The Salty and The Bright

Psalm 112:1-9 / Matthew 5:13-20

Salt and Light

Salt

Seasoning

Hydration - electrolytes

Medicinally

Covenantally - Purity and Permanence (Leviticus 2:13)

Destruction - To prevent crops

Truly following Jesus means our entire lives are affected; and so is the world around us.

Light

Literal sight in a pre-electric world

Knowledge over ignorance, especially of God

Righteousness over evile

Truly following Jesus means that we are seen in contrast to ignorance and evil in this life; we show The Way.

We ARE -

Note the pronouncement

This is not a challenge.

This is communicated purpose

Christians are called to allow what God has made true inside to be seen outside; in the way we live our lives.

Necessary Righteousness

Righteousness Scribes and Pharisees

Jesus not only upheld God’s Law, He clarified it, and raised, not lowered, the standard.

The Scribes and Pharisees were seen as the faithful, righteous, religious people, but it was not enough.

Jesus’ Righteousness

Revelation 5:5 “And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.””

Jesus’ righteousness is the perfect and exceedingly acceptable righteousness that IS enough.

The Gospel

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

The trade Jesus made was to take on guilt and sin, and to gift those who believe the gospel with HIS righteousness. We are enough because He is enough.

The Problem

The Tree

Genesis 3:1–5 “1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.””

The Offering

Genesis 4:3–5 “3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering [God] had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.”

Our Religious Traditions

Matthew 23:23–24 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!”

Our sinful nature has us repeating the same, original sin: trying to be our own Gods and defining righteousness apart from God.

The Fast Solution

Isaiah 58:1-9

Isaiah 58:2 “Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God.”

They claim me as their God, yet act how they please.

Isaiah 58:3 “Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers.”

My People feign worship and obedience, but it is only superficial.

Isaiah 58:5 “Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord?”

Is what you are doing what I have commanded? Is it what I desire?

Isaiah 58:6–8 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.”

I desire your hearts. Loving your neighbor IS how you love me.

Isaiah 58:9 “Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,”

If we are not beginning with godliness in our hearts, If we are relying on traditions or a popular understanding of how to be ‘righteousness’, we are salt without savor. We are dim lights hidden away offering help and guidance to no one.

Are you one who has never trusted in Jesus to the saving of your soul?

Are you one who has allowed pressures from traditional or cultural Christianity to define your worship?

Are you today recognizing a need in your heart to repent of sin? to surrender to the Lord’s call for faith and service?

Remember this: The one who calls people to be His followers, the same one who then says they ARE salt and light, the Righteous One who makes sinners clean stands ready today to rescue and help you.

Call on Jesus. Trust in Jesus. Rest in Jesus today!