How can we "celebrate the feast" with sincerity and truth in our lives? Setting the Scene “Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:8) Paul’s words echo Israel’s Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12). Yet he speaks to believers in Christ, urging a continual, Spirit-empowered lifestyle that mirrors the feast’s meaning. Seeing the Picture Behind the Feast • Passover lamb slain ➔ points to Jesus, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). • Unleavened bread ➔ symbolizes a life free from sin’s “leaven.” • Seven-day feast ➔ depicts an ongoing, complete walk in holiness. What “Old Leaven” Looks Like Today • Unconfessed sin we excuse or hide (Psalm 32:3-5). • Patterns of anger, bitterness, or gossip that ferment in relationships (Ephesians 4:31). • Compromise with the surrounding culture’s values instead of God’s standards (Romans 12:2). Cleaning Out the Leaven • Examine your heart daily under God’s light (Psalm 139:23-24). • Confess sin immediately; receive Christ’s cleansing (1 John 1:9). • Make decisive breaks with habits, media, or friendships that keep sin active (Matthew 5:29-30). • Seek accountability from mature believers (Galatians 6:1-2). Baking the “Unleavened Bread” of Sincerity and Truth Sincerity (Greek: eilikrineia) – purity tested by sunlight Truth (aletheia) – reality aligned with God’s Word Practical ways: • Speak honestly—no hidden agendas, half-truths, or flattery (Proverbs 12:22). • Follow through on promises; let “your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’” (Matthew 5:37). • Measure opinions and decisions by Scripture, not shifting feelings (Psalm 119:105). • Cultivate transparency: invite others to see how you live, spend, and serve (2 Corinthians 8:21). • Worship and serve with motives centered on God’s glory, not self-promotion (Colossians 3:17). Celebrating the Feast in Community • Regularly gather for the Lord’s Supper, remembering Christ our Passover (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). • Restore offenders with firmness and love, protecting the body from ongoing leaven (1 Corinthians 5:11-13). • Encourage one another daily so sin’s deceitfulness doesn’t harden hearts (Hebrews 3:13). • Practice generous hospitality—share literal meals that reflect spiritual unity (Acts 2:46). Living a Continual Feast • A once-for-all deliverance: “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). • A lifelong celebration: walking in newness of life (Romans 6:4). • A future fulfillment: anticipation of the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9). By sweeping out the hidden leaven and kneading in sincerity and truth each day, we “keep the feast” not merely for a week, but for a lifetime—offering the world a fragrant testimony of the Savior who makes us new. |
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