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Character and blessings
We have seen the character and the blessings of the kingdom dwellers (Mt5:3-11).
Now today we turn to the influence that the kingdom dwellers have for the kingdom.
Though the world may be against us (Mt5:10-12), we need to be an influence to the world instead of the world influencing us.
Influence and impact are what Jesus is addressing in our passage today.
Some things you may ask yourself as we go.
What possible influence could I have as a kingdom dweller in impacting the world?
What lasting good can the poor, meed, mourners who are merciful who try to make peace do?
What can we do if our only appetite is for righteousness and our only weapon is purity of heart?
Are we just too feeble to achieve these lofty ideals in the beatitudes, especially since we are a minority?
In order to define then display the Christian’s influence in the kingdom and for the kingdom Jesus uses to common metaphors that regardless of person, or position they would know.
Salt and Light.
Church and the world are two distinct communities that are inter-related but yet separate.
Today the lines between the two may seem a little blurred, the church looks too much like the world instead of the world looking like the church.
In a world where God has been made evident (Rom1:19); man (the world) in general is trading the truth (God) for created thing (Rom1:25); the world in which is darkness is going to be contrast with the kingdom which is light.
In the world that is decaying, but the kingdom dwellers are salt to help be a preservative and to add flavor to the world to lead them to the Light of World.
and add to that now as just mentioned
Now Jesus tells us who we are in our passage, but also puts a condition too.
We must be visible (not a hidden light) and as salt we need to keep our saltiness.
So now let’s read our passage
What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?
YOU ARE SALT
Salt a preservative, salt a flavor additive.
You are salt, not just salt, but salt of the earth to impact, to preserve, to add flavor to this world for the kingdom.
God through His infinite grace with foreknowledge established several institutions to help prevent the world, society from slipping into anarchy.
Government, from Federal to local
Given the authority to write, enforce laws to protect the people
Home, family
To instill morals, values, community within the family that will impact the world.
God’s people
The justified, the sanctified, the redeemed, the regenerated are the most powerful.
Why?
Because they have been made salt, been made light.
R.V.G.
Tasker puts it like this.
“Disciples are to be a moral disinfectant in a world where moral standards are low, constantly changing, or are non-existent.”
How can you, as salt be a preservative to someone’s life, or in the world?
How can you, as salt add flavor to someone’s life, or to the world?
How can you loose your saltiness?
A look at the metaphor
Jesus shows the relationship of the kingdom dwellers as one who
Makes the world palatable to God
by preserving and possibly making palatable to others too
Making it possible for God to bear with the wickedness, the distastefulness of this world
By the salt of the world bringing the flavor of the kingdom to the tasteless world.
Jesus warns against losing our flavoring ability
Remember we are discussing the Christian’s influence today as well as the impact of the Christian on the world and in the kingdom.
When mixed with impurities of the world it can lose its ability to flavor and to impact (1Cor15:33; Eph5:3-7)
We are to be a flavoring agent for God in the world
Or know we need to keep ourselves free from the impurities of sin.
Don’t become tasteless (or in other words loose our flavor) (Mt13:40-43; Rev3:15-16)
How are we going to be seasoned?
Impurities take away our ability to be useful for the kingdom and in the kingdom.
What does Jesus say to do with tasteless salt (v.13)?
Add to that
Rev
Don’t lose your saltiness, become flavorless for this seems Jesus is teaching of the possibility of losing your salvation, doesn’t it?
(or at least implied in our passage today; confirmed in the supporting passages I just brought in).
One more thought, verse before moving on
So kingdom dwellers are to have salt in yourselves.
Christian saltiness is Christian character displayed in the beatitudes.
As kingdom dwellers may be be committed disciples in both word and deed.
For effectiveness the Christian must retain his Christlikeness, maintain his saltiness.
Don’t let the impurities of the world impact your influence in the world and for the kingdom.
The glory of the gospel is the distinct nature of the kingdom vs. the world.
YOU ARE LIGHT
The light of the world (Jn8:12; Jn9:5) came so you can be light of the world.
Jesus using another metaphor that should shine bright as we illuminate the scripture here.
Mt5:1
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Here we have the Light of the world saying we will have light
So, now look at this
So
Jesus has gone from the world, physically but even before He calls people light.
What people does He call light (you have to look, or think back)?
H
What does Jesus tell us about the light (v.14)?
What does the light do (v.15)?
What is the command (v.16)?
What are the results when you keep the command (v.16)?
I think it is plainly said (v.16) that the light is our good works in the kingdom and for the kingdom.
And it brings glory to the Father when we do them.
Jon Stott says this:
“Light is a common biblical symbol of truth, a Christian’s shining light must surely include his spoken testimony of the Truth who is the Light of the world and the Light to the nations.”
It is healthy for us to know, and to be reminded that believing, confessing and teaching the truth are good works in which the Father see’s and is glorified in.
Works must also include works of love, as well as works of faith.
These works display the kingdom dwellers devotion to God a our care for fellow man too.
_____________
As light we are commanded to let our light shine (v.16)
When we keep the command we have great results (v.16)
Don’t loose the fact there is the command, “let your light shine.”
__________________
Looking at the metaphor of light.
____________________________________
As light we are to transmit God’s glory to the World (Php2:14-15; 1Pt2:9; Eph5:8-9)
As light, we are not light in and of ourselves but the light in the Lord (Eph5:8; Jn8:12)
As light we must be visible (Jn13:35)
As light we must radiate (give light)
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As light we are to transmit God’s glory to the World (Php2:14-15; 1Pt2:9; Eph5:8-9)
As light we are to illuminate God in the midst of the darkness of this world
As light we must be visible (Jn13:35)
As light we must radiate (give light)
And as light to proclaim His excellencies
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