Sermon: What does it mean to be the Salt and light of the gospel?
First, let’s read Matthew 5:13 through 16. Matthew 5:13-16 13″You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14″You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
This will be our main text of study. We will camp out here for today’s lesson. Here, Jesus was delivering his message on the top of Mount Sinai. Mount Sinai was just north of Galilee. It was the perfect picture of tranquility, because The mountain was full of green pastures and critters. Mount Sinai was truly a beautiful place, but the teaching of Jesus is certainly sweeter.
I’m sure he was preaching to his 12 disciples, but there was also a host other people who had a interest in being a disciple there.
Now, we read the word about being salt and light for the world to see. Why are we called to be the salt of the Earth?
Why did Jesus mention this in the sermon on the mount?
How can I be the salt and light of the Earth?
How do I do it? How to we make it a reality?
What does it look like?
How do I become salty?
- Being the salt of the earth is not something we do but it’s who we are are as we follow Christ.
Chemical connection:
So, we see Christ delivering a message to the people about what it means to be a follower of Christ. He wants them to understand what it means to be a citizen of heaven. In verse 13. Jesus says them: “you are the salt in light of the world.
To discover this answers to our questions we must examine the use of salt.
Scientifically, salt is produced when sodium and chloride are mixed and it has a chemical reaction. Thus, salt is called sodium chloride. In the same way, in the making of salt: when sinners get connected with grace there should be a reaction. Better yet, there is a spiritual reaction that causes a change in your life. What are the two factors that bring about this change in your life? They are repentance and faith.
Money Value:
Salt had value. One particular time in Middle Eastern history salt was worth the same as silver. We even get the term salary from Rome. Roman soldiers were paid their wages in salt. So, you see, salt is valuable. Jesus could’ve called us anything, but here he calls us valuable.
Can I tell you something today: “each one of you are valuable to God, to me, to this church, and to your families.”
I’ve read that salt has over 14,000 jobs for itself. So what does that tell us? Well, I think that Jesus Christ is telling us that there are thousands of uses for us in n his army. We are valuable and we should have an impact in the world around us. We should impact the world in thousands of different ways.
Preserving Power:
Therefore, in The Middle East, when Jesus was alive, there were 2 main reasons for the use of salt. The first reason was to preserve. Salt as a preservative was important to the people, because the desert climate was hot and would spoil meat easily.
In the same way that salt is a preservative , Salt, also enhances and seasons our food.
So, all Christians should be preservers of God’s word. preservatives hold onto the freshness of food. So in like manner, Christians should preserve the truth of the Lord and pass it down from one generation to the next. We are to be preservers of gods authority. We must stand and proclaim the truthness of scripture whether the culture wants to believe it or not. We have to preserve morality and not let immorality because of the governing law of the land. God has called us to be a preservative. Living a holy life helps preserve the ways in stature of God. We did it the following two Commandments love God with all of your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.
Because if we loved that God we will not steal. If we love God we will not murder. If we love God we will not why.
Being preservative in God‘s law is what Jesus is calling us to do in Matthew chapter 5.
Sadly, our morals are becoming washed out. You know they are. It’s in the books that we buy.
Would you rather read a Steven King or would you rather read scripture studies. It’s in the movies we watch, and even in the music that we listen to and buy.
Salt is favorizing:
In the same way that salt is a preservative , Salt, also enhances and seasons our food. Christian following the Holy Spirit, should enhance the lives of others with the seasoning God’s love.
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Col. 4:6 Tells us that we must use our speech to give the gospel to everyone. Spreading the gospel is LOVE.
The holy spirit guides each Christian, each one of us, into doing good and fleeing from evil acts. Working for good stomps out evilness and adds the right seasoning to our culture. Where there is strife we are to be peacemakers.
Where there is sorrow we are to be ministers that bind us wounds.
Season with Goodness:
We are the seasoning of the world; then, we should be pulling the goodness out of people.
Is 49:6 informs us that we are lights with the purpose to lead others to salvation.
When we rub up against people we are be bringing the best out of them. When people see us come in they are to know that we are Christians by the way we behave. We shouldn’t be increasing negativity, but rather we should be leaving others feeling better about themselves and their situations.
On the other hand, we need to check out who were hanging out with. Who are you spending your time with? Are those people drawling Christ Out of us?
