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Craving Spiritual Nourishment for Spiritual Growth and Salvation

Spiritual nourishment is presented in Christian thought as essential for both spiritual growth and the process of salvation, often depicted through metaphors of physical hunger and thirst. The Apostle Peter exhorts believers to "crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation" [1]. This craving for spiritual sustenance is not merely a desire but a necessary component for development in faith.

The imagery of longing and thirst for God is deeply rooted in the Psalms. The psalmist expresses this profound need, stating, "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God" [2], and "My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of Yahweh. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God" [3]. This spiritual yearning is likened to physical hunger and thirst experienced by travelers in deserts, who find themselves starving and famishing without provision [17]. Such a state leads individuals to hunger for Christ, who is described as the "bread of life," and to thirst for His grace [17]. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, notes that the Lord satisfies the "longing soul" and "filleth the hungry soul with goodness," referring to the spiritual blessings found in Christ and the Gospel [14].

This concept of spiritual nourishment is intrinsically linked to salvation. The Tyndale House commentary on Ephesians highlights that salvation is "only by God’s grace" [8] and "through faith in God’s mercy alone" [9]. Good works are understood as the result of salvation, not its cause, produced by God's Spirit working through a transformed heart [10]. This transformation involves a "new birth" and "new life through the Holy Spirit," signifying a departure from a life of sin and death into a realm of life and purity [9]. Believers are said to be "created anew in Christ Jesus" [10], stripping off their "old sinful nature" and putting on a "new nature" [11, 12]. This new nature, expressed by God's Spirit within the believer, is part of the gift of salvation [12].

The process of spiritual growth, often termed sanctification, is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit bringing the entire person under the influence of the new principles implanted during regeneration [7]. It is the continuation of the work begun in regeneration, extending to the "whole man" [7]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, emphasizes that receiving the grace and Spirit of Christ is essential for salvation, just as eating food is necessary for physical nourishment [15]. He further interprets the command to "eat that I give thee" as taking God's word into one's heart, pondering it so that it strengthens and preserves the soul, much like physical nourishment sustains the body [16].

Prayer is a key practice in seeking this spiritual nourishment and expressing spiritual longing. It is commanded in scripture [6] and involves various postures and expressions, such as lifting up the soul and heart, pouring out the soul, and crying to God [4, 6]. Believers are encouraged to pray for the presence and support of God, for divine comfort, and for teaching and direction [4]. Waiting upon God is also a significant aspect, involving waiting for salvation, guidance, protection, and the fulfillment of God's promises [5]. This waiting is described as good and is something God calls His people to do [5]. The act of giving thanks for "all things," even adversities, is also part of this spiritual posture, acknowledging God as the source of all blessings [13].

