Get Rid of the Old Yeast

HOOK

So this is not “Baking 101” ok!

What’s amazing about the yeast is that— it’s nothing more than a single-celled fungus, and yet you see how it affects and expands a batch of dough

How does a pinch of yeast does that to a batch of dough?

Yeast works by consuming sugar and excreting [eject, expel, eliminate] carbon dioxide and alcohol as byproducts — in bread making, yeast has three major roles:

Most of us are familiar with yeast’s leavening ability— but you may not be aware that fermentation helps to strengthen and develop gluten in dough and also contributes to incredible flavors in bread

Yeast makes the dough rise— The essentials of any bread dough are flour, water, and of course yeast— As soon as these ingredients are stirred together, enzymes in the yeast and the flour cause large starch molecules to break down into simple sugars— The yeast metabolizes these simple sugars and exudes a liquid that releases carbon dioxide and ethyl alcohol into existing air bubbles in the dough.

Yeast strengthens the dough— When you stir together flour and water, two proteins in the flour—glutenin and gliadin—grab water and each other to form a bubblegum-like, elastic mass of molecules that we call gluten— In bread making, we want to develop as much gluten as we can because it strengthens the dough and holds in gases that will make the bread rise— Yeast, like kneading, helps develop the gluten network.

Fermentation generates flavor in bread— big molecules in proteins, starches, and fats don’t have much flavor, but when they break down into their building blocks—proteins into amino acids, starches into sugars, or fats into free fatty acids—they all have marvelous flavors. Fermentation, whether it’s acting on fruit juices to make wine or on flour to make bread, does exactly that—it breaks down large molecules into smaller, flavorful ones.

The first Passover dates back to the time when around 600 thousand men [Exodus 12:37— not including women and children] was rescued from the cruelty of Egypt

After God inflicted 9 plagues on Egypt that softens then hardens the heart of the Pharoah— God executed His ultimate plague— the plague on the firstborn [Exodus 11]— but before doing so, God instructed his people to take a lamb— one for each household— if any household is too small for a whole lamb— they must share one with their nearest neighbor

Imagine how many unblemished lambs they needed for all the families of 600 thousand men— if all those men are heads of families, which is very likely that they were— then they slaughtered 600 thousand lambs all at the same time at twilight of the night of Passover

They were ordered to put the blood of their slaughtered lamb around their doorframes as a sign so that when God sees the blood— He will Passover them— and no destructive plague will touch them when God strike Egypt — this is the day that they are to commemorate for the generations to come — and it is still celebrated to this day

Wait!— What’s the connection of this to the “Yeast”?

They were in a hurry— so they were instructed to eat bread without yeast [Exodus 12:8]— they roasted the slaughtered lamb— and they were told to eat it along with unleavened bread [Hebrew— “Matstsah’]— so, the Passover meal became part of the week-long feast— now known as the Feast of the Unleavened Bread— this serves as a reminder of God’s rescue of His people— it happens on the 14th day of Nisan [Abib]— corresponding approximately to the months of March/April [springtime]

Deuteronomy 16:3 NIV

3 Do not eat it with bread made with yeast, but for seven days eat unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left Egypt in haste—so that all the days of your life you may remember the time of your departure from Egypt.

A reminder of God’s deliverance— when Jewish people celebrate Passover today, they will clean their homes of all leavening agents like yeast. Removing yeast from the house has become symbolic of removing sin

In the New Testament, yeast were often a symbol of sin— Jesus used “yeast” to describe hypocrisy

Luke 12:1 (NIV)

1 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

So if the Lord used yeast to illustrate hypocrisy and then Paul said in his first letter to Corinth to “get rid of the old yeast”, he was actually saying— get rid of hypocrisy! — [Merriam-Webster defined this word as behavior that contradicts what one claims to believe]

GET RID OF THE OLD YEAST

What is that yeast in your dough?— What is that hypocrisy [or sin] in your life that you have to get rid off?

