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Young Men. Young men are described
several ways. They overcome the evil one. I believe this refers to
increasing victory over Satan. A spiritual young man also is strong
in many of the virtues of the Christian faith and the Word of God.
Increasing knowledge of the Word of God is a strong mark of spiritual
growth. The book of Hebrews 5:12-14 is a strong reminder that this
is true.
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For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need
again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of
the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid
food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed
to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food
is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses
trained to discern good and evil.(NASB) Heb. 5:12-14 |
This is a picture of Christians who are either mature or immature
spiritually. The immature
Christian feeds on spiritual milk
- "the soft stuff of scripture." But the mature Christians
are strong in knowledge of the Bible. They know so much they
can be teachers. Notice that these Christians are criticized
for not knowing scripture. "You ought to be teachers!"
They were not young men who were strong in scripture. They were
still baby Christians.
Spiritual Fathers. Spiritual fathers are
a special group of Christians. Their sins are forgiven just
like the sins of the spiritual child. They are growing in the
fruit of the Spirit. They are strong in the scripture. But the
outstanding mark of the spiritual father is that he "knows
Him who has been from the beginning. Notice the additional phrase
"from the beginning." This is never said of the spiritual
child. Also, notice that the father is described the same way
twice.
Conclusion: Yes,
the little child "knows the Father" or knows who his/her
father is, but the spiritual father knows "Him who has been from
the beginning." He REALLY knows the Father. Because the spiritual
father knows scripture, he is able to know God the Father deeper and
more intimately. One who seeks a knowledge of scripture and not a
deep relationship with God will not become a spiritual father. Such
a person will know about scripture and not the One who wrote it. Those
who do not study scripture cannot know God as deeply as a friend knows
a friend. |
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