Dough-boy
Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 1 Corinthians 5:7 ESV
New – What are you? Not, “Who are you?” Paul doesn’t answer that question here. He answers the question, “What are you?” You are a new lump. I don’t imagine most of us think of ourselves as a lump. But Paul’s analogy is placed in the culture of Israel, not ours. His language depends on his readers knowing about Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. If he were writing to ignorant Gentiles, none of this would make any sense. It’s Jewish, through and through.
Now we notice that Paul uses the Greek word neos. He doesn’t use kainos (the word found in Hebrews). Neos is about “fresh, young, a new state of position.” It’s about new wine, a new reality and the new man. But it does not have eschatological implications. It is new now, in the present, not new later when the Messiah comes. Whatever we are, we are right now new, fresh and young. And this is Paul’s point (and the reason he chooses neos rather than kainos). The sacrifice of the Lamb has already removed the leaven from your life. You are already new. His death accomplished what you and I could never do. It took away the pollution that defiled us in the presence of YHWH.
Great! What a blessing! Finished! Does that mean we have nothing more to do? Ah, not quite. Look how Paul begins this verse. Imperative! [You] cleanse out the old leaven. You and I have to remove in practice what has already been removed in theory. Yeshua’s death gives us legal status as “not guilty.” We are obligated to make that legal status a practical reality. We are called to live up to the standard God has already placed upon us. “Cleanse out” says Paul. The Greek is ekkatharate. It’s catharsis – removal in experience – coupled with ek – out. Get the junk out! Purge yourself! Remove everything that defiles. That’s the symbolic meaning of removing leaven (yeast) from your home before the feast. Now you and I need to do that on the inside as well as the outside. It is not possible to simply wait until God shows up with the spring cleaning equipment. This is a daily task. Make yourself a place where the purity of the Spirit may reside without concern.
Generally we agree. We should get rid of the bad stuff. We are to be purified. But we are far removed from the culture where these words recalled yearly practice so we might overlook the fact that this implies a knowledge of what is clean and what is unclean. You see, this action is not simply a good heart-scrubbing. It is also about my environment. It includes ritual as well as moral purity. Everyone in Paul’s reading audience would have known this. It’s clean on the outside and on the inside. Christians who have left Torah behind often think that this process is only an interior one. It is, of course, but it also includes aligning myself with what God calls clean. That is the process of ritual purity and it cannot be separated from the inner disinfecting. The Passover Lamb makes it possible. Now you and I have to make it real.
Topical Index: cleanse, new, neos, purity, Passover, 1 Corinthians 5:7
~ Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed ~ (1 Corinthians 5:7)
There to my heart was His blood applied. Glory to His Name.
This impurity, this leaven is sin. Leaven or yeast is a symbol or picture of sin. (May I call it by the proper name?) The lump is unleavened or “sin-free” bread. His body, (the bread of Bethlehem!) will be broken and distributed among the people. The dwelling-place where leaven is to be cleansed is “us.” We are the Body of Christ. But we would not fill or use an unclean vessel and neither will God. There is a Way (one way) of holiness and it is the blood of The slain Lamb, our Messiah, the very Son of God AND God The Son, which was given as an atoning (cleansing and covering) sacrifice for sinners on the tslav, the execution stake, on a hill called Mt. Calvary.
This very morning, I am enjoying a wonderful cup of freshly ground coffee. But “what if” I were to reach for my favorite coffee cup, I discovered within it, much to my surprise (and disgust!) a dead roach! (Yes, yuck!) The plan? Dispose of said dead roach and then cleanse the cup. Give it a good scrubbing and a good rinsing and then, having been satisfied as to the cleanliness of the cup, it is now ready to be filled with the “good stuff.”
Which would (shall we say) carry “greater weight,”- the cup (finely crafted pottery!- very fancy-dancy!) or the contents thereof? A golden cup with lousy coffee (coffee drinkers know) or a plain paper cup with delicious, savory flavor?
Whether coffee or a cup of cold water, the cup must be clean. (I insist!). And so does God. He (also) insists. ~ Be clean! ~
Awake, awake, Zion,
clothe yourself with strength!