Let’s take a closer look at Paul’s letter

SEXUAL IMMORALITY AMONG YOU — v.1

I HAVE ALREADY PASSED JUDGMENT — v.3

HAND THIS MAN OVER TO SATAN — v. 5

GET RID OF THE OLD YEAST — v.7

CHRIST OUR PASSOVER LAMB — v. 7

YOU MUST NOT ASSOCIATE — v.11

JUDGE THOSE INSIDE — v.12

EXPEL THE WICKED PERSON — v.13

1 CORINTHIANS 5:1-13

1 Corinthians 5 (NIV)

1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? 3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. 6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

Church membership can be defined simply as formal commitment or covenant between an individual and a local church to oversee others, and be overseen

Ephesians 2:19 The Living Bible

19 Now you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.

In Matthew 16, 18 and 28— Jesus gives the apostles and the apostolic church the power of “the keys.” — This authorized the church to guard the gospel— to oversee their discipleship, and to exclude the hypocrites

Acts 20:28 (The Living Bible)

28 “And now beware! Be sure that you feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his blood—for the Holy Spirit is holding you responsible as overseers.

How should the church respond to the authority of the Elders?

Elders are to be obeyed

Hebrews 13:17 (NIV)

17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

Elders are to be honoured

1 Timothy 5:17 (NIV)

17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

Elders are to be respected

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 (NIV)

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.

LOOK

IT IS ACTUALLY REPORTED THAT THERE IS SEXUAL IMMORALITY AMONG YOU

Sexual immorality, or in this instance the Greek word used was “porneia” can refer to a number of illicit sexual behaviors— a specific instance of sexual immorality that jeopardized the health of the church was mentioned— a man sleeping with his father’s wife

It is a blatant and continuing breach of the Christian holiness

Today, we are surrounded by cultures that accepts sexual immorality as normal— whenever this kind of sin breaks out openly and if there is no repentance, the Church must act in discipline— sins left unchecked can paralyze and polarize the church

Church discipline is a divine authority delegated to the church by our Lord Jesus Christ to maintain order through the correction of persistently sinning church members—

for the good of those caught in sin

for the purity of the church

and for the glory of God

God means for personal Christian growth to come through both individual and corporate means— and church discipline is one of them

Discipline is a practice that occurs regularly within the church— and it is intended to keep God’s people on the path of perseverance— and to exhort the one under discipline to repent— there are two forms of discipline

Formative Discipline— means that order is maintained in the church through regenerate church membership— the right preaching and teaching of Scripture— proper administration of the ordinances— and observing the many “one another” commands— Love one another John 13:34, be devoted to one another, Honor one another Romans 12:10, live in harmony with one another Romans 12:16, build up one another 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Admonish one another Colossians 3:16, Forgive one another Colossians 3:13 and many more… there were 66 “one another commands” in the New Testament in 64 verses

The purpose of formative discipline is to enlighten encourage, support, and sustain fellow believers in the discipline under which they live to fulfill their divine mission— in the context of Agape, our safe place for this is the Life Groups— Living In Faith & Enlightenment

Corrective Discipline— deals with the direct confrontation by the church of ongoing, known, unrepentant sin

In each of these form of discipline— love and forgiveness are to be extended — the correction should never be vengeful— instead it should be given to help bring about cure

Galatians 6:1–2 (NIV)

1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

While Formative Discipline resides in our Life Groups— Corrective Discipline dwells in our Membership Board— Article 6, Section 6.4 of our Church By-Laws spells out our application of the Scripture concerning Church Discipline— [SHOW BY-LAWS]

Our Membership Board is also charged of mediating when there are disputes among members— I’ll discuss more on this next Sunday when I preach on chapter 6 of Paul’s first letter to Corinth

The reason why we are called “disciples” because we ought to have discipline— the purpose of discipline is the break the pattern of sin

