“If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” (1Peter 2:3)
This verse is connected to the previous one with the words “if so be...” There is a command connected to this verse in verse 2. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” (1Peter 2:2) if we have experienced the Lord’s goodness. The Lord’s goodness is His merciful and loving salvation. Some may doubt because in the process of sanctification sin is revealed. But that sin has been forgiven. “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses;” (Colossians 2:13). What we must do when that sin is revealed is repent of it and confess it believing in the marvelous work of the Lord on the cross. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9) The Holy Spirit Who indwells confirms to us that we are children of God. “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” (Galatians 4:6) We have that confirmation that we are saved by grace and that the Holy Spirit is working our sanctification, making us more and more like Christ. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2Corinthians 3:18) We have the confirmation of the Spirit and the proof of the working of the Spirit in us.
There is a difference in remembrance of a sin. Is it enjoyment or abhorrence? Is it a longing or an aversion? Our reaction to sin is also a testimony of the Holy Spirit working in us. Our new born again nature cannot tolerate sin. We now have the nature of God. He hates sin. And we hate the sin of our flesh. When it’s revealed, we want to get rid of it immediately. And God in His loving mercy and wisdom has provided for us to cleanse it from our conscious in 1 John 1:9. The result is a glorious change, “from glory to glory” we are changed into the image of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
If we have tasted or experienced God’s goodness, we should desire the Word of God. That is another proof. That desire to know God and to know what He has said. This is evidence of our salvation. We have a hunger for His Word. Peter commanded, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.” (2Peter 3:18) Besides spending time with the Lord in prayer, we grow in the knowledge of our Lord by reading the Word of God. (1Peter 2:2) “If so...” we have been saved or tasted of the Lord’s goodness, we will desire the Word of God. We need that “sincere milk of the Word” to grow much like a baby needs his milk. It is God’s creative and powerful Word that transforms us. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2) Our minds are transformed and renewed by God’s Word.
But is there such as thing as a falling away? Falling away is different from just falling into sin. We all fall into sin. That flesh will rare up and expose its sin. That is sin that we hate that we must repent of and confess. That is the working of the Holy Spirit in us changing us by exposing what’s in our flesh and changing us. But we hear of a falling away. This is when we decide that we know our sin and want to wallow in it. So, we leave our first and True Love, Jesus, to participate in sin. Paul had some strong words to say about this. “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame.” (Hebrews 6:4-6) In my personal opinion and belief, I don’t believe that they were saved in the first place. They may have thought they were saved. They may have acted saved and spoken “Christianese.” But in their hearts I don’t think they were saved in the first place. I base my belief on the Word of God. Paul himself wrote that nothing can separate us from the love of God. (Romans 8:38,39) “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35) Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28) He also said, “All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37) And Jude wrote, “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25) Our Lord and God will not allow it. There may be a very rare case because anything is possible. But as I see it, it’s impossible. So if someone professing to belong to Christ, falls away completely, I doubt that they were saved in the first place. John wrote, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” (1John 2:19)
There is much condemnation in the brethren that have little or no instruction. But in Christ there is no condemnation. (Romans 8:1) The Lord knows we are weak and has made allowance for our defects and weaknesses. When we are weak, God is strong and He glorifies Himself in His work in us, for us and through us, because we know it’s not anything that came from us. But it was the Lord working in us. “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence.” (1Corinthians 1:27-29)
We have tasted and experienced God’s goodness. Although we may fall into sin, we don’t fall into condemnation because He has provided a cleansing of that sin from our conscious and is doing the work of perfecting us each time more and more into the image of Christ. We have the promise and assurance that He will not allow us to be snatched from His grip. The Word of God changes and transforms our mind. When our mind comes into conformity with the Word of God, our will and emotions will come in line with the Word of God. That is where the change happens. “If so...” we are saved, that desire for the Word of God to know Him more and to know what He has said to us burns in us.
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