wise use of his finances, over time he can slowly acquire bigger, better equipment that can do the job faster and more efficiently, until he can handle larger and more difficult jobs.
When a person first learns about Jesus and believes in Him, it is the start of a new life for them. They are beginning to learn about all of the basic, first parts of the faith. The love of Christ and how because of His love they have the ability to be forgiven of their sins.
Peter describes it as the milk of the word (1 Peter 2:2). Milk is the very first thing that a baby tastes when they are born, and it is what they solely live off of for the first handful of months of their life. Slowly they will become stronger as they age and will be able to handle more solid foods, but until then milk is all that they will receive.
What is the first thing that a person needs to hear about Jesus? That He loves them. Too many people go through their life feeling that nobody loves them, that nobody cares about them, but that is not true. There will always be Someone who loves them, and these people need to hear about Him. They need to hear that because of Jesus’ love for them He died to erase all of their mistakes and sins, however bad they may be. They need to hear that if they will simply put their faith in Him that He will save them. That is the beginning of a life of a new Christan, and that is the first thing a person needs to hear about Jesus.
Just as that baby would not be able to handle eating corn on the cob, and that single man wouldn’t be able to handle logging off an entire forest with his simple tools, a newborn Christian will not be able to handle the stronger, more complex parts of the scripture. If you try telling a brand new Christian who had just turned their lives over to Jesus that women are forbidden to teach, or exercise authority over a man, they probably would have a difficult time understanding it because it is a practice that is all too common out in the world.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul had to write to the church because there were divisions going on amongst the people. They hadn’t fully learned what love was yet, and Paul said that he couldn’t even speak to them as though they were even spiritual yet because of this.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Becoming a Christian is a growing process as one learns more each day, slowly studying the word of God and understanding it’s meaning. When we read the Bible for the first time, we will not understand everything immediately. Some things will remain a mystery until the Lord reveals it to us when we are stronger and able to bear it.
Hebrews 5:13-14 “For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
We are not fully grown Christians on day 1. It is a growing process that takes time and starts with the milk of God’s Word.
In Christ,
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 