Enjoy Life, Enjoy God

Yeast

November 2, 2012

Whenever the Bible mentions yeast, it almost always is a caution, a warning. From a biblical perspective, the presence of yeast seldom is a good thing. lives.

A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.
                                                        --Galatians 5:9 TNIV

The yeast that troubles the Galatians is circumcision. Coming to faith in Christ in the freedom of grace and mercy is giving way to legalism, religious slavery. People are saying, "To be a real Christian you have to be circumcised." That day it was circumcision, today it could be baptism, not smoking or drinking, or believing in a particular doctrine. It all comes down to legalism and religious slavery. No, no, a thousand times no, says Paul. Paul is so exasperated that in v. 12 he explodes: "As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves." In other words, "Circumcision? Cut away everything!"

What about us? When we substitute some religious duty, and ritualistic observance, a little yeast is ruining the whole batch. That's why I say repeatedly, it always and only comes down to Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.

Joyfully,

Dale Patterson