Heb 5:10-14 “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ” – Part 4

[Study Aired September 10, 2020]

Heb 5:10  Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Heb 5:11  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 
Heb 5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 
Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

These last verses of Hebrews five challenge us to know if we are in the faith (2Co 13:5-6, Heb 6:9) and if we truly understand what it means to rightly divide the word of God. That rightly dividing of the word of God is only possible through Christ who can strengthen us to endure through the fiery trials that purify the faith we’re given in this life in order that we may “be as his master” (1Jn 4:17, Luk 6:40, Php 2:7-8), Christ, “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared” (Heb 5:6-7).

2Co 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
2Co 13:6  But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

Heb 6:9  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. [How we “shall be as his master” and saved from death (Gal 2:20).]

We are saved from spiritual death in the same manner Christ was, by rightly dividing and hearing and obeying God’s words of life (Act 5:32).

God’s elect hear the voice of the true shepherd and are being led by the spirit of God (Joh 10:27-28, Rom 8:14-16) and are keeping the sayings of this prophecy that can quicken (Joh 6:63) and strengthen us to be blessed to endure until the end (Rev 1:3, Mat 24:13).

Joh 10:27  My sheep hear my voice [1Jn 4:6], and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life [Joh 6:68]; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father (Heb 5:6-7, 1Jn 4:17-18).
Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

God is giving those who are called, chosen and faithful to the end in this life the power to overcome in this age (Rev 21:7). In light of what we must do in order to inherit eternal life, Jesus tells us to read, hear and keep the prophesies, the commandments within those prophesies, in this way (read 2Ti 2:15, hear Mar 12:29, keep Mat 19:17).

Read: 2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Hear: Mar 12:29  And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

Keep: Mat 19:17  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

The great command to hear is for the Israel of God (Gal 6:16) who are called to grow in grace and in knowledge as we die daily and go from death to life through a process of judgement that will take a lifetime of overcoming this earth, this flesh that must be brought into subjection in order for us to hear His voice (Jer 22:29).

Jer 22:29  O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

It is the trials, the storms God brings our way (Psa 107:25-29), which bring us to cry out to God so that our faith which comes from hearing the word (Rom 10:17, Joh 8:31) can be sharpened (1Pe 1:7), taking away the dullness of our minds (Heb 5:11) so we can rightly divide the word of truth. The sword must not depart from our house, otherwise there will be nothing by which we can be sharpened. The sword, in this instance, which does not depart from the house of king David represents the trials and tribulations that confirm that we are sons God is maturing in this age (Act 14:22, Eze 21:11-13, 2Sa 12:10).

2Sa 12:10  Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

Eze 21:11  And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.
Eze 21:12  Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh.
Eze 21:13  Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord GOD.

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

We can endure this process until the end through Christ who strengthens us (Php 4:13), and it is completely necessary for us to suffer (2Ti 2:12) if we are going to be part of the priesthood “after the order of Melchisedec” under our Lord who is the “Lord of lords, and King of kings” (Rev 17:14). He tells us we can drink the cup (Mat 20:23) and that He will help us bear the cross He gives us in this life in order to bring us unto perfection on the third day (Eph 4:13, Luk 13:32).

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

This article that Mike Vinson wrote about 20 years ago is part of the essential reading section that demonstrates who it is and how it is that we can become mature “kings and priests” (Rev 1:6) “who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

Rightly Dividing the Word

Discernment is something we have to grow into, and we all start off being “dull of hearing“. So, our calling in the Lord should compel us to go unto maturity on the third day and that path to life is defined for us by such scriptures as these: (2Pe 3:16-18, 1Ti 6:11-15, Joh 6:27, 1Co 9:27, Php 3:14-15).

2Pe 3:16  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction [“dull of hearing“].
2Pe 3:17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

1Ti 6:11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things [1Ti 6:1-10]; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness [Be doers of the word!].
1Ti 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
1Ti 6:13  I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
1Ti 6:14  That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1Ti 6:15  Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Joh 6:27  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed [Heb 11:6].

1Co 9:25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1Co 9:26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: [“I don’t shadow box with the shadows of the old covenant but see them as pointing to the reality Jesus Christ with whom I’m engaged.”]
1Co 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Every day we are dying daily (1Co 15:31), a seed, one seed (Gal 3:16), the body of Christ that must die to self in order to bring forth much fruit (“morifying the deeds of the flesh is how the corn of wheat falls into the ground and dies” – Rom 8:13-15, Joh 12:24). That fruit is the righteousness of Christ we are told to put on in Romans 13:14) that says “put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ“. We must encourage each other to believe all things, and endure all things, and hope all things (1Co 13:7-10). We are being used as one of many joints in God’s service (Eph 4:16) that will, through the much tribulation of this life (Act 14:22), learn of His great faithfulness and love. We are promised that He will never leave or forsake us (Heb 13:5-6) in this spiritual endeavour that we are engaged (2Co 11:2, Rev 19:7) in, which is called “the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Php 3:14).

