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The very smallest portion of leaven, the microscopic, has the ability to mix until it is found in the whole loaf. 1 Cor. 5:6 Thus, the Apostle Paul likened leaven to the old sinful nature, showing that just a minute fraction of leaven will contaminate the whole. His exhortation to the Corinthians was to purge, expunge the old nature. All the nature and character of the sinful man is to be replaced by the new nature found in the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 5:7.
It is not a difficult task to find in the Word of the Lord the standard which He has established for the New Man. A list of the characteristics of the leaven which corrupts is to be found in Col. 3:5. In order to be rid of this leaven he urged all to mortify, to put to death, their flesh and fleshly desires. He was not suggesting death for the physical man, but having the sinful yearnings of the old life brought to a complete halt. Is the challenge, the standard of Christian living any less today? If any thing it has greatly increased. We are to be more than conquerors through Christ. Rom. 8:37 We are not challenged beyond our potential and for those who are in Christ Jesus there is but one goal. That is to bear His likeness by putting off the old man. Col. 3:9.
The unsaved are in servitude to sin. Sin is an unclean spiritual force which controls all who are born into this world. Ps. 51:5 However, the New Man is set free, liberated from the former life of sin and iniquity. Rom. 6:13 True liberty and freedom are found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Because He reigns in our hearts and lives we are loosed from the law of sin and death. It no longer has dominion over us. John 8:36 The individual who is in Christ has accepted the truth as it is declared by the Lord and therefore, has the power and source of truth as it is revealed in the Lord Jesus. John 8:32 Having been born of the Spirit and the Word of the Lord, the New Man is a man of truth. He will live, walk, speak and manifest the truth in all things. Salvation is of the grace of the Lord. Grace and truth came by the Lord Jesus. John 1:17 The amazing thing is that, the eternal Logos, the Word, was born in human form. Bringing a life giving power into the world whereby any and all who will seek and accept Him may receive the fullness of His grace (unmerited favor) and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is the truth. John 14:6.