THE apostle having previously taught the Corinthian saints the insufficiency of the creature, the power of God, and how to regard the ministers of Christ, proceeds in this chapter to instruct them as to their responsibility to maintain the holiness of the house of God.
There are two serious and deadly evils to be guarded against in the Church, false doctrine, and false practice. Admit either into the communion of saints, and leaven is at once found in their midst. Leaven, as a general principle, refers either to doctrine or practice. A Church must be grievously fallen that tolerates either. False doctrine must lead to false practice—must depredate more or less the Divine character—it poisons the fountain of the Church’s life and blessing. Ungodly walking destroys the Church’s testimony, and blasphemes the name of Christ, by presenting a character the reverse of His, while professing to express His mind and ways.
Discipline in the Church is not the act of one or two persons, but the act of all in communion. (Verse 4, 5.) “Do not ye judge them that are within? Therefore put sway from among yourselves that wicked person.” (Verse 12, 13.) The class of persons not to be companied with are clearly defined in this chapter. The saints were charged to keep the feast only “with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (Verse 8.) Purity of doctrine and practice were essentially necessary to their corporate Church condition. “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump,” is a solemn statement, and clearly interdicts leaven from the Church of God.
It seems plain that leaven, in the Scriptures, refers to erroneous doctrine and evil practice. “Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” (Matt. 16:6.) “Then understood they how that He bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” (Verse 12.) The Pharisees and Sadducees had made void the word of God by their traditions. The Galatians had turned aside from grace to the law, and many were corrupted from gospel truth. To such Paul said, “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” (Gal. 5:4.) Such was the leaven of false doctrine that sprang up amongst the Galatian saints, and was to be avoided and put away. “A little leaven leavens the whole lump,” teaches the apostle here also. “I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.” (Verse 10.) “I would they were even cut off which trouble you.” (Verse 12.)
Exodus 12 should be read in connection with the putting away of leaven. Leaven was to be excluded from the paschal feast, under the penalty of being cut off from Israel (verse 15); it was to have no place in the house—a striking type, and so used by the apostle, of the holiness and discipline of the house of God. “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; 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.” (1 Cor. 5:7, 8.)
Much prayerful waiting on God, and searching of His word, are often needed to be assured of the Lord’s mind concerning dealing with evil in the Church. This being a dispensation of grace, as well as of righteousness, judgment should be mingled with mercy; and much patience may be needed, so that the offender may, if possible, be restored and not put away; restoration, and not excommunication, being the rule of Scripture, save in extreme cases.
To define by sectarian rules what is and what is not leaven, must result in much damage to the consciences and spiritual judgment of the saints; so many attendant and collateral circumstances in each case requiring special attention, and perhaps a different mode of treatment. It would therefore be impossible for one taking the range of Scripture, and having the heart of a loving and true shepherd, to settle, by the aid of bye-laws, the discipline of saints. Alas! how many in the haste of the flesh, apart from confidence in the presence and guidance of the Holy Ghost, have taken upon themselves to do so. The result has ever been, that the lawgiver has become the head of his followers, and his rules their text book and bond of association.
It is plain that we should keep the feast (that is, the Lord’s Supper, which is the Church’s feast table) with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. The efforts of the partakers should be ever towards this holy communion. God only can give the needed wisdom, grace, and patience, required so much in these days of evil and perplexity.
It is a solemn thing to make individual profession, and, if possible, still more solemn by a Church position to involve others by our sins and failures. Happy is it, where all having the sense of responsibility to Christ, seek in all grace to help on the lambs of His flock; and, while careful to maintain the order of His house, they do not at the same time cast away, in the haste of prejudice and of party, the weaklings of His flock; but are found ready sternly to reject all leaven. That the Church of God is a nursery for training up the heavenly family should ever be borne in mind, while seeking to put away all elements injurious to their well-being, and the glory of Christ.
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CHRIST ALONE.—There is none other thing, or person, in heaven or in earth, that can tall and satisfy the goal of that man whom the Holy Ghost has emptied of self, than the Lord Jesus Christ HIMSELF. Religion won’t do it. Association with Christians won’t do it. The Bible won’t do it. Obedience to precepts won’t do it. Prayer, faith, repentance, and the most holy life, all say, “it is not in me,” and with one voice bid us “go to Joseph,” our one Lord Jesus Christ HIMSELF. Reader, What think you of Christ?