salt & light

The Church at Mesquite

Salt & Light

Matt 5.13-16

The Church at Mesquite

Matthew 5

Matthew 5.13

Ye are the salt of the earth, but if the salt have lost his savor wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

The Church at Mesquite

Matthew 5

Matthew 5.14-16

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your FATHER which is in Heaven (KJV).

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Matthew 5

Notice:

JESUS’ proclamation that HIS followers were to be Salt & Light immediately proceeds the conditional eschatological promises of the Beatitudes (vs. 3-10) and the preparing lesson found in vs. 11-12

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Matthew 5

Notice:

In this we note that the solution that JESUS provided for religious indifference, spiritual apathy, and social injustice was for HIS followers to be Salt & Light

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Matthew 5

Notice:

This is significant because the same GOD who created man is the same GOD that created the earth (which is where the element of Salt is found) and Light which was created during the creation of the earth (cf. Genesis 1)

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Matthew 5

Notice:

Thus we find that JESUS was well aware of the elemental qualities of Salt & Light, and compared HIS followers to those qualities

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Matthew 5

If we are going to fully recognize the implications of JESUS’ call for HIS disciples to be Salt & Light, we must initially note the historical significance of these elements

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Salt

Historically, Salt has had great significance in humanity:

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Historically, Salt has had great significance in humanity:

Wars have been fought over Salt

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Salt

Historically, Salt has had great significance in humanity:

Wars have been fought over Salt

Salt has been a major trade commodity

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Historically, Salt has had great significance in humanity:

Wars have been fought over Salt

Salt has been a major trade commodity

The Romans were paid partially in Salt

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Salt

As it relates to the text:

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

As it relates to the text:

Salt represents purity

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

As it relates to the text:

Salt represents purity

Salt is a preservative

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

As it relates to the text:

Salt represents purity

Salt is a preservative

Salt is a seasoning

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

Remember now that in JESUS’ day they did not have refrigerators and other mechanical means to preserve food, thus salt was one of the ways that preservation took place

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

Preserve:

To maintain in safety from injury, peril, or harm; protect

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

Preserve:

To maintain in safety from injury, peril, or harm; protect

To keep in perfect or unaltered condition; maintain unchanged

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

Preserve:

To maintain in safety from injury, peril, or harm; protect

To keep in perfect or unaltered condition; maintain unchanged

To keep or maintain intact

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

Preserve:

To maintain in safety from injury, peril, or harm; protect

To keep in perfect or unaltered condition; maintain unchanged

To keep or maintain intact

To prepare for future use, as by canning or salting

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

With these considerations we note that JESUS was telling HIS disciples (followers) that they had the responsibility of:

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

With these considerations we note that JESUS was telling HIS disciples (followers) that they had the responsibility of:

Maintaining people’s safety from injury, peril, or harm; protecting people

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

With these considerations we note that JESUS was telling HIS disciples (followers) that they had the responsibility of:

Maintaining people’s safety from injury, peril, or harm; protecting people

Keeping people in perfect or unaltered condition

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

With these considerations we note that JESUS was telling HIS disciples (followers) that they had the responsibility of:

Maintaining people’s safety from injury, peril, or harm; protecting people

Keeping people in perfect or unaltered conditionKeeping people intact

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

With these considerations we note that JESUS was telling HIS disciples (followers) that they had the responsibility of:

Maintaining people’s safety from injury, peril, or harm; protecting people

Keeping people in perfect or unaltered conditionKeeping people intactPreparing people for GOD’s future use

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

Thus we find that JESUS was telling HIS followers that they had a responsibility to make a difference in the society that they lived in

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

Remember, based upon vs. 11-12 that JESUS’ disciples were responsible for:

Fighting against spiritual apathy

Fighting against religious indifference

Fighting against accepted social injustices

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

Thus we find that the weapon that JESUS called them to use to fight spiritual apathy, religious indifference, and social injustices was the salt that they had in them

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

JESUS called for HIS disciples to fight spiritual apathy, religious indifference, and social injustices by protecting people, keeping them in an unaltered condition, keeping them intact, and preparing them for GOD’s future use

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

Two questions that we must consider:

Where would JESUS’ followers get this Salt from?

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

Two questions that we must consider:

Where would JESUS’ followers get this Salt from?

Who or what are JESUS’ followers protecting people from?

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

Where would JESUS’ followers get this Salt from?

JESUS HIMself

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

As JESUS was teaching HIS followers HE was teaching them how to walk in HIS SPIRIT

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

As JESUS was teaching HIS followers HE was teaching them how to walk in HIS SPIRIT

By following JESUS and exemplifying HIM to people HIS followers would show how GOD would have them live their lives

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

Who or what are JESUS’ followers protecting people from?

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

Who or what are JESUS’ followers protecting people from?

