A Simple Test

By this time you ought to be teachers. – Hebrews 5:12

The writer of Hebrews contrasted anemic Christians, who live on milk, with mature Christians, who live on meat.

If we’re “meat” Christians, we should be able to explain biblical truths to our children. Husbands should be able to answer their wives’ questions. We should be able to sit down with the Bible and help someone else know the truth. We should be able to lead an unbeliever to the Lord.

“Everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil” (Hebrews 5:13-14). If we refuse to go deeper into the things of God, we will not be able to use the Word because we won’t know the Word. As the old saying goes, “Use it or lose it.” We can’t lose our salvation, but we can forget how to walk in the Word and how to be God’s representatives.

If we are mature Christians, we use God’s Word every day. We practice His Word in our everyday life. The phrase “senses trained” comes from the Greek root word forgymnasium, like a training ground. We are trained in discernment of the truth.