What does "old leaven" symbolize, and how can we remove it from our lives? A Feast Without Leaven 1 Corinthians 5:8: “Therefore let us keep the feast… with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” Old Leaven—Symbol of Sin - Exodus 12 shows Israel clearing every crumb of leaven before Passover because even a trace permeates the loaf. - Scripture uses that picture for moral corruption: malice, wickedness, hypocrisy, the entire pre-conversion lifestyle. - Like yeast, sin spreads quietly, saturates completely, and distorts what God intends (Galatians 5:9; Matthew 16:6). Christ Our Passover—A New Start - Verse 7 states Christ, the true Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed. - His blood shields from judgment just as the lamb’s blood protected Israel. - A real sacrifice calls for a real response—living in line with the new reality. How to Sweep Out the Old Leaven 1. Ongoing self-examination in the mirror of Scripture (Psalm 139:23; James 1:22-25). 2. Prompt confession and repentance when sin surfaces (1 John 1:9). 3. Putting off old habits and putting on Christlike virtues (Colossians 3:5-14). 4. Fellowship that promotes holiness and gentle accountability (Hebrews 10:24-25). 5. Guarding mind and senses; what we allow in either feeds leaven or starves it (Proverbs 4:23). 6. Daily dependence on the Spirit who empowers obedience and produces fresh fruit (Galatians 5:16, 22-23). Living in the Fresh Dough of Sincerity and Truth - Sincerity: transparent motives, nothing hidden, the same inside and out. - Truth: full alignment with God’s revealed standard, undiluted and unbent. - These qualities mark a household swept clean, ready for continual worship and credible testimony. Takeaway Old leaven pictures the sin that once defined us. Because Christ has cleansed us, we can and must remove it, replacing it with a life characterized by sincerity and truth that honors the Savior who set us free. |
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