I Want the Meat and the Milk of the Word.

For the first time in a long time I am not reading from an excerpt, or being inspired by an excerpt. I wrote too soon, because while I'm not including any excerpt today, I do want to talk about the book we've just gone through- The Atonement by J.H. Waggoner.

The book was so incredibly thought provoking and in such a way that it reminds me of no longer having the milk of the word, but the meat. We need the meat of the word of God in our lives if we are to grow in Him. His word, His holy word is our meat and we have to feast on it like never before.

The Atonement.  That makes it sound singular as if the atonement were simply one act, but the truth of the matter is so much more.

Recently I came across something that reminded me that too many people are spoon fed bits and pieces of scripture, and a lot of people are advised to stay mainly in the New Testament books. Some are even told that the Old Testament books were cancelled out by the New, as if they could be replaced, overwritten, upgraded, improved. We know those terms we hear them in our everyday lives don't we?  When are we getting the latest cellphone, tablet, tv, game console. Just look at all the new features added to…

Isn't that was mostly happens when a new product comes out- it is often built from the original prototype with those new features added to it. I'm not saying that there are no completely original products, but mostly we take from the old and incorporate on to that old thing.

Poke holes if you will, and some must because it is in their nature to do so, but think about it for a bit. We have the first telephone… before that telephone there were no telephones…however…  the things used to create that telephone are from things known. Metal, wood, all products in existence since creation.

Heb_5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Heb_5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Have I gone back too far? Maybe. You know the point I’m trying to make and that point is… the Old Testament can NEVER be done away with or ignored if you are seriously seeking the meat of word of God. I can say that with great confidence, without any doubt at all and let me tell you why.

Luk_24:27  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Jesus began at Moses, Jesus continued on citing all the prophets, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior used the only scriptures available and out of them He revealed HIMSELF to those He was walking with.

If we cannot find our Savior in the Old Testament, we have no business pretending to know Him.  Am I slighting those who only have access to a New Testament, God forbid! But most everyone able to read this from the internet has access to the Old Testament.  Those who are somehow possibly, though it is hard to imagine- reading this from paper might not have access to an Old Testament, or for that matter the New Testament- stranger things I'm sure have happened. The point being we mustn't discount the Old Testament in any way.

2Ti_3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness

How much of the scripture?

ALL.

And when this was being written, there weren't a bunch of New Testaments about for people to read.  Over time all the New Testament books were written after our Savior died. Though I'm almost positive there were a few scribes following Jesus about taking notes of a lot of what was going on, and those inspired scribes were led by the Holy Spirit to retain the things needed.

You can find the history of the Bible online, it is fascinating. The bottom line being, you either believe men were INSPIRED by God to write and to organize the scriptures into what we know as the Bible or you don't.  Are there some pretty farfetched interpretations of the Bible translated from the Hebrew and Greek? Oh yeah! But going way down to the bare bones of what we know to be original, God will guide us to truth.

I hope, if nothing more, that if there are any people truly reading this, that they will seek truth from the Old and New Testaments, recognizing we have such a great need to learn from both.

More on this tomorrow perhaps, because I do want to write more about the book we've just finished.

All by the grace, the will, the wisdom, the glory, power and praise of our Lord, our Father God, and the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ our Savior now and forever!!!!!!!   Thank you!