I HAVE ALREADY PASSED JUDGEMENT

God tells us not to judge others— but He also tells us not to tolerate flagrant [blatant, conspicuous, glaring, obvious] sin— because leaving that sin undisciplined will have dangerous influence on other believers in the church

But wait, just last Sunday Paul said on the earlier part of his letter that we shall not judge anything— because it is God who will reveal everything in its appointed time— well if the sin is flagrant, I guess there’s nothing for the Lord to reveal because it’s already revealed— we have to act on what was already revealed to us— we have to act with love and caution— we have to act in accordance with what the Bible says

Later towards the end of this section of Paul’s letter you’ll hear clarification that pertains to passing judgement not for those outside the church— but for those who are inside the church

How do we deal with flagrant sin?

HAND THIS MAN OVER TO SATAN FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FLESH

Paul is not referring to physical death for this person since the goal is repentance and restoration

They should have expelled him, for his own sake— much better for him to be punished in this life and come to his senses, than lose his eternal salvation

“Hand this man over to Satan” means to exclude him from the fellowship of believers— but hold on!— there is a system prescribed by Jesus on how to handle sin in the church— in a moment I’ll get into that—

Meanwhile, putting someone out of the church should be a last resort in any disciplinary action— it should not be done out of vengeance, but out of love— just as parents punish their children to correct and restore them.

Without the spiritual support of Christians, this person in sin would be left alone with Satan and prayerfully, the emptiness would drive him/her to repentance— that the sinful nature will be destroyed— the flesh here, like in many other parts of the Bible refers to our “sinful nature”

The church’s role should be to help and no to hurt! — motivating them to repent of their sin and to return to the fellowship of the church

DON’T YOU KNOW THAT A LITTLE YEAST LEAVENS THE WHOLE BATCH OF DOUGH?

Yeast is a symbol of wickedness, because it spreads so completely

Earlier you saw how the yeast— regardless of its minuscule size— it greatly affects the whole batch of dough— so Paul wrote to those who wanted to ignore this church problem

Paul does not expect anyone to be sinless— All believers struggle with sin everyday— Instead, he is speaking against those who deliberately sin— feel no guilt, and refuse to repent!

This kind of sin cannot be tolerated in the church because it affects others— if affects the whole batch of dough— we have a responsibility to other believers

Blatant sins, when left uncorrected, brings confusion and division in the congregation!

While believers should encourage, pray for, and build up one another— they must also be intolerant of sin that jeopardizes the spiritual health of the church.

GET RID OF THE OLD YEAST, SO THAT YOU MAY BE A NEW UNLEAVENED BATCH

Parallel to what they were told when the people of God was delivered from Egypt using lambs as their sacrifice— here Paul told the Corinthians, and he’s telling us today to get rid of hypocrisy and sin because rightfully, we are now a new and unleavened batch of dough— delivered through the sacrifice of Jesus who became our Passover lamb to atone for sin

Paul urges believers to stop tolerating immoral behavior in the church—

FOR CHRIST, OUR PASSOVER LAMB, HAS BEEN SACRIFICED

And he is not coming back to do what he already did— he is coming back to judge and to rule— no longer to sacrifice— he has already done that! It’s done! It’s Finished!

Hebrews 10:26 (NIV)

26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,

THEREFORE LET US KEEP THE FESTIVAL

In other words, let us keep the joy— let us celebrate— and we celebrate without the yeast! — without the sins!— without hypocrisy! without malice and wickedness!— but with sincerity and truth!

