📖Scripture:
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. Like newborn infants, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” 1 Peter 2:1–3
🔎Examination:
Peter was writing to the elect who were “exiles” (1 Pet 1:1), saints born from above through the imperishable WORD (1:23). His command is not moralistic ladder-climbing; it is the outworking of divine regeneration. The syntax matters: “Therefore, having put away…” (1 Peter 2:1) presumes an identity already transformed. Scripture is no mere rulebook but the position of God’s self-disclosing presence by which the born-again are nourished via communion into deeper communion. Thus, to “crave” (ἐπιποθήσατε) is not fleshy appetite; it is the Spirit-wrought longing of those truly united to the risen Christ. Newborns don’t serve themselves; they cry for milk. The saints, enlivened by the Holy Spirit, crave the WORD because the WORD is the appointed means by which the Father grows His children into the Son’s likeness (John 17:17; Rom 8:29).
Peter contrasts WORD-derived nourishment with the putrid diet of the flesh: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envies, and slander. These are not merely “bad behaviors”; they are anti-Christ fleshy poisons that fracture His covenanted local Body and Bride. It is Satan rather than God who forms isolated consumers. The Scriptures form a united and holy people gathered under the LORD’s authoritative WORD (1 Pet 1:15-16; 2:9-10). Note the goal/telos: “that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” Growth is not our climbing from putrid probation to acceptance… but supernatural maturation within a holy union already granted (Eph 2:5–6). Union → identity → obedience.
This passage also exposes counterfeits. Nominalism (when people think ideas like "good" or "truth" are just made-up words and ideas, not real things God created) says, “Visit, donate, and dabble.” Peter says, “Crave.” Sacramentalism says, “The rite itself dispenses grace ex opere operato.” Peter says, “God grows you by His Word as you, newborns, crave and consume it.” Decisionistic pseudo-Christianity says, “I prayed once; I’m good.” Peter says, “If you have tasted that the Lord is good, you hunger for more of Him in His Word.” Cultic syncretism (Islam, Mormonism, Catholicism, Modalism, Deconstructionism, JW, SDA, NAR, etc.) staples new/extra “revelations” onto or above Scripture. Peter binds nourishment to the God-breathed WORD alone. Those truly and supernaturally born-again do not run after cleverly packaged "new and improved" novelties; they cling to the sufficient Scriptures, which mediate the presence and promises of the Triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
Finally, this craving is ESSENTIALLY relational/communal. Milk is not dispensed by worldly algorithms but through ordinary, God-ordained means—the public reading, preaching, teaching, mutual exhortation, and table-to-table fellowship where the WORD dwells richly (Col 3:16). True saints do not “graze” sporadically. They gather as a regenerate, invested, committed, devoted, covenanted people, actively having rid themselves of the sins that poison communion, as they crave the pure WORD together, because collective adoration and worship— not effort— births joyful obedience as worship in spirit and in truth!
🤺Action:
Test yourself (2 Cor 13:5): Do I crave the pure, unmixed WORD, or do I snack on spiritual junk food? What do my habits reveal about my identity/baptism? Have I truly been crucified with Christ, or am I still practicing the things of the flesh (Gal 5:19-21)?
Call out to Christ Jesus, so that through faith in Him, you can rid yourself of all those practices and poisons today. Where have malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, or slander crept into your thoughts, speech, deeds, and prayers?
Read: Psalm 19:7–11; 2 Tim 3:14–17; 1 Pet 1:22–2:3. God’s Word is sufficient, pure, and our necessary food.
🧠Reflection:
The Father has made us His newborns in Christ. Do not starve yourself. Submit to, and take up the WORD with holy urgency and, with joyful expectation, invite the Holy Spirit to feed you with the presence, promises, and power of the eternally victorious and risen Son, Jesus Christ! Cave the WORD!
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Blessings & love,
Kevin M. Kelley
Pastor
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