OUR PASSOVER - Louis Gervais
OUR PASSOVER
Hello and greetings in the Name of our Passover, Jesus Christ!
“Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.” –1 Corinthians 5:7
The apostle Paul, writing by the Holy Spirit, was addressing the congregation of God in Corinth. This city was known for its immorality and vile methods of idol worship. The fellowship of the believers however was commanded to practice purity, just like the Israelites’ dwelling places were to be cleansed of leaven during the Feast of Unleavened Bread in Exodus. It is in this context that Christ is described as “our Passover” which has been sacrificed for us. “Therefore let us celebrate 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
This chapter is one of the most well-known pieces on church discipline because the point is clearly made that blatant, unrepented sin should not be condoned, approved or tolerated by the local fellowship. We should desire that our lives be holy unto God because that is His expressed will for us (1 Peter 1:15-16). And because He is holy. “But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.” –1 Corinthians 5:11 . This does not refer to the majority of lost people (1 Corinthians 5:9-10) but to “anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler,” (1 Corinthians 5:11 ).
Some sins are more obvious than others, but all sins eventually come to light (1 Timothy 5:24, Numbers 32:23, Luke 12:2-3). It’s easy to discern wrong in a case like the one described in 1 Corinthians 5:1. But have you ever heard of anyone being given a final warning in a church because of greediness? Or because of slander or malicious gossip? Because of slavery to drunkenness? Or on account of dishonesty in business? You may ask, “Why, if we did that—who would be left in the church?” I’ll tell you who’d be left in the church: those that love Christ with their whole heart and whose deep-set desire is that we “Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.” –Luke 1:74b-75
On a final note, idolatry is also mentioned in the list of sins worthy of excommunication. Perhaps to the surprise of some, I would put those ancient, hypocritical Pharisees in this category. Why? Because they, like their ancestors, secretly “set up their idols in their hearts,” (Ezekiel 14:3 ). Although they did not necessarily bow down physically before graven images, they served and sought after other things like the love of money and the manipulative power over the minds of men (Matthew 23, Luke 16:13-15, John 12:42). While they were respected in their religious institution and even leaders of the same, in truth they were the ones who promoted the unjust crucifixion of God Incarnate. They had a self-righteous, know-it-all attitude (Luke 5:21; 18:11-12, John 9:34, 40-41) and claimed that they alone were the authority on what is and what is not God’s will (John 7:45-52). But in reality the Pharisees “rejected God’s purpose for themselves” (Luke 7:30 ). God forbid we do the same. Jesus said, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy,” (Luke 12:1 ). May Christ, our Passover, be glorified in our lives to the uttermost!
“For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.” –1 Corinthians 5:12-13
As today is December 25th 2016, I especially thank the Almighty God for sending us His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. What would my life have been without His active intervention? A disgraceful tragedy, playing in slow-motion, ending in a continual nightmare. I have much to be grateful for. I have an unpayable debt to my Master. On a side note: I know I thank you often for your prayers but that is because I am aware of what setbacks and dangers could have befallen me had I not had a team of believers interceding for me and my lifework. These prayers have had an enormous positive impact on my mission. Thank you very much, and may God bless you.
–Louis Gervais
“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” –John 1:29b
