That they had problems in Corinth is evident. That they had such problems as described in chapter five, is a bit disturbing. Sexual immorality, and of a kind, says Paul, “that is not tolerated even among pagans.” Rather than dealing with the sin in their midst, they boasted of it. I don’t think they boasted in a way that condoned the sin or promoted it . . . but boasted, I’m thinking, of the degree of grace that they thought they were showing to this wayward brother. But what they failed to recognize was that he was sin-infested and that they needed to “Purge the evil person from among you” (5:13).

It was not intended to be an act of retribution, but an act intended for his restoration and redemption . . . that the one who had embraced such sin, might, through being put out of fellowship, come to his senses and return to the cross and seek the cleansing power of the blood. But beyond the intention of such action towards the “sick sheep,” it was also intended for the welfare of the flock, the entire congregation. For, says Paul again, “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?”

Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?  Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.    (1Corinthians 5:6-8 ESV)

A lump . . . that’s what the church is likened to here . . . a new lump . . . an unleavened lump.

Next Sunday, Lord willing, our church family will gather around the Lord’s table. We will quiet ourselves and reflect again on the love of God shown to a lost world through the cross. We’ll take the bread and the cup in remembrance of the One who came to offer Himself as the atoning sacrifice for all sin. We’ll recall that the Son of God entered into His creation in order to be slain as the spotless, undefiled, Lamb of God . . . shedding His blood for the remission of sin. We may call to mind again the power of the blood as first foreshadowed on that night of deliverance from Egypt . . . that where the blood was applied, the angel of death would pass over. Maybe we’ll reconnect the dots between the Lord’s supper and the Passover feast . . . both celebrations of deliverance.

And just as the ancient Israelites were to observe the Passover with unleavened bread, the church is to seek to celebrate the Lord’s Supper with the “unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

Unleavened . . . free from sin’s replicating agency. Dealing with intentional and habitual sin. Desiring sincerity and truth.

Not perfection . . . for our perfection is found only in Christ. Not without stumbling . . . for we are called to restore brothers and sisters who are “tripped up” in a fault (Gal. 6:1). But, where there is a premeditated predetermination toward sin, “the lump” needs to deal with it . . . otherwise the leaven expands, permeating more and more of “the lump.”

There is connection between Christ’s finished work and how Christ’s “in progress” people are to conduct themselves. He gave Himself for our us . . . we, by His grace, seek to preserve ourselves for Him.

A lump . . . a new lump . . . an unleavened lump . . . a lump for His glory.