LORD’S DAY EVENING, MAY 28
1 Corinthians 5:6-8
Galatians 5:9

"Purge out therefore
the old leaven."

BIBLICAL SEPARATION IN THE CHURCH

Biblical separation is a command, not an option. It is a biblical injunction, not a denominational distinctive. One of the clearest passages is found in today’s reading. "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" (1 Cor 5:7).

As stated earlier, leaven here is used to denote sin, especially with regards to "malice" (i.e. an evil disposition) and "wickedness" (the manifestation of the evil disposition). In Galatians 5:9, leaven is used to denote false doctrines. Drawing imagery from the Passover where only unleavened bread may be eaten (Exod 13:3, 7), Paul commanded that all "leaven" must be "purged" from the system. The command "purge" (ekkatarate) has the sense of cleansing an object. In this case it would be the unleavened lump which must not experience the effect of leaven. To ensure purity, the church will have to purge itself of all malice, wickedness and false doctrine. Sin and iniquity cannot be tolerated in the church.

However, just cleansing ourselves from all filthiness is not enough. We must also cleave to that which is good. In this case, Paul used unleavened bread to denote sincerity and truth. A church must not only separate from all falsehood, but must also defend and promote the truth.

Why then do churches today refrain from teaching and practising Biblical Separation? Why do they call it a sour doctrine? Could it be that they are puffed up like the Corinthian Christians and refuse to acknowledge their spiritual maladies (1 Cor 5:6)? Or could it be that they allow family relationships and friends to be more important than the truth? May we all abide by this principle: "For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth" (2 Cor 13:8).

THOUGHT: The church is to be the pillar and ground of the truth.
PRAYER: Lord, uphold the purity of our churches.