Christians are the Salt of the Earth. Matthew 5:13-16. – Bible study
HOW TO BE HAPPY
Believers are Salt of the Earth
Matthew 5:13-16
1. In verses 5:3-12, the Lord Jesus presented eight principles bywhich believers are to live. With each of the principles He alsostated the reward that accompanied living by that principle.
-Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom ofheaven. (Those that see themselves as sinners and who seek God’sforgiveness)
-Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.(Those that mourn over their sin turning to the Lord strength toovercome their sins)
-Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (Those who put aside pride who seek the Lord’s will in all they doand live in the strength the Lord gives)
-Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst afterrighteousness: for they shall be filled. (Those that seek the God’struth and reject sin in their lives. Righteousness means to be right. Right in one’s belief and in their relationship to God. It means livingaccording to the faith presented in the Bible)
-Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Those that show grace to others as the Lord shows grace to thosewho believe in Him)
-Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (Thosethat by simple faith in Jesus Christ have believed and receiveforgiveness of sins and eternal life. The pure in heart are those Godhas saved and imparted righteousness meaning unmerited favor)
-Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called thechildren of God. (Those that seek to win others to the Lord JesusChrist who believe God’s word and seek to bring peace to those whoare lost in their sins that they too may come to know Jesus Christ astheir Savior and find true eternal peace)
-Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Those that are peacemakers who often are misunderstood, belittled, often scorned, treated badly and down through history many were martyred andkilled by those who do not like to be told they are sinners or did notwant to hear the truth. You see the first step in coming to JesusChrist as one’s Savior is to come to the understanding that we aresinners under the condemnation of sin. Most people do not like tohear anyone tell them they are lost and sinners and it often does notmake any difference that it is not the believer who is says men aresinners….but God Himself.
God says in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and comeshort of the glory of God.” In Romans 6:23 He says “For the wagesof sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christour Lord.) It is the last part of that verse that drives the trueChristian….the gift of God is eternal life. This is the message of thepeacemaker who is often persecuted by the person he or she isseeking to bring to Jesus Christ.)
2. Each of these principles deal in some degree with a person’stestimony for the Lord. This brings us to the statements Jesus madein Matthew 5:13-18.
I. You are the Salt of the Earth. Matt. 5:13 Jesus in these versesums up the collected truth of the eight principles of the B-attitudes.
A. What are the properties of salt? The Lord compares truebelievers with the properties of salt.
1. Salt is used to add favor to food. It has a taste all its own,utterly unlike anything else.
a. When mingled with foods it makes them taste good.
b. It brings out the natural favor of food.
2. It is also a preservative. When added to other substancesit preserves them from corruption.
ILLUS: My wife Carolyn is a farm girl raised on a farm in easternNorth Carolina. They raised most of the food that ate. AroundThanksgiving in November they would kill hogs and put up the meat.They would take the hams and shoulders and pack them in salt in thesmoke house to preserve them so the meat would not spoil and couldbe eaten throughout the year.
Those of us with high blood pressure are warned to limit our saltintake. If you have tried to eat food without salt you know first handthat it does make food taste better.
B. Salt has character. Its usefulness is when it is used inrelationship of other substances. It becomes useful when it is put touse. By itself it is just salt, it has all the potential but it is uselessuntil put to work.
C. In comparing believers to salt the Lord is making the pointof the benefit of true Christians to the world. Each of the B-attitudes as we stated earlier is accompanied by a promise. Thatpromise is one of personal reward and benefit to the individualbeliever. The true believer who is saved by God’s grace also is abenefit to the world. Christians are like salt to the world inrelation to their being a testimony of God’s grace to all mankind.
D. Most of the world is rejecting God and God’s truth. Jesusin the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8 instructsthose who have received Christ to go into all the world and preachthat Gospel
1. The Gospel we are to teach is recorded in 1 Cor. 15:1-5.READ.
2. The world needs to hear the Good News which is themeaning of the Greek word that is transliterated “gospel.” It is themessage of the suffering, death, burial and resurrection of JesusChrist thereby providing to us the means of salvation through Him.