The world, more specifically…the devil

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

As we have considered the historical and literary contextual implications of JESUS’ call for HIS followers or disciples to preserve society, we do well to know how JESUS’ call relates to HIS followers today (Christians)

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

Just was as it was for our 1st century predecessors, we have a responsibility to preserve society

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

As JESUS’ followers we have been called to walk in HIS SPIRIT, and fight against the impact that the devil has on the world

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

Maintaining people’s safety from injury, peril, or harm; protecting people

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

Maintaining people’s safety from injury, peril, or harm; protecting people

How can we effectively do this?

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

Maintaining people’s safety from injury, peril, or harm; protecting people

How can we effectively do this?

By exemplifying how people should live their lives

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

1 Timothy 4.12

Let no man despise your youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

1 Timothy 4.12

Be an example in how you talk, how you carry yourself, how you love, how you reveal the spirit that you have in you, how you express your faith, your pure lifestyle

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

1 Timothy 4.12

We can preserve people by exemplifying or showing people how GOD called us to live

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

1 Timothy 4.12

But rather than preserving people by exemplifying CHRIST many so called Christians are living as if they do not know CHRIST, carrying themselves like the unsaved people of the world

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

Keeping people in perfect or unaltered condition

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

Keeping people in perfect or unaltered condition

How can we effectively do this?

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

Keeping people in perfect or unaltered condition

How can we effectively do this?

By teaching how people should live their lives

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

Matthew 28.19-20a

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of The FATHER, and of The SON, and of The HOLY SPIRIT. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

Matthew 28.19-20a

JESUS call is for HIS followers to teach the Gospel, baptize those that believe, and teach those who are baptized how to be disciples (how to walk like HIM)

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

Matthew 28.19-20a

In this we find that we can preserve people from the devil, keeping them from becoming what GOD did not want them to be, by preaching the Gospel, teaching the importance of baptism, and teaching people how to be disciples of CHRIST

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

Matthew 28.19-20a

But rather than preserving people by teaching them many so called Christians have decided to sit silent while the devil has his way with the world

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

To keep or maintain intact

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

To keep or maintain intact

How can we effectively do this?

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

To keep or maintain intact

How can we effectively do this?

By getting involved with people when we see that they lives are headed in the wrong direction

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

Matthew 22.37,39b

Love The LORD they GOD with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Love thy neighbor as thyself

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

Matthew 22.37,39b

The only thing that will cause us to get involved when we see someone going down the wrong path is love

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

Matthew 22.37,39b

We can effectively preserve people from going down the wrong path by loving them

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

Matthew 22.37,39b

But rather than love them, we many times ignore them or judge them, which is why the devil continues to have his way with people

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

Preserving people for GOD’s future use

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

Preserving people for GOD’s future use

How can we effectively do this?

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

Preserving people for GOD’s future use

How can we effectively do this?

By loving people and making sure that people are not totally destroyed before they have the opportunity to come to CHRIST

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

1 Peter 5.8

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour (KJV)

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

1 Peter 5.8

The word “devour” means to eat whole, in such a way that nothing remains

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

1 Peter 5.8

This is what the devil is trying to do to people before they even have the opportunity to come to CHRIST…devour them

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

1 Peter 5.8

But if we allow the Salt that JESUS placed in us be used in society, by loving people and making sure that people are not totally destroyed before they have the opportunity to come to CHRIST, we can make a difference

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

1 Peter 5.8

But rather than preserving people by lovingly keeping them from being devoured, many so called Christians sit by and do nothing, while the devil has his way with men

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

JESUS calls us to allow HIS SPIRIT (Salt) to make a difference in society by impacting the live of people

Maintaining people’s safety from injury, peril, or harm; protecting people

Keeping people in perfect or unaltered condition

Keeping people intact

Preparing people for GOD’s future use

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

Do we have a choice in the matter?

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

Do we have a choice in the matter?

No.

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

But many so called Christians do not allow JESUS’ SPIRIT (Salt) to season the lives of people around them. They are more concerned with the things of the flesh than they are the things of The SPIRIT

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Salt

Salt as a preservative

Note the words of Paul in Romans 8.5-9

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Salt

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after The SPIRIT the things of The SPIRIT. Because the carnal mind is enmity against GOD, for it is not subject to the law of GOD, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please GOD. But you are not in the flesh, but in The SPIRIT, if so be that The SPIRIT of GOD dwell in you. Now if any man have not The SPIRIT of CHRIST, he is none of HIS.

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative

If we truly walk in The SPIRIT of CHRIST then we will allow the Salt the HE put in us to preserve the lives of the people we come into contact with. If we feel that we can do otherwise and still please HIM we are fooling ourselves

The Church at Mesquite

Salt

Salt as a preservative:

Matthew 5.13

Ye are the salt of the earth, but if the salt have lost his savor wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men (KJV)

The Church at Mesquite

Salt & Light

Matt 5.13-16