Rom 13:12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Rom 13:13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Rom 13:14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness [1Ti 6:1-10]; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Heb 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Heb 5:10  Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. 

We know Christ was “called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec”, and in earlier studies we saw the relationship with Abraham and Melchisedec that typifies our relationship with Christ. That story of Abraham bringing the tithe offering from war defines for us our fiery walk in the Lord today, that has us wrestling or warring not against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities in high places (Eph 6:12). We know the battle is won by Christ in us, our hope of glory (Col 1:27), and we must acknowledge His working in us both to will and do of our Father’s good pleasure (Luk 12:32, Joh 15:5, Php 2:12-13), typified by Abraham who had to go to war, and give “a tenth of the spoils” to Melchisedec signifying what we will do if we are Christ’s predestined remnant (Heb 7:4, Rom 11:5).

We are told Saul of Tarsus was in a battle against Christ (Act 9:5), and in this story he was “breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord”. Interestingly he went to “the high priest” with these demands, “and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem“. Unknowingly Saul was doing the work of God, typifying what was very shortly going to happen to himself, as the true High Priest was about to humble him and bring him into a relationship which would have him spiritually residing in Jerusalem above and being bound to the altar (Act 9:3-6, Eph 2:6, Gal 4:26, Psa 118:27).

Act 9:3  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Act 9:4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Act 9:5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Act 9:6  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Psa 118:27  God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

Heb 5:11  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 

There were many things Paul wanted to utter, but he met people, as we should, where they are spiritually, “that I might gain them that are under the law” if that is God’s will for that person (1Co 9:20-22). In this context of Hebrews 5:11, Paul is talking to Christians, and he is going to use some language in the following verses that are, God willing, going to provoke these babes in Christ unto love and good works (Heb 10:24). It is therefore an admonition for all of us to not revert back to just receiving things that are easily digested, but rather to labour for the meat that does not perish (Joh 6:27).

1Co 9:20  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
1Co 9:21  To them that are without law, as without law (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ), that I might gain them that are without law.
1Co 9:22  To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

Joh 6:27  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Study to show yourself approved (2Ti 2:15) and if you lack wisdom ask God to give it to you and He will abundantly supply (Jas 1:5). In other words, we need to be stretched and to have our heavens opened. God brings trials upon us for that very reason so that we do cry out in our time of need so that we can receive his Word that brings healing (Psa 107:20).

Psa 107:20  He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Jas 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Notice these two passages of scripture that explain this principle of how God uses trials to mature us to open our heavens so we can receive the strong meat (Rev 4:1, Rev 11:19)

Rev 4:1  After this [i.e. after the first 3 chapters that explain in Revelation 1:9-10: I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos,  for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.  I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet] I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
Rev 4:2  And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

Rev 11:14  The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Rev 11:16  And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
Rev 11:17  Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. [“Both now in our lives in this earnest relationship (Col 1:27) and one day in the fullness of that relationship in the first resurrection.”]
Rev 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
Rev 11:19  And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Heb 5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

In chapter six of Hebrews Paul is going to say what those “first principles of the oracles of God” mean, but the point we need to see in this fifth chapter is that these Hebrew Christians had “become such as have need of milk“. They should after all this time be able to receive meat, but what is being made manifest in them is the desire to go back under the schoolmaster, the law for the lawless (1Ti 1:9, Gal 4:2), where they would not need to know how to discern good from evil which is what Paul was trying to bring them to understand they needed to do (Heb 5:14).

Heb 5:12  By now you should have been teachers, but once again you need to be taught the simplest things about what God has said. You need milk instead of solid food.
Heb 5:13  People who live on milk are like babies who don’t really know what is right.
Heb 5:14  Solid food is for mature people who have been trained to know right from wrong. [CEV]

Having need of milk again was demonstrative of the lack of spiritual appetite that those who were trying to be perfected in the flesh had at this time (Heb 5:12). In Galatia there were doubtful disputations coming forth from this group spoken of in (Gal 3:2-11) that Paul was addressing by asking “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” or “Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain”. This immature spirit was reminiscent of the one found in this verse we’re looking at (Heb 5:12) and one that had to be dealt with in love as Paul provoked them to love and good works by reminding them what was being revealed by their lack of discernment and inability to rightly divide the word which was preventing them from going onto maturity  (Rom 14:1-3).