3. It is not a message telling people to join a church, bebaptized, do good works, but of believing in Jesus Christ that Hesuffered and died for our sins and that those who repent of their sinsand believe are given the free gift of forgiveness of sins and eternallife. It is the good news of what Jesus Christ did for you and methat we could not do for ourselves. We are sinners condemned byour sin and being condemned we cannot offer anything for oursalvation. Not church membership, baptism or a host of other thingsmen try to offer to God. Yet, God in His wonderful grace, which isthe expression of His love, offers us salvation if we will by faithaccept it. Yes, we are to join a Bible believing church and bebaptized, but not to merit or earn salvation, but to join ourselveswith others who have been saved to share the Gospel with othersaround us so they can have the opportunity to believe and besaved.
4. You see in preaching the Gospel believers are the salt ofthe earth. Those that believe receive true life which means we havea personal relationship with our Savior and God. Further it bringsfull assurance of our future with God in heaven and the peace andsatisfaction of having the true purpose for those who accept JesusChrist as their Savior.
II. You are the light of the World. Matt. 5:14-16 The illustrationof comparing believers to salt is made clearer by the Lord’s using thecomparison also of believers being like light.
A. Light ends darkness. The more light the less darkness. Thebrighter the light the less darkness. Light has the ability to completelyeliminate darkness. It has a purifying effect.
Even in a totally dark room the smallest spark of light can be seen. It also provides life. Without light there would be no life. It was thefirst thing God called into creation in Genesis 1:3. By the way if youread the Genesis account the light God created on the first day wasnot that of the sun. The were not created until the third day. Thelight that was created came from God.
ILLUS: Several times Carolyn and I have visited undergroundcaravans. I remember the first time was in the mountains of NorthCarolina in the Luray caravans. The guide asked us if we had beenin total darkness before. She then told everyone to remain still andthat she was going to cut off the lights. When the switch wasthrown it became utter black. It was an scary and everyone wasrelieved with the lights were turned back on. If you were in a roomthat was totally dark and one speck of light shown through…your eyeswould immediately focus on it.
1. Throughout the Bible light is used to symbolize truth anddarkness represented as the state of rejecting or not accepting truth.
Psalms 36:9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shallwe see light.
Psalms 43:3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me.
Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a lightunto my path.
Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, thatshineth more and more unto the perfect day. To give knowledge ofsalvation unto his people by the remission of their sins.
Luke 1:78-79 speaks of Israel’s role as God’s messengers takingtruth to the world. The passage says, “Through the tender mercy ofour God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, Togive light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, toguide our feet into the way of peace.” Sadly, Israel rejected thetruth, rejected their Messiah and today biblical Christians areprivileged to be the ones God has chosen to tell the world who Godis and of His love, grace and salvation. Those who have receive thelight of the truth to share it with others.
B. V14, Is saying a city set on a hill cannot be hid.
ILLUS: My first trip west was exciting to me. I lived in EasternNorth Carolina where all the trees grow. While in the Army I wastransferred to Fort Huchucha, Arizona. What a sight going across thewide open spaces of the West and at night seeing a town fifty milesaway shining brightly in the distance. It looked so close, yet was stillfar away. If you had been lost in the desert you would have been ableto see the city at night and find your direction.
The principle is that a true Christians who has receivesalvation and been indwelled by God and his life changed and beinggiven a new nature and life cannot be hid. The true believer is toreflect and be a channel of God’s love to others.
C. The illustration of putting a light under a bushel. (under abowl).
What is Christ saying: Folks do not light a candle and hide it. Inour day we put lights in the ceilings in our rooms, outside our homesand along our streets so we can see what is there. No one puts upa light and then covers it so the light cannot show through. Thepurpose of light is to make things visible to us and it would be awaste of light to put a cover over it.