Put on your garments of splendor,
Jerusalem, the holy city.
The uncircumcised and defiled
will not enter you again.
Shake off your dust;
rise up, sit enthroned, Jerusalem.
Free yourself from the chains on your neck,
Daughter Zion, now a captive.
For this is what the LORD says:
“You were sold for nothing,
and without money you will be redeemed.”
For this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“At first my people went down to Egypt to live;
lately, Assyria has oppressed them.
“And now what do I have here?” declares the LORD.
“For my people have been taken away for nothing,
and those who rule them mock,”
declares the LORD.
“And all day long
My Name is constantly blasphemed.
Therefore My people will know my Name;
therefore in that day they will know
that it is I who foretold it.
Yes, it is I.”
How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”
Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
together they shout for joy.
When the LORD returns to Zion,
they will see it with their own eyes.
Burst into songs of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the LORD has comforted His people,
He has redeemed Jerusalem.
The LORD will lay bare His holy arm
in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see
the salvation of our God.
Depart, depart, go out from there!
Touch no unclean thing!
Come out from it and be pure,
you who carry the articles of the LORD’s house.
But you will not leave in haste
or go in flight;
for the LORD will go before you,
the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
See, my servant will act wisely;
He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
Just as there were many who were appalled at Him —
His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
and His form marred beyond human likeness—
so He will sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of Him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.
Now, what about this “good news?” Could it just possibly be the “gospel” of our Sovereign LORD and gracious Savior? Whose appearance was disfigured beyond that of any human being, and when?
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. Holy, holy is He.
~ And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;in a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” ~ (Revelation 5.11,12)
Far dearer than all that the world can impart
Was the message came to my heart.
How that Jesus alone for my sin did atone,
And Calvary covers it all.
Calvary covers it all,
My past with its sin and stain;
My guilt and despair
Jesus took on Him there,
And Calvary covers it all.
The stripes that He bore and the thorns that He wore
Told His mercy and love evermore.
And my heart bowed in shame as I called on His Name,
And Calvary covers it all.
Calvary covers it all,
My past with its sin and stain;
My guilt and despair
Jesus took on Him there,
And Calvary covers it all.
How matchless the grace, when I looked in the face
Of this Jesus, my crucified Lord;
My redemption complete I then found at His feet,
And Calvary covers it all.
Calvary covers it all,
My past with its sin and stain;
My guilt and despair
Jesus took on Him there,
And Calvary covers it all.
How blessed the thought, that my soul by Him bought,
Shall be His in the glory on high;
Where with gladness and song, I’ll be one of the throng
And Calvary covers it all.
Calvary covers it all,
My past with its sin and stain;
My guilt and despair
Jesus took on Him there,
And Calvary covers it all.
~ For as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot: Who truly was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you ~
~ It is because of God that you are in (blood-covenant) union with the Messiah Jesus, Who for us has become wisdom from God, as well as our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption ~ (1 Corinthians 1.30)
As to our cleansing (and covering)? – Has God made provision for sin?
Adam, did God provide a covering of skins for you?
Abraham, did God provide Himself the Lamb?
Nation of Israel, God’s chosen ones- do you still require another sign? Do you remember this from your own history?
~ The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt ~ (Exodus 12.13)
And? Did this come to pass? Did this happen? Did this occur? Was this true? (Yes. – to all)
God always does what He says He will do. – Always.
Today:
~ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness ~ (1 John 1.9)
~ Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed ~ (1 Corinthians 5:7)
~ “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” ~ (Isaiah 1.18)
~ ask, and you shall receive..~
~ seek, and you will find..~
~ knock, and it will be revealed unto you.. ~
LORD Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;
I want Thee forever to live in my soul.
Break down every idol, cast out every foe;
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
LORD Jesus, let nothing unholy remain,
Apply Thine own blood and extract ev’ry stain;
To get this blest cleansing, I all things forego—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
LORD Jesus, look down from Thy throne in the skies,
And help me to make a complete sacrifice.
I give up myself, and whatever I know,
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
LORD Jesus, – for this I most humbly entreat,
I wait, blessed LORD, at Thy crucified feet.
