A Little Leaven

Leaven is forbidden in the meal offerings Lev. 2:11; or in the Passover Feast, Exodus 12:15-20. Leaven is an influencer causing bread to rise. Symbolically, it is used as a type of sin.
 
The verses below show how leaven is a type of sin, specifically of false doctrine, hypocrisy, malice and wickedness as well as anythingthat is sinful. 
 
Mt 16:6 “Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”
 
Mt 16:11 “How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not toyou concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?” Mt 16:12 “Then understood they how that He bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” Mk. 8:15 “And He charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.”
 
Lu 12:1 “In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”
 
1Cor. 5:6 “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?”
 
1Cor. 5:7 “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:”
1Cor. 5:8 “Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
 
Gal. 5:9 “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”
 

It has become very popular to attack Christians who will take a Biblical stand on issues that are addressed in the Bible. We have seen a good example in the last few days in particular where those taking a Biblical stand are called homophobes and haters.
 
In 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 we see an example of people just like those in our day who overlook the leaven of sin and were proud of the fact that they were tolerant of the sin of a young man and his stepmother. Verse 2 tells us they were “puffed up” meaning, the people were proud, haughty and obviously tolerant of the gross sin, “that one should have his father’s wife.” This young man was in an open sinful relationship with his stepmother! They were so proud of their love for sinners that they overlooked the "leaven" in the church. The Apostle rebuked them, telling them that they “have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.” Paul the Apostle goes so far to become very judgmental and tells them “to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” The Church was to put him under Church discipline and if he did not repent, turn him over to Satan…He has committed the sin unto death!
 
MAIN LESSON STARTS HERE
In verse 6, Paul rebukes them again! "Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” Dear readers that means that this sin affects the whole Church! Understand that this is an open, known sin that was tolerated, and the Church was proud that they were so loving and tolerant. Paul said “Your glorying is not good.” Again, obviously the leaders in the Church were proud as well that they had so much love for sinners that they that they could not judge them by the Bible.
MAIN LESSON ENDS HERE

In verse 7, the command is to “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump…”  Look down at verses 12-13 which state, “For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”
 
This is a command to the Church at Corinth to put that unrepentant person out of the Church and under the judgment of God! That is a standard by which every Bible based church should stand, no matter what the world outside believes! The lost in our world will never agree with the Bible's description of sin as we see in 1 Cor. 2:14 "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
 
I have heard some of the most unscriptural talk concerning the subject of “toleration.” We are being called “bigots” for standing with the Word of God. I think it is strange that professing Christians will speak in derogatory terms about us standing up for Biblical principles, and yet when companies like J.C. Penney, Target, Home Depot and others take a stand in support of Gay (sodomite) rights, same sex marriage and such like, and even support those groups and organizations that openly push for the same, they are silent, even though there are numerous verses condemning such practices. It is strange indeed that they will condemn those holding a Biblical position and applaud those who speak against the plain teaching of Scripture.
 
Bible Believing Christians will never cave in to the “toleration” mentality of the world in direct opposition to the Holy Word of God.  We will “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” as we are told in Jude  V.3 
 
Dear Christian, do not be ashamed of what God tells us in His Word.  We should be nice and gracious, yet firm and settled that the final authority is the Word of God, for Jesus said in Matt. 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
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