Likewise, when God saves a person, the light of God comes intotheir life and they should not hide it. Jesus making the statementbrings to our attention that it is possible to hide light even though itmakes no sense to have a light that is hidden it is possible.
D. Therefore the Lord instructs us to “Let your light shine!”V16. He is saying If you are saved and know the Lord Jesus as yourSavior…. let that light shine!
The fact we are told to let it shine implies we can hid it andsadly many do. But the message is that it is not normal to hidelight. It is rare, unheard of that one would have the light of the Spiritof God and not show it.
III. Christians Have Purpose! God is telling us that salvationbrings with it the joy and responsibility of sharing it with others.
A. John 17:8. This is the true Lord’s prayer. (In Matt. 6, wefind the Model prayer, not the Lord’s prayer) Here Christ’s prayer isrecorded. He prayer was for those who would believe in Him andbecome the children of God.
1. Read Verses 15-17. Those who are saved are saved outof the World. They are still in the world, but they are born again! They are new creatures in Christ. They are born into the family ofGod.
2. Verse 17, Jesus asked that we be sanctified.
a. To sanctify anything means that it is given wholly toGod. The Tabernacle was sanctified meaning it was given overwholly to the service of the Lord.
The word, “saint,” comes from the same root word. The saints of God are those given wholly over to Him.
I Cor. 7:12-14, God says the unbelieving husband is”sanctified,” by the Christian wife. It does not mean the husbandis any different, or is imparted salvation or even it effected morally. It means that he has a very privileged position in that he has a wifethat knows God and therefore through her he can hear the truth. Thesame thing is true of a saved husband with an unsaved wife.
b. It further means, that there is a process of beingmade like Christ as we live our lives. The word refers to ourmaturing and learning process that occurs in that we learn to livecloser to Christ.
B. Christians are in the world, but they are not of the worldany longer. They are made the Christian of God only when theyare saved. It is false taught that there is a brotherhood of all men. We are all related in that we are born the sons of Adam and Eve intothis earth. But the Bible does not teach that all men are brothers andsisters of God. 1 John 3:10 says, “In this the children of God aremanifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth notrighteousness is not of God,” Jesus in John 8:41, speaking to theJews told them their father was the devil.
The Good News is that although we are sinners we canbecome the children of God through salvation. The Lord says that Headopts us into His family.
God tells us that once a person believes and is saved he has aspecial relationship with God.
Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage againto fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry,Abba, Father. (Abba, Father is the most expression endearing termthere is in noting the new relationship that the one who believesreceives when God become His father)
Galatians 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that wemight receive the adoption of sons. ( The purpose of salvation is toestablish that relationship with God. Many ridicule biblicalChristians when they say we have received Jesus Christ as ourpersonal Savior…yet this is what the Bible teaches….we receive anintimate relationship with our God.)
Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption ofchildren by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure ofhis will. (This verse tells us that this was God’s plan….to save anmake those that believe His children)
1. The world is on a course that will end in its destruction.
2. However, Christian has eternal life and is assured he willbe in heaven with Christ when he dies.
3. The Christian is saved “from” sin. Rom. 6:1-2 “Whatshall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid How shall we who are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” The world’s god is religion, lust and sinning, but the Christianlives for truth and godliness .
C. Therefore the Lord Jesus is saying that Christians in theworld are very valuable to the world.
1. Folks there is a lot of false ideas, religions andphilosophies in the world. Jesus warned us Matt. 7:15, “Beware offalse prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardlythey are ravening wolves.”
a. Several points are made by the Lord.
b. First there would be false prophets. These are peoplewho teach a false Gospel and not God’s truth.
c. Second He says they coming in sheep’s clothing. That means the look good on the outside. God also warned us in 2Corinthians 11:14-15, saying “And no marvel; for Satan himself istransformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if hisministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness;whose end shall be according to their works.”
d. Folks those that teach false doctrine work real hardto look good on the outside. Just because someone is sincere, looksgood, talks good and seems to be a really nice person does not meanthey have the truth. The test of whether what a person is truthful ornot is solely a matter of comparing it with the Bible which is God’sword. If they are a true prophet or teacher from God they will teachGod’s truth which is this Bible.
e. The Jesus said in Matthew 24:24 just before He wascrucified. “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, andshall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it werepossible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Folks the false prophet’smessage sound and look so good that if it would be possible even thetrue child of God could be deceived by it.”