Sources

  1. I Peter “I Peter 2:2 (BSB) — Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,”
  2. Psalms “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? -- Psalms 42:2”
  3. Psalms “My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of Yahweh. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. -- Psalms 84:2”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Waiting Upon God — As the God of providence -- Jer 14:22. As the God of salvation -- Ps 25:5. As the Giver of all temporal blessings -- Ps 104:27,28; Ps 145:15,16. For Mercy. -- Ps 123:2. Pardon. -- Ps 39:7,8. The consolation of Israel. -- Lu 2:25. Salvation. -- Ge 49:18; Ps 62:1,2. Guidance and teaching. -- Ps 25:5. Protection. -- Ps 33:20; 59:9,10. The fulfillment of His word. -- Hab 2:3. The fulfillment of His promises. -- Ac 1:4. Hope of righteous by faith. -- Ga 5:5. Coming of Christ. -- 1Co 1:7; 1Th 1:10. Is good -- Ps 52:9. God calls us to -- Zep 3:8. Exhortat”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7; Php 4:6. To be offered To God. -- Ps 5:2; Mt 4:10. To Christ. -- Lu 23:42; Ac 7:59. To the Holy Spirit. -- 2Th 3:5. Through Christ. -- Eph 2:18; Heb 10:19. God hears -- Ps 10:17; 65:2. God answers -- Ps 99:6; Isa 58:9. Is described as Bowing the knees. -- Eph 3:14. Looking up. -- Ps 5:3. Lifting up the soul. -- Ps 25:1. Lifting up the heart. -- La 3:41. Pouring out the heart. -- Ps 62:8. Pouring out the soul. -- 1Sa 1:15. Calling upon the name of the Lord. -- Ge 12:8; Ps 116:4; Ac 22:16. Crying to God. -- Ps 27:7; 34:6. Drawing”
  7. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sanctification — Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor. 6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1 Cor. 6:1”
  8. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:5: 2:5 gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead (literally made us alive together with Christ): Joined with Christ, believers share in his resurrection, now and in the future (see 2:6; Rom 6:4-14; Col 3:1-4). • It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved: See Eph 1:2; 2:8-9.”
  9. Titus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Titus 3:5: 3:5 not because . . . but because: The contrast is between human actions that might be thought to merit salvation and God’s grace (see Gal 2:16). Salvation is through faith in God’s mercy alone (Eph 2:8). • He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth: See Ezek 16:9; John 3:1-15; Eph 5:26; Heb 10:22; 2 Pet 1:9. • and new life through the Holy Spirit: This signifies a complete departure from the life of sin and death and a transfer into the realm of life and purity (see also Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 5:17; Col 3:10).”
  10. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:10: 2:10 He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us: Good works are the result, not the cause, of salvation. God’s Spirit, working through a transformed heart, produces a good life (Gal 5:22-23).”
  11. Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 3:9: 3:9-10 your old sinful nature . . . your new nature: Paul contrasts old and new identities (see also Rom 5:12-21; 6:6; Eph 4:22-24). Believers strip off their old life and put on Christ’s new life, allowing him to be Lord and to guide the way they live.”
  12. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:24: 4:24 A believer has a new nature: God’s Spirit expresses his life within the believer (see Col 3:10; cp. Gen 1:26; Rom 12:1-2; Gal 5:22-23). The transforming work of God’s Spirit is part of the gift of salvation (Eph 2:8-10).”
  13. Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5:20: thanks . . . for all things--even for adversities; also for blessings, unknown as well as known (Col 3:17; Th1 5:18). unto God and the Father--the Fountain of every blessing in Creation, Providence, Election, and Redemption. Lord Jesus Christ--by whom all things, even distresses, become ours (Rom 8:35, Rom 8:37; Co1 3:20-23).”
  14. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 107:8: For he satisfieth the longing soul,.... The soul that is hungry and thirsty, and longs for food and drink, when nature in such circumstances craves. And so such who long for Christ and his grace, for an interest in him, and fellowship with him, the Lord satisfies with these things, as with marrow and fatness. And filleth the hungry soul with goodness; with the goodness and fatness of his house; with good things; with the good things laid up in Christ and in the covenant; with the good things of the Gospel; with the grace and goodness of God in Christ; see Psa 65:4.”
  15. John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 6:53: Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man - Unless ye be made partakers of the blessings about to be purchased by my blood, passion, and violent death, ye cannot be saved. As a man must eat bread and flesh, in order to be nourished by them, so a man must receive the grace and Spirit of Christ, in order to his salvation. As food in a rich man's store does not nourish the poor man that needs it, unless it be given him, and he receive it into his stomach, so the whole fountain of mercy existing in the bosom of God, and uncommunicated, does not save a soul: he who is save”
  16. Ezekiel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ezekiel 2:8: Open thy mouth and eat that I give thee - Take my word as thou wouldst take thy proper food; receive it into thy heart; ponder it there, that it may be the means of strengthening and preserving thy soul, as proper nourishment will strengthen the body, and preserve from death. And the people to whom such messages of God may come should so hear it read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest it, that it may become efficient nourishment to their souls.”
  17. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 107:4: Hungry and thirsty,.... As travellers in deserts sometimes are; their provisions being spent they bring with them, and none to be had on the road; there being no inns to stop at, nor any sort of food to eat, nor springs of water to drink of. In such a condition are souls, when, like the prodigal, they come to themselves, and are thoroughly convinced of their state and condition by nature; they find themselves starving and famishing, and no provision to be had from themselves or the creature: they hunger after Christ, the bread of life, and thirst after his grace, the”
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