Jesus Said, “I Will Build” (3)

Jesus Christ is building His church, His Body, by His rich supply of the divine life for His growth in all who remain open to Him. This is our preparation for New Jerusalem.

The growth is the strengthening and spreading of Jesus Christ as the divine, eternal life in us. Growth in the New Testament is the growth of this life; it is not our psychological life nor our physical life nor is it increase in activities or number of people in the activities. Only Christ as life growing in us builds His Body, the church, to fulfill His promise in Matthew 16:18.

Growth for building are also presented in 1 Corinthians 3 (especially v. 2, 6, 9) and Hebrews 5:12-14. In these chapters milk and solid food are mentioned as symbols of “the rich supply” flowing out from the Head, Christ, in Ephesians 4:16 and Colossians 2:19.

In 1 Corinthians and Hebrews, and also in 1 Peter 2:2-3, milk is for infants, babes in Christ, and solid food is for believers full grown in Christ. First Peter presents “the milk of the word” for our growth. Although the milk is for the young believers, 1 Peter implies that we all should be “as newborn babes, long for the guileless milk of the word.”

Regardless of our stage of growth, we need this nourishment. Let us all receive “the word of God, by means of all prayer and petition, praying at every time in spirit” (Eph. 6:17-18). Let’s grow unto New Jerusalem.

Tagged 1 Peter, Christ our life, Colossians, Ephesians 4, Ephesians 6, eternal life, full-grown in Christ, grow with the growth of God, growth, milk of the word, rich supply

Posted by Don on May 28, 2025

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