“Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.” (1 Peter 2:1-3 NASB1995)

“Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander..” (1 Peter 2:1)

All throughout the New Testament we are taught that faith in Jesus Christ, if it comes from God and is not of the flesh, it will result in us denying self, dying with Christ to sin, and walking in obedience to our Lord’s commands – all in his power and strength and wisdom. And we are taught all the kinds of things that we, as followers of Christ, are to put out of our lives, by the grace of God, and the kinds of things we are to put on in our lives in their place, as led by the Spirit. For we put off the sinful nature and put on Christ.

Put Offs and Put Ons: [Matt 5:27-30; Matt 7:21-23; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; 1 Co 6:9-10; Gal 5:16-24; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 3:5-11; 1 Thes 4:1-8; 1 Tim 4:7; Titus 2:11-14; Heb 12:1-17; 1 Pet 1:14; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10]

“..like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation..” (1 Peter 2:2)

Now, when this instructs us, like newborn babies, to long for the pure milk of The Word, this is not encouraging us to be immature in faith and to be infantile in behaviors. It is talking about us hungering after the Word of God like a newborn baby hungers after their mother’s milk. Now, I nursed all four of my children, so I know what that is like to have a baby at my breast sucking in as much milk as they can get, to want it with their whole being like it is a matter of life and death if they do not have it, or have enough.

This is how we are to hunger after the pure word of God. We are to desire it with our whole being, longing to hear from our Lord, and longing to know what his word teaches us and how we are to apply it to our daily lives. We want to know The Word so we can obey it; so we can live it by the grace of God; and so we can grow in it in all knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, so that we can, by the grace of God, be putting it into daily practice in our lives. And so we drink in The Word like an infant drinks their mother’s milk.

“..if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.” (1 Peter 2:3)

Please pay close attention to these “IF” statements all throughout the Scriptures, but especially in the New Testament under the New Covenant God has with his people (Jew and Gentile by faith in Jesus Christ). For when it begins with “if” it is introducing a conditional clause. It is saying “if this is true, then this is what follows.” So, what does it mean if we have “tasted the kindness of the Lord”? This is speaking of his grace to us in providing us with salvation from our slavery to sin so we can now serve God with our lives:

“Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.” (Romans 11:22)

For our Lord’s kindness is not a free ride to heaven based on lip service only. His grace, which is bringing us salvation, is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s return. And Jesus taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if sin is our practice, and not obedience to God, we will not inherit eternal life with God (Titus 2:11-14; Luke 9:23-26).

“If” Vs [Matthew 10:22; John 8:31-32; John 15:1-12; Romans 11:17-24; 1 Corinthians 15:2; Colossians 1:21-23; 2 Timothy 2:10-13; Hebrews 3:6,14-15; 2 Peter 1:5-11; 2 Peter 2:20-22; 1 John 2:24-25; 1 John 3:4-10]

Gift of God

Based off Various Scriptures
An Original Work / October 25, 2016
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Jesus Christ, Son of God,
Died for us on a cross;
Conquered death, sin, and hell,
So, with Him, we would dwell.

For, by His grace, we are saved.
He set us free from all sin.
Thanks be to God for His Gift.
Through faith in Him, we’re forgiven.

Holy Spirit of God,
Given to us who believe,
Gives us new life in Christ;
Made to be just like Him.

We died with Christ to our sin.
New lives in Him we begin,
Walking with Christ day by day.
We read His Word, and we pray.

Jesus, He is our Lord.
Follow Him where He leads.
Tell the world of His grace.
We’ll see Christ face to face.

Soon He is coming again.
We’ll be forever with Him.
He’ll wipe our tears all away.
Oh, what a wonderful day!

The Pure Milk of The Word
An Original Work / March 20, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love