Paul encourages the Corinthians and us to live a life dedicated to God in celebration of His grace and forgiveness

NOT AT ALL MEANING THE PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD

Some of the Corinthians thought he meant that they shouldn’t mix with the rest of society— but Paul now explains that he didn’t mean that at all

Paul makes it clear that we should not disassociate ourselves from the world [unbelievers]— otherwise, we could not carry out Christ's command to tell them about salvation

And since the world is immoral— if he meant disassociate with the unbelievers— then we would have to leave this world— but no!— That’s not what Paul meant

Christians must mix with unbelievers— that’s what Jesus came to do— He had reputation for sharing meals with tax collectors and other outcasts— and for being a friend of sinners

Jesus dined with the sinners because He came not to call the righteous, but sinners [Mark 2:17]— because it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick [Matthew 9:12]

YOU MUST NOT ASSOCIATE WITH ANYONE WHO CLAIMS TO BE A BROTHER OR SISTER

There you go!— Paul refers to those who are inside and not those outside of the church!

It is a different matter to mix with evil in the church— the church is a holy people— and its standard of living must express the holiness of God

we are to distance ourselves from the person who claims to be a Christian, yet indulges in sin explicitly forbidden in scripture and then rationalizes his or her actions. 

By rationalizing sin, a person harms others for whom Christ died and dims the image of God in himself/herself.   

A church that includes such people is hardly fit to be the light of the world.  To do so would distort the picture of Christ it presents to the world.

It isn’t only matters of sex that Christians must be pure— the same applies to greed for money and possessions, lying, being judgmental about people, drunkeness and robbery

Ephesians 5:11 (NIV)

11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 (NIV)

6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.

2 Thessalonians 3:14 (NIV)

14 Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed.

Church leaders must be ready to correct, in love, for the sake of spiritual unity

WHAT BUSINESS IS IT OF MINE TO JUDGE THOSE OUTSIDE THE CHURCH?

Here Paul made it clear that we must not pass judgement to those outside of the church— the unbelievers— God will judge them at the appointed time

GOD WILL JUDGE THOSE OUTSIDE, EXPEL THE WICKED PERSON FROM AMONG YOU

Paul says that people who call themselves Christians but persistently behave in these ways must be expelled— they must be excluded from the church fellowship— not even to eat with them

Today we all this “excommunication”— being banned from attending Holy Communion

Paul says this discipline is the task of the whole church— it is not just the responsibility of an apostle or leader to take action against an immoral member— everyone must be involved— acting together as a body

The Bible consistently tells us not to criticize people by gossiping or making rash [lack of careful consideration] judgements.— At the same time, however, we are to judge and deal with sin that can hurt others. 

Paul's instructions should not be used to handle trivial matters or to take revenge; nor should they be applied to individual problems between believers.

Our Lord Jesus know fully well that this will happen in His church that’s why He left us a process or a system, how to address sin in the church

Matthew 18:15–17 (NIV)

15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Approaching the offender in private would avoid bringing shame on that person— it also would minimize the opportunity for misunderstanding and gossip

This emphasizes the importance of the issue and provides the benefits of others’ wisdom— witnesses of the efforts to resolve it

Tell it to the church [ekklesia]— in our church that will be our Membership Board— that’s what we call divine discipline— God disciplines his people through his word, through their experiences and through punishment— so that they may live in ways pleasing to him

Get rid of the old yeast… and

Job 5:17 (NIV)

17 “Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

DO NOT DESPISE THE DISCIPLINE OF THE ALMIGHTY

TOOK

DIVINE DISCIPLINE IS A SIGN OF GOD’S LOVE

Hebrews 12:6 (NIV)

6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

QUESTION: Chasten is to correct by punishment or suffering, and it is painful. Have you been chastened by God? If yes, did you feel God’s love while God was disciplining you? Will you share what and how it happened?

DIVINE DISCIPLINE IS A SIGN OF BELONGING TO GOD’S FAMILY

Hebrews 12:7 (NIV)

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?

QUESTION: When you are disciplined by your church, did you feel that you’re treated as a family? Will you tell us your experience?

DIVINE DISCIPLINE TRAINS GOD’S PEOPLE

Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)

11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

QUESTION: What have you learned from the Lord’s chastening, and from your church’s disciplining? Please share your testimony on this.