June 22, 2008
Evening Service

I Cor. 5:7-13

 

Review:

1. This morning we dealt with the issue of fornication in the church.  Paul told us how God wanted it dealt with.
2. I mentioned that there is not a subject that cannot be answered by the Word.  This is what should be the place to find answers.
3. We want to finish chapter 5 this evening.  I want to start again at verse 7, as there is so much in this verse.  

Let’s begin:

1Co 5:7-13  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.

Leaven

• Heb. seor (Exo_12:15, Exo_12:19; Exo_13:7; Lev_2:11), the remnant of dough from the preceding baking which had fermented and become acid.
• The chemical definition of ferment or yeast is “a substance in a state of putrefaction, the atoms of which are in a continual motion.
• The use of leaven was strictly forbidden in all offerings made to the Lord by fire (Lev_2:11; Lev_7:12; Lev_8:2; Num_6:15). Its secretly penetrating and diffusive power is referred to in 1Co_5:6. In this respect it is used to illustrate the growth of the kingdom of heaven both in the individual heart and in the world (Mat_13:33). It is a figure also of corruptness and of perverseness of heart and life (Mat_16:6, Mat_16:11; Mar_8:15; 1Co_5:7, 1Co_5:8).

For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 

• As we look back into the Old Testament, and read the story concerning the exodus of the people of God out of Egypt, we see the story of the Passover.
• God had allowed Moses to perform the miracle of the plagues, but He kept hardening Pharaoh’s heart, and then it was time for the last plague.  The death of the first born.
• How is Christ our Passover?  
• He is our sacrificial lamb.  Joh 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
• 1Pe 1:18  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 1Pe 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:            

AND THEN NOTICE!

• Rev 5:1-5  And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.  (2)  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?  (3)  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.  (4)  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.  (5)  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.  Rev 5:6  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.  Rev 5:7  And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. Rev 5:8  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. Rev 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

SO THEN PAUL SAYS:

 

(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. 

• Malice and wickedness, represents sin, and leaven.
• The contrast is unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

(9)  I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:  (10)  Yet not altogether the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 

• Paul is saying I know you will have contact with these people in the world.  You will work with some, you will buy from some, and some you will sell too. 
• In another place Paul said you are in the world, but you are not of the world.
• Jesus said, Joh 17:15  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

Then Paul says:

(11)  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat. 

• Do not fellowship with people that have these faults.  You’re not having anything to do with them is too bring them back to good standing with God, and the fellowship.

(12)  For what have I to do to judge them also that are without?

• Paul says “I have no authority over them in the world.”

do not ye judge them that are within? 

• This is your responsibility to judge them within the church.  You should exercise your authority, and do your best to keep sin out of the church.

(13)  But them that are without God judgeth.

• The people outside the church, the body of Christ, will be judged by God Almighty.  This is His responsibility, and it will be done. 

 

Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

 

• And again, what we have here is someone that is blatantly defying the laws of God.  Just as if he is daring the church to do something about it. 
• Here is the Scripture I was referring to this morning.

1Co 11:27-32  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 

• There is more than one way to partake unworthy.  In this instance Paul is referring to the way they were partaking of the Communion, the Body, and Blood of Christ.

(28)  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.  (29)  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 

• This should be taken, as not only the church, but also the discerning of the Lord’s body in the Communion service.

(30)  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.  (31)  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.  (32)  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

• God loves us, and is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, especially His children.
• Heb 12:5-11  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:  (6)  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  (7)  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  (8)  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 

The chastening is for us to repent, and draw closer to God, and not be destroyed in the end time.