By faith, for my cleansing, I see Thy blood flow,
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
LORD Jesus, Thou seest I patiently wait,
Come now, and within me a new heart create;
To those who have sought Thee, Thou never saidst “No!,”
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
The blessing by faith, I receive from Above;
O glory! my soul is made perfect in love!;
My prayer has prevailed, and this moment I know,
The blood is applied, – I am whiter than snow.
Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
~ Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in The Messiah Jesus.. ~ (Romans 8.1)
In Acts 18, Paul’s work in Corinth is described. To be sure, there were Jews there and Paul went first to them and some believed but primarily they rejected him and it was there that he made his public declaration that he would go to the gentiles. Most of his work in Corinth and most of his communication (check out # of Greek vs Hebrew names in 1 & II Co) was with “those ignorant gentiles”. Yes, Paul was Jewish to his core but the Holy Spirit helped him to choose his subjects and words carefully and appropriately.
Might not some of the Greek names be also Hellenistic Jews since it was a common practice for them to have Greek names?
Wouldn’t make sense that Paul’s audience in his letters had to have knowledge of the Jewish worldview/paradigm of the time, since Paul’s letters are thoroughly bathed in direct quotes and allusions from the Tanach/OT and Oral traditions(Talmudic) as well Pharisaic/Talmudic midrash and interpretive techniques?
Might not Gentiles receiving Paul’s instructions in his letters already be attached to synagogues as God Fearers or Proselytes?
I meant “Wouldn’t it make sense”
There is hardly any other way to explain Paul. Jews and Gentiles in the Messianic congregations, following Yeshua, learning Torah. I leave for Israel in a few days. While I am traveling, I have posted several TWs concerning historical discoveries about the culture in the 1st Century that help us understand the Jewish context of these stories. Look for them.
And your point is?
“The Passover Lamb makes it possible. Now you and I have to make it real.”
I think this was a definitive element that continually weighed on me as I traveled my SBC days. Making it real. I kept hearing thousands of Bible verses and thousands of ‘worship’ songs, I experienced many cantatas, missionary endeavors, and Wednesday night suppers, however, there continued to be a disconnect between them and any apparent reality of life.
I came across scant traces of holiness. But even those appeared merely on a higher plane of the approved holy chart designated by the SBC. Interestingly, a majority of those ‘more holy’ people had much money, they dressed such, they acted such and they held most all the leadership positions. I never quite fit. I was welcomed but at a subtle distance. Eventually, I felt like a mass that defined a number which helped the value of some chart that reflected the growth of the church. The growth of the number of baptisms was paramount.
Actually, it was another form of the rat race except this version was decorated in fancy and religious garb. It was sort of like wearing a cotton white curled wig complete with powder all over my face. Keep the accepted image and all is well.
What was missing? I couldn’t figure it out. I seemed to be in a place that had all the right motivations, the right attitudes, the right foundations, but still I had this less than full experience in life. What was it that was wrong with me? What was it that I was negligent in doing to experience the life of the One I sought?
It wasn’t until I began to peel away the veneer of the layers and levels of paradigms that had obscured the real nature of the Mashiach and the Torah that he embodied. “Keep my commandments,” “obey my commands” became simple and clear once I began realizing with certainty that I “have come to know him, if I keep his commandments.” (1 Jn 2:3) Previously, I had been focused primarily on keeping the commandments created and purported by the SBC. They looked like his commandments, kind of, sort of. They dressed up to be his commandments, kind of, sort of. But upon further inspection, they were not. In fact, they were ‘commandments’ that only fit a mold that shaped the SBC’s form of living. Close, but no cigar.
As I understand reality properly, it should coincide with that explained and described by our Creator. There was a sure lack of reality in the religious world I occupied myself in. As I began to study, I began to strip away all the layers, all the veneer I was living under. It was hard and difficult to shed at first, but it got easier. The more I discovered Machiach’s real commandments, all those superfluous ‘to do’s’ took their proper place of insignificant add-ons destined for the trash heap.
What Christianity sees as the only four essential ‘rules’ Gentiles need to follow in place of the whole Torah (Acts 15:28-29), three are dietary laws, of all things! I was taught these four replaced (more replacement theology?) all the rest of Torah exclusively. Do these four and your are good, in there, kosher, and cool.
