Introduction

A newborn baby is a bundle of potential, but they are also fragile and needy. Spiritual infancy is a beautiful, albeit messy, stage where we learn the "ABCs" of the faith and develop a taste for God's Truth. Why must milk come first? Milk represents the basic principles of the Gospel, such as faith, repentance, and baptism. These are the building blocks required before one can understand deeper "mysteries of the kingdom". The second reason is that of bearing capacity – developing believers must build their "bearing capacity". Apostle Paul explained that he gave the Corinthians milk because they "were not yet able to bear" solid food.

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Main Points

• The Appetite Test: An infant's primary job is to eat. A healthy "babe in Christ" has a constant hunger for the Bible (the milk).
• Emotional Instability: Like toddlers, spiritual infants are often driven by feelings. They are easily "tossed to and fro" by new ideas or trials
  Ephesians 4:14

  That we {henceforth} be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, {and} cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

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• Learning to Walk: This stage is about learning basic disciplines: prayer, church attendance, and simple obedience.

Infancy is a stage of discovery where the believer learns how to function in their new family—the Church.

• The Internal Process: Identification. The infant learns who they are in Christ and begins to separate their identity from their old life.
• The Pivotal Lesson: Consistency. Learning that God is faithful even when feelings change. Infants often struggle with "spiritual highs and lows".
• Signs of Health: A "holy hunger" for the Word of God and a willingness to be taught.
  1 Peter 2:2

  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

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• Deeper Insight: The greatest danger in this stage is "arrested development"—staying on milk for years and refusing to take on the responsibilities of a disciple
  Hebrews 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.

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Memory Verses

Conclusion

We must use the "milk" to get strong enough for "meat." Milk provides the initial nourishment that allows a believer to eventually develop the discernment needed to "distinguish good from evil". Attempting to skip the "milk" stage can lead to "doctrinal indigestion" or a susceptibility to false teachings. Foundational truths protect new believers while their faith is still fragile. But we cannot stay in this stage for too long, we must grow up!