Are those people pulling out the goodness?
Or are they tearing you down and hiding the gifts that God has given you?
You need to remove the toxic people from your life and get in fellowship with Jesus Christ and his followers.
Smelling Salt:
Scientist had made a smelling salt. Have you ever seen someone pass out and the medic break something and stick it under their nose? Well, that is called smelling salt and it’ll wake you up from a deep slumber. This should be our purpose our main focus. The church of Jesus Christ should rise up, break open, and wake the people up from their slumber. we need to be waking people up with a good news of the gospel. The good news of salvation through Jesus Christ is the seasoning of life eternal.
As Christians we are to stand out in our community. Salt is the seasoning. We are not to conform to this world and its ideas. That’s the problem with many churchgoers today. They go with the ideas of the government and the evildoers and don’t stand up when its appropriate.
When we conform to this world we become white washed Christians. You can’t tell the Christians from the worldly people. Being conformed to the world Goes against with what scripture says. Abortion is not biblical. Same-sex marriage is not biblical. When we deny the father, do not work for him, Profess to be a Christian, or blackslide, we bring a reproach on the name of Jesus. This is why Jesus says if salt has lost its flavor; then, it is good for nothing.
Luke 14:34-35
New International Version
34 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?(A) 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.(B)
Therefore, we are to daily take up our cross and follow after Jesus. When we depart from Our spirit lead lives and compromise with the world our testimony is in jeopardy.
Mark 9:50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
suggest that humankind can lose its preserving and flavoring power. We can lose our Saltiness by conforming to the world and disobeying the Commandments in scripture. When we do this
it causes a divide in the unity of the church and Delivers a false hope to the community. How many times have you heard: “well, if their going to Heaven then I am too!” This is partly, because of sin of those who profess to be Christians, but they are not living Holy.
The scripture also reads that we are to be the light of the world.
Read Verses 13 through 16. Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Just as they there is the sun and the moon; we have light and darkness. Therefore, there are evil and dark spirits in the world; just As, there is light and good spirits in the world. Jesus is telling us to allow our good works to shine so that it glorifies God. The truth of Scripture Creates holiness in people. Walking holy and upright creates a good work in us. Eph. 5:8 tells us again that Christian Character exposes the dark. We are children of the light and we must shine light.
After reviewing this Scripture we understand that when we do wrong or sin it brings a bad name to your local church community and unto the Lord. Therefore, brothers sisters I urge you to create good fruit.
Why do we our bodies need salt?
We are the salt of the world therefore we need salt daily. Salt in our bodies help it run. If we do not have enough salt in our body our blood pressure drops, we become dehydrated, and we could even die. Salt absent from Jesus Christ will die. In fact the church, which is filled with salt, if it’s gone the world will die.
Just a couple more ideas for today.
What happens when you put salt on an ice cube?
I’m sure you already know the salt melts the ice. All I’m trying to do in here today is throw a little salt out and melt those frozen hearts. If you have somebody in your family just does not want to hear about the things of God,
they just don’t want to give their heart to God,
I just worry about what they will be required to do.
I’m telling you that we’re just gonna keep inviting and keep bringing them in and throw a little salt on that stone cold heart. And I believe that the power of the Holy Ghost will melt that stone cold heart and make it alive.
He will break every chain every yoke and give you a brand new life. Don’t worry about the next step. Worry about the first step and Christ will lead you. Don’t worry saying I’ll gladly take you back but I don’t know if any Christian that would save her old life was better.
I’d like for you to look at your neighbor and point to your neighbor and then look at yourself in point do your sales. Repeat these words God has anointed you to be the salt of the earth. Yes, you who did not bring your Bible to church. Yes and you who spent most of your time on the telephone instead of listening to the message. You haven’t been coming to church. You and your bad self God has anointed you us the church I make the difference. God did not anoint your seniorities, your fraternities, the eastern star, your bowling league , sports affiliations, or lions club he anointed his church to be the salt of the earth.
Some more questions for today: If God is looking down on you; where you are sitting; does he see a flavorful life or a dried up Christian. Are you producing good works?
Are you being the salt and light of Jesus in the world?
Are you living around people that caused you to be salty or stale, as we sing the altar is opened. Won’t you come and pray?
