Lesson 19: The Newborn Man

As soon as one knows he is saved, he should begin, in dependence upon the Holy Spirit, a careful, regular, systematic study of the Word of God. The Bible is our Father's letter to us, His redeemed children. We should value it as that which reveals His mind and indicates the way in which He would have us walk.

 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

The study of the Word will instruct me in the truth, it will show me what needs to be rectified in my life and walk, it will make clear how I may get right with God, and it will guide me in paths of uprightness. No Christian can afford to neglect his Bible. If he does, he will be stunted and dwarfed in his spiritual life, and will be a prey to doubts and fears, and may be carried about by every wind of doctrine.

As newborn babes require milk, so the regenerated soul needs to be nourished on the Word. I wonder if you have heard the story of the Irishman who was converted through reading the New Testament. Rejoicing in his new-found treasure, he delighted to pore over its sacred pages whenever opportunity permitted.

One day the parish priest called to see him and found him perusing the precious volume that had brought such blessing to his soul.

"Pat," he asked sternly, "what book is that which you are reading?"
"Sure," was the reply, "it's the New Testament."

"The New Testament! Why, Pat, that's not a book for an ignorant man like you to read. That is for the clergy who go to college and learn its real meaning and then give it to the people. But unlearned folks like you will get all kinds of wrong ideas from it."


"But, “said Pat, "I've just been reading here, and it's the apostle Peter himself that says it, 'As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,' and sure it's just a babe in Christ I am, and it's the milk of the Word I'm after, and that's why I am reading it for myself."

"That's all right, Pat, in a way, but the Almighty has appointed His priests to be the milkmen, and when you want the milk of the Word you should come to me and I will give it to you as you are able to bear it."

"Oh, sure, you know I keep a cow of my own out there in the shed, and when I was sick I hired a man to milk her for me, and I soon found he was stealing half the milk and filling the bucket up with water. But when I got well I discharged him and took to milking my own cow, and now it's the rich cream I'm getting all the time. And now I'm milking my own cow in this case, too, and it's the rich cream of the Word on which my soul is feeding every day."

Nothing will make up for lack of this diligent study of the Bible for yourself. You cannot get the full assurance of understanding without it. But as you search the Scriptures you will find truth after truth unfolding in a wonderful way, so that doubts and questions will be banished and divinely-given certainty will take their place.

 Thought Question: 
Why should we study the Bible?
How often should we be in the Word of God?