The Diet of a Newborn Christian
Main Idea of 1 Peter:
1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living holy lives, and looking forward to an imperishable inheritance.
Recap from Last Lesson:
In our last lesson (1 Peter 1:22-25), we learned that our new birth, which comes from the imperishable seed of the Word of God, has a specific purpose: to produce a sincere and deep love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are part of a new family, founded on the eternal truth of the gospel.
Questions to Consider:
Verse 1 lists five specific sins to “rid yourselves of.” Why are these particular sins so destructive to the “sincere brotherly love” Peter called for in the previous verses?
What does the image of a “newborn baby” craving milk teach us about the attitude we should have toward Scripture?
The goal of craving this “pure spiritual milk” is so that we can “grow up into salvation.” What does this process of “growing up into salvation” look like in a believer’s life?
Peter says we should crave the Word if we have “tasted that the Lord is good.” What does it mean to “taste” the Lord’s goodness?
How does our past experience of God’s goodness fuel our present desire for His Word?
The Text:
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation, if you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
– 1 Peter 2:1-3 (CSB)
Observations:
A Logical Next Step: The chapter begins with “Therefore,” connecting the act of putting away sin with the new birth described in chapter 1.
A Call to Remove: Before we can desire good things, we must first “rid yourselves of” evil things. The list is comprehensive and focuses on relational sins.
A Powerful Craving: The desire for God’s Word is not compared to a casual appetite, but to the intense, desperate craving of a “newborn infant” for milk.
A Clear Goal: The purpose of consuming this spiritual milk is growth: “so that you may grow” by it.
A Foundational Experience: The motivation for this craving is a past experience: “since you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
Interpretation:
Putting Away the Old Clothes (v. 1): Peter begins with a practical command that flows directly from the new birth. “Therefore,” because you have been born again from an imperishable seed, you must now actively “rid yourselves of” the old ways. The sins he lists—malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander—are not random. They are all relational sins that are toxic to the “sincere brotherly love” he just commanded. You cannot love one another deeply (1:22) if your heart is full of bitterness, dishonesty, and jealousy. These sins must be taken off like dirty old clothes before we can put on our new identity.
Craving the Necessary Food (v. 2): After telling us what to remove, Peter tells us what to desire. “Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk.” A newborn baby doesn’t just want milk; it craves it with a desperate, all-consuming need. Milk is not a luxury for a baby; it is the only thing that will sustain its life and cause it to grow. In the same way, the Word of God (“pure spiritual milk”) is not just a helpful supplement for the Christian life; it is our essential nourishment. Peter’s command is for us to long for Scripture with that same intensity, knowing that it is the only thing that will cause us to “grow by it for your salvation.”
The Taste that Creates the Thirst (v. 3): Peter provides the ultimate motivation for this craving. He says we should desire the Word, “since you have tasted that the Lord is good.” This is a quote from Psalm 34:8. The idea is that once you have had a genuine, personal experience of God’s goodness—His grace, His forgiveness, His kindness—that initial “taste” should create a lifelong appetite for more of Him. Our past experience of God’s grace in salvation becomes the fuel for our present hunger for His Word, where we learn more about that goodness.
Application:
Do a Spiritual Inventory: Honestly examine your heart for the five sins listed in verse 1. Is there any malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, or slander that you need to confess and “rid yourself of” so you can love others more purely?
Cultivate Your Spiritual Appetite: Do you have a desperate craving for God’s Word? If not, start by “tasting” His goodness again. Spend time in prayer reflecting on all that He has done for you in Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a hunger for Scripture, and then take one practical step to feed that hunger this week (e.g., set aside 10 minutes each morning to read a Psalm).
Connect the Dots: See the connection between your spiritual diet and your spiritual growth. Recognize that your growth in holiness and love is directly tied to your intake of the “pure spiritual milk” of the Word.
Connection to the Main Idea:
This passage gives the “exiles” the practical strategy for how to live holy lives (1:15) and love one another (1:22). The Christian life is a process of subtraction (ridding ourselves of sin) and addition (craving the Word). This is how we grow into our salvation and stand firm in a hostile world.
How Does This Text Point to Christ?
The ultimate expression of the Lord’s goodness that we have “tasted” is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the living Word (John 1:1), and the Scriptures we crave are the primary way we come to know Him more. It is by tasting the goodness of His sacrifice for us that we are motivated to grow, and it is His Word that enables that growth.
Summary:
As a direct result of being born again, Peter commands believers to actively remove all relational sins from their lives. He then calls them to crave the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word with the same intensity as a newborn baby, because this is the only way they will grow into their salvation. This deep desire for the Word is fueled by having already tasted and experienced the goodness of the Lord in salvation.
Be Intentional:
This week, every time you eat a physical meal, let it be a reminder to ask yourself, “Have I fed my soul today with the milk of God’s Word?”
If you know a new believer, share the encouragement of this passage with them, explaining the vital connection between reading the Bible and growing as a Christian.
Ask Yourself:
Am I actively “ridding myself” of sinful attitudes, or am I tolerating them in my heart?
Would I describe my desire for God’s Word as a “craving”? If not, what is dulling my spiritual appetite?
How can I more intentionally reflect on my past “taste” of God’s goodness to fuel my present hunger for Him?
Bibliography:
Grudem, Wayne A. 1 Peter (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries – TNTC). InterVarsity Press.
Schreiner, Thomas R. 1 Peter (The Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament – EGGNT). B&H Academic.
Storms, Sam. The Hope of Glory: 1 Peter. Grace Publications Trust.
Thielman, Frank. “1 Peter.” NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible (NIVBTSB). Zondervan.
Discover more from Biblical Christian Missionary
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.