Gal 3:2  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Gal 3:3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Gal 3:4  Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
Gal 3:5  He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Gal 3:6  Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Gal 3:7  Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham [Rom 2:28-29, Gal 6:16].

Rom 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Rom 14:2  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
Rom 14:3  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

If you have need of milk again “and not of strong meat” the good news is that “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work”  and that is exactly how every son that He is receiving or working with as His workmanship (Heb 12:6, Eph 2:10) in this age is brought unto maturity through grace “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (2Co 9:8, Tit 2:12).

2Co 9:8  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works [Eph 2:10].

God’s elect are called to go unto maturity through a process of being judged (1Pe 4:17) so that we can have our senses exercised to discern good and evil, which is what it is going to take for us to become teachers who will be able to judge the nations and angels because we have been matured by the strong meat that God brought us to a point of being able to digest (1Co 6:2-3).

1Co 6:2  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

Heb 5:14 Now solid nourishment is for the mature, who, because of habit, have faculties exercised for discriminating between the ideal and the evil.” [CLV]

Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 

God has used my weak flesh to humble me and make his strength perfect through it. He brings us through necessary experiences and then into remembrance of how easily anyone of us can defile this temple, but He also reminds God’s elect how He will be faithful to destroy my old man your old man, whenever that does happen (1Co 3:17). This destruction is what needs to happen in our lives  so that we will no longer be “unskilful in the word of righteousness” and Christ promises us that it is going to get done (Mat 24:2).

Heb 5:13  All those who live on milk lack the experience to talk about what is right. They are still babies. [GW]

1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Mat 24:2  And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Joh 2:19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple (1Co 3:17), and in three days I will raise it up.

Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 

God willing, we will “desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1Pe 2:2), and will be given to hunger and thirst for the “strong meat” that God willing in time we will be able to go onto “if God permit” (Mat 5:6  Joh 8:31, 2Ti 3:14, Heb 6:3).

Mat 5:6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

2Ti 3:14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

Heb 6:3  And this will we do, if God permit.

Let’s consider that “strong meat” can only come about by the death of the animal that provides that meat (Joh 12:24). God willing we will present our lives a living sacrifice at the altar (Rom 12:1) which is the cross, so that we can nourish others and be nourished by the life of Christ that strengthens us, just as the bullock offering that He represents, which can only be found by being led of the spirit (Rom 8:14) without the camp where we lay down our lives for each other following Christ’s perfect example as we are baptized into his death (Heb 13:13, Rom 6:3).

Joh 12:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

Unless we are dragged to Christ who is represented by the tree of life (Joh 6:44), we are not being judged (1Pe 4:17), but if we are judged in this age it will be by a sword that is sharper than any two-edged sword (Heb 4:12) represented by Christ who guards the way of the tree of life (Gen 3:24, Rev 19:15) and who will bring us to the point where we can discern good and evil.

The best two-edged sword of humanity cannot bring about good from evil, but God can, and so will the bride of Christ be able to, with Christ as our head. Those cherubim who have the “flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life”, represent God’s elect who are blessed to read, hear and keep those things written within God’s word, for the time is at hand (Rev 1:3).

Gen 3:24  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Rev 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Adam and Eve partook of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and were cursed by it just as all the world is without Christ within them who gives us the ability to discern good and evil so that we can live our lives to the glory of God (1Co 10:31).

It is a great blessing and miracle to go on to maturity in this age (Mat 22:14, 1Co 1:27), and only God can give that increase as we will be looking at next week Lord willing (1Co 3:6). Christ is revealing a hope within us (Col 1:27) through the increase that God gives us so that we can continue to partake of strong meat and grow in our discernment of how to rightly divide the word (2Ti 2:15).

We come together often so the Lord can mature this little flock that is being prepared to be saviours who will come up on mount Zion, in that day, in the first resurrection, ready to discern the good and evil in this world, within all the nations because we will have already been granted to do that within ourselves in this age (Heb 10:25, Oba 1:21, Luk 12:32).

Those who are saved in this age first, by grace and faith (Eph 2:8), are that kind of peculiar first fruits (1Pe 2:9, Jas 1:18) who God will bring unto perfection and who will have been blessed to “put you on the Lord Jesus Christ“.

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Jas 1:18  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth [1Jn 3:1], that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.