A blanket prohibition of the rest of Torah? Hardly.
Anyway, I began to see that I was following all the ‘fences’ that modern Christianity was requiring me to observe when, in fact, they were modified, changed, and created rules that had no foundation in the reality of Torah. Many were in direct contradiction of Torah, Sabbath observance being one big one.
Anyway, I agree. I am in need of demonstrating the reality of Torah in my life daily. As Yeshua clearly expects me to. Nothing to do with earning salvation. Everything to do with exuding holiness, reflecting the nature and image of the one who gave me breath in my actions and deeds, not just with mental assent void of demonstrable actions for the world to clearly see.
Michael C, you expressed yourself very well. 🙂
I appreciate all you have shared-the newness of life in Messiah has to come forth!
Shalom!
Once again you have expressed very well what I know to be true in my own life!
Religion always burdens and weighs down the people involved in it. Always.
I see this to be true in so many around me of all different beliefs.
Having grown up among the Amish, I can tell you that they have enough (what are really fence laws) burdens to make your head spin! Are they still human like the rest of us? You bet. They are just as guilty of sinning as we English but they hide in their religion much as I did in my Evangelicalism.
Nothing new under the sun the preacher says. It’s true.
Hi Esther, you sure have a sweetness about you when you write. I appreciate your encouragements.
Todah, Dawn! You English folks have such a politeness that is so appreciated
in this brash-full world! Sigh! 🙂
Shalom sis!
“But we are far removed from the culture where these words recalled yearly practice so we might overlook the fact that this implies a knowledge of what is clean and what is unclean.”
This is the biggest problem (not knowing what is clean/unclean and holy/profane) in the “church” and it was the biggest problem for me when YHWH opened my eyes to His Shabbat, Feast Days, Dietary laws, etc. But He is merciful, thank goodness. Changing one’s lifestyle to the biblical paradigm goes against the grain of one’s flesh, general society, and the mainstream “church”. You want to know what it’s like to be a “peculiar” people? Do what the bible actually says, lol.
In the beginning of my Torah pursuant lifestyle, some changes were rather simple, but others were very difficult —- especially because of family and friends. But now after almost ten years, all those purges that I thought were so hard now seem simple and normal actually.
BUT!! I have discovered that YHWH has saved the really difficult “purges” for later. And they are inside me and much deeper rooted and more sinister than the outer purges from the beginning. Perhaps this is THE reason it is so vitally important that: “man shall not live on bread alone, but ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.”
How else could we go on from glory to glory? Therefore, I think it is just important for those of us that are walking out Torah to never “dwell” or get “comfortable” (I don’t think YHWH would let you if you tried anyway) because that is what the “church” has done for far too long. We must always be willing to change. The good news is that He doesn’t force it on us all at once. Dealing with ugliness you never realized was in your heart IS hard. Praise YHWH for the Lamb —— I still need much work!!!
K. Gallagher-precisely! “You want to know what it’s like to be a “peculiar” people? Do what the bible actually says, lol.” And be tagged as a ‘fundamentalist’, lol!
Yes, the pruning is hard to bear, as I was sharing with a Christian lady this afternoon. She thought it trials and tribulations, but, I said, it is pruning to bring forth fruit as we walk in His ways.
Shalom!
Shalom Ester,
I was like your friend in that I used to think the same thing: it must trials and tribulations or better yet, the enemy. Now, I think it’s mostly my own junk being “snipped” away little by little. I’m thankful for others like you that encourage us as we continually go through this painful but oh so vital process. 🙂
HalleluYAH, for the trimming, for our own good and for the good of our children,
and which is so vital to staying close to YHWH’s Presence.
I am very encouraged by your sharing, Gallagher!
There are many inspiring called-out, set-apart ones in this blog! Amein!
Shalom!
“Now you and I need to do that on the inside as well as the outside. It is not possible to simply wait until God shows up with the spring cleaning equipment. This is a daily task. Make yourself a place where the purity of the Spirit may reside without concern.” Amein!!!
If the inside is cleansed and purified, the beauty of the renewed character will surely radiate forth to be seen/observed by others.