Beware The Leaven

When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee and put a knife to thy throat if thou be a man given to appetite. Be not desirous of his dainties for they are deceitful meat, labor not to be rich cease from thine own wisdom, wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not for riches certainly make themselves wings, they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.  Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee the morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words. Proverbs 23:1-8

---

Albeit we have often heard the clarion call to beware the leaven of the pharisees, and albeit most professing Christians are virtually clueless as to its meaning, are we likewise aware of the leaven of the Sadducee's, the leaven of Herod, the leaven of Galatia, and the leaven of Corinth?

Do we understand that what was taking place within the early church established the first real factions (denominations) within the new Christian faith and do we truly understand it's impact on the body of Christ today both individually and subsequently collectively?

---

The chief problem facing the apostles of Jesus during the formation of the early church, especially in Galatia and Corinth, was that the first converts (Jews) were, to say the least, reluctant to give up their customs, and or traditions, and receive the new covenant doctrine in their stead.

A problem which has persisted over the ages that has caused a great deal of confusion within the church today.

The question here is: What did Jesus have to say about receiving the new covenant?

---

Luk 5:36  And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. 

Luk 5:37  And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. 

Luk 5:38  But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. 

Luk 5:39  No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better. 

---

The question here is: Has the church of Jesus Christ obeyed His instruction on this issue?

Jesus is crystal clear here that the new covenant (garment of righteousness) was not created or given to fix (patch) the old (covenant) garment of righteousness, it was created to replace it because it has served God's purpose. God was doing a new thing.  He was creating a new being who would live under a new covenant that does not agree with the old and this new thing, this new wine , must be put into new bottles if both are to be preserved.

Jesus is likewise clear that those who have drank of the old wine do not desire the new because they believe that the old is better.

---

And the question here is: If we are NEW creations in Jesus Christ, who brought us Grace and Truth under a new and better and everlasting covenant that does not agree with the old, why then do those who sit in Moses's seat within the church today continuously lead us back to that which has faded away? Because they are given to appetite (soulish desires - they truly believe the old is better) and because they reject God's word (refuse to receive the truth)!

Continue (coming soon)