Lord is gracious.” Whenever I taste a new food that’s pleasing to my pal ate, I want more. As a believer, have you found Christ delightful? Do we want more of Him? Are you willing to feed on the Bread of life and to drink from the water of everlasting life? This is the point Peter makes. Paul wanted to do the same for the assembly at Rome. The spiritual gift to be imparted was in order that they might be established. When this happens, we’re ready to confront those who don’t know Him (I Pet. 3:15). You could never sell a prod uct you don’t use. It’s necessary to know all about it to make it appeal ing to others (Rom. 1:16). If we’re ashamed of the Gospel, we’ll never be in a position to be a great witness for Him. The result is seen in Romans 1:12 to the degree that the saints as well as Paul himself were strengthened by being a mutual blessing to each other. May that be our desire, that we may be strong in the Lord, grounded in the Word, and a con tinual blessing to all with whom we come in contact. P I F F T «
GROUNDED IN THE WORD T hese are days when we must know what and why we believe. If someone asked you to give a defini tion of your faith, what would you say ? Could you give chapter and verse? If many today, who profess the name of the Lord, were really standing steadfast and grounded in the Scriptures, they wouldn’t be car ried away by every wind of doctrine. In Romans 1:10, Paul is desirous to reach the saints at Rome through “a prosperous journey by the will of God.” He longed to see them that he might impart a spiritual gift to them that they might be established in the truths of the Gospel. “Established” means to be stable, solid, and well- balanced. What more do we need as we approach the 21st century? The same was true then in Rome, for pa ganism was rampant on every hand. There were false religions. Natural humanism ruled the day. His desire was that they might be strengthened and comforted tog e th e r through their mutual faith. Peter indicates a means of being established, “As newborn babes, de sire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (I Pet. 2:2). If a child is to grow, it needs the proper nourishment. The “sin cere” milk has reference to that which is undiluted; there’s nothing mixed with it. We must have the real genuine Word of God with noth ing taken from or added to it. The Christian life is never statie. We need to grow so that we can be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. The Lord Jesus re deemed us that we might grow in grace because growth must start with spiritual life. This only comes through being born-again, knowing the Lord as your own personal Sav iour. Peter goes on to indicate, “If so be that ye have tasted that the
Dr. Pullias, Prof, of Higher Education at the Universityof So. Calif, in Los Angeles,presented the Inaugural Addres when Dr. J. RichardChase became President of Biola.
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