John also instructed us in 1 John 4:1 “Beloved, believe notevery spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because manyfalse prophets are gone out into the world.”
This means that for a believer to be the salt of the earth anda light unto the world he must know and believe God’s truth.
2. The answer is simply this. Today in the world theinfluence of the biblical truth is fast being eroded away in our day.
This makes the task of the believer vitally important. TheChristian should not be ashamed of the truth and therefore be thewitness for God. The Christian who will not seek to win others toChrist will have little or no influence on the world around then. Why? Those that do not stand and live uncompromising on whatthe Bible says are hurting those around them. It would be likepublishing a book that has no words in it….nothing for anyone toread.
3. Bible commentator J. C Ryle, says this: “Surely, if words mean anything, we are meant to learn from these two figures, (beingthe salt and light of the world), there must be something marked,distinct and peculiar about our character, if we are true Christians. It will never do to idle through life, thinking and living like others,if we mean to be owned by Christ as His people. Have we Grace? Then it must be “seen.” Have we the Spirit? Then there must be”fruit”. Have we saving faith? Then there must be a difference ofhabits, tastes and turn of mind, between us and those who think only of the world. It is perfectly clear, that true Christianity is somethingmore than being baptized and going to church.
Salt and light evidently imply “peculiarity” of both heart andlife, of faith and practice. We must dare to be singular and unlike the world, if we mean to be saved.”
CONCLUSION:
1. First the question we must all ask ourselves is “Are wetruly saved? Have we at some point in time seen ourselves assinners and in repentance of sin believed in Jesus Christ as ourSavior? Have we accepted Him as our substitute to pay for our sins? The person who is truly a child of God is one who is truly trustingin Jesus Christ alone as his/her Savior. This does not meanaccepting some church, one’s baptism, or good works of any kind. It means simply that one is trusting in Christ to forgiven their sinsand give them eternal life.
2. If the answer is no or you are not sure then the question isthis: Do you want to go to heaven. Do you want your sins forgivenand have eternal life? Do you want the peace and joy of knowing thetruth?
3. Maybe God has revealed to you that you don’t measureup. Your life has not be changed. You have a religion, but youreally have not experienced the power of God in your life.
4. For some the question is a matter of totally surrenderingyou life to Christ. You maybe saved, but you let the world influenceyou. Maybe you do not take a stand against sin. You may not be ablatant sinner yourself, but you condone sin and let it go on aroundyou.
It could be that you have are hiding your light from theworld.
ILLUS: A pastor friend of mine told be the story of a man in hischurch who had attended there for thirty years. He came everySunday and was faithful in his giving and attendance. One Sundayas the Word of God was preached God got hold of his heart and hesaw the truth that he never witnessed to those around him. Hardlyanyone outside the church knew he was a Christian. He vowed thatday that from then on he would be a true witness for the Lord, notonly in living a godly life but in tell people about Jesus Christ. Hetold the pastor later that at work in the factory he began to ask peopleif they knew the Lord and sought to witness to them. He said he wasso ashamed that several told him…”John when did you get religion,I did not know you were a Christian.”
There maybe there are things in your life that you know aresin and hurt your testimony.
4. Each service we give an invitation after the message. Folks it is not my invitation or the invitation of this church, thoughwe wish all who need to come to Christ will. This is God’s invitationto each of us personally to accept what He has said, to believe untosalvation and further to live our lives for Him.
5. God knows your heart’s need. It is matter between you andGod. If God is speaking to your heart this morning and showing youa need in your life…..why not get it straight with Him right now bypraying to Him.
You do what God will have you to do?
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