1 Peter 2:1–3 (NKJV) — 1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Christianity is not only to be believed; it must also be lived.
Life begins at conception. The baby in the mother’s womb is nourished, grows, develops, and then the physical birth takes place. Once born the nurturing and growth do not end.
The baby comes into the world ignorant of spiritual life. If left alone the baby will die. The baby needs help in growing not only physically but also mentally and spiritually.
The same is true of the new birth into Christ. Salvation, the new birth, changes a person’s life. Whatever was true in a person’s life before salvation the “New Birth” changes everything for the better. The child of God is born into an environment of purity and love. The new child of God has chosen to lay aside all the evil of the old life. The desire for the old life has now turned into a desire for the “pure milk of the word of God.”
Many newborn Christians never grow out of infancy. They are not nurtured and fed on the Word of God. They are left to their own to learn and grow in the grace of God. The church has a responsibility to the newborn child of God.
Acts 2:42 tells us the early church, “…continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” The church has a responsibility in teaching and feeding the Word of God.
Hebrews 10:24–25, says we are to “consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.” The church is to love each person who comes through its doors. The church is to teach and live the “love of Christ” not only doing the “good work” of Christ but is to stir up the work of Christ in all believers. Verse 25 says the church is not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1-16 that the church, Christians, are to “Walk worthy of its calling”, The church is to “equip its members for ministry”, and help its member to “grow up in Christ.”