Jesus said: "You must be born again." (John 3)
Peter said: "As newborn babes desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby." (1 Peter 2.2)
The same way a newborn baby cries for and desires it's mother's milk, so too does the newborn Christian have a desire / hunger for the word of God. But what if that hunger is not there?
(sorry for the typo in the title - ouch)
Assuming the metaphors were the same topic. Not just two examples of using the word babies.
I dont' think you could get two people out of two hundred to agree on what BORN AGAIN means if you let me interview them. They would all disagree at a point. By definition that means only ONE of them would be right, the rest wrong. In reality maybe none are right.
So, I usually don't engage these thoughts because, it's sorta pointless (not picking at your thought but the semantics) as we can't define what we are talking about and agree on it.
I'd argue born again is a result of pursuing a hunger you had. Not that you are born again and then get hungry. Most folks confuse the mature state of born again, with atonement/salvation. Born again looks a lot more of a process that culminates in a change, not a proclamation that I want to change. Although the proclamation is a GREAT start.
The Scriptures confirmed what the Spirit of God had already told me. The Spirit of God is as precious as God's Word but if one does not have access to the written Word, the Living Word is still indwelling them and that is what is most important, because if you don't have the Spirit of God then you "are none of His" (Romans 8:9).
If you still have the sinful nature, then you are not yet indwelled by the Spirit of GOd. How many people do you know what claim both? Rom 8:9. For someone to ignore that the sinful nature's presence disqualifies them from claiming the Spirit indwells them and thus they claim to be HIS because of the pretty part of the verse is really very destructive to Xian Growth.
For those in prison for their faith, or that live in countries where the Bible is illegal, the Spirit of God is still speaking to His people, yet we smuggle Bibles in to places where it is banned because the Word of God is precious to all who have the Spirit of God.
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Who is the "WE" here. Why do you assume it's you or me or us/whoever....?
Paul said there were mature and immature believers. In this verse, he's certainly speaking of himself and the others with him that are mature speaking to the immature..... right?
1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Yes, Paul is declaring himself and those with him as the ones with the right message, it wouldn't apply to all believers, right? In fact, in lieu of his Eph 4 comments that SOME are made to lead and some to follow, you can almost certainly assume that Paul didn't mean it to apply to every believer...
1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
so, the interesting thing is.... the spirit only allows you to "MIGHT KNOW".... I'd argue that in Paulinian theology, you'd need the right teachers, and that would be those leading the Church and under the tutelage of Apostles or those that were taught by APostles. That's not my opinion, that's Paul's own words.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 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.
1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Who is the we? Those writing the letter or the ones receiving it or both. AND OTHER THAN WISHFUL THINKING, how you determine that answer to be truth?