Page 13 - lesson12.vp

Lesson 12 Hope of Israel Ministries BIBLE Correspondence Course 13

The Meaning of Spiritual Leaven Church to SWELL WITH VANITY and
BECOME PUFFED UP, gave them specific
The Apostle Paul, in writing to the instructions! What were those instructions? I
Church of YEHOVAH God at Corinth, Corinthians 5:3-5.
explained the spiritual meaning and symbolism 4. What MORE does Paul tell the vain
of the Days of Unleavened Bread to the Gentile church members who had BECOME PUFFED
converts there. UP in YEHOVAH’s sight? I Corinthians 5:6.
Notice what Paul teaches NEW TEST- What made their glorying not good? I
AMENT CHRISTIANS about “leaven,” and Corinthians 5:6-7.
why we need to become “unleavened” 5. Does the apostle Paul compare this
SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY! sinning member to a bit of leaven? Verse 6.
1. Were the Corinthians permitting a Again what is his instruction? Verse 7.
person who was openly and actively practicing COMMENT: The one individual who
sin to fellowship with YEHOVAH’s Church? I had been practicing sin in the church had been
Corinthians 5:1. allowed to remain in their midst. Paul explains
that just one bit of leaven -- a
sinful person -- can cause the
whole lump of dough -- the
whole church -- to become
saturated with sin.
The whole church had
become guilty of vanity -- just as
guilty as was the fornicator in
their midst. The sin of
fornication sprang from the
same HUMAN NATURE which
caused the other members of the
Corinthian church to become
PUFFED with vanity!
By putting out the one
adulterer, they put OUT THE
The temple of Apollo in Corinth overlooked a city of 400,000 in the SPIRITUAL LEAVEN that had
time of the apostle Paul. To the Christian converts of this Greek begun to permeate the church.
city, rife with “pagan religion” -- a by-word for its temple 6. What, then, is SPIR-
prostitution -- Paul commanded: “Let us keep the Feast!” (I ITUAL LEAVEN? I Corin-
Corinthians 5:8). thians 5:8.
COMMENT: Here is the
2. Was this sin in their midst causing symbolism of leaven inter-
them to feel guilty, or was it rather causing them preted! Not by men, but by your own Bible!
to BECOME VAIN -- to be puffed up? Did they LEAVEN TYPIFIES SIN!
think they could be more righteous, more 7. Is there any other place in
forgiving, than YEHOVAH God and the apostle YEHOVAH’s word where He clearly shows that
Paul by allowing this adulterer to remain in the leaven is a type of sin? Matthew 16:6, 11-12 and
Church? I Corinthians 5:2. Luke 12:1.
3. Paul, knowing that this sin was COMMENT: Now let’s understand.
causing foolish members of the Corinthian

Days of Unleavened Bread -- Your Part in YEHOVAH’s Master Plan