The Purpose of the Church

Matthew 5:13–16 ESV

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matt 5:13

The Purpose of the Church

Every tool has a specific purpose

Not just tools in the garage, but even in the kitchen

Every tool has a purpose

Certain tools can also loose their effectiveness

Pulling spaghetti out with a rubber spatula

Driving a nail with a screwdriver

The Church has a purpose…

to be like salt

to be like light

but for tonight let’s start at the end of our passage because Jesus isn’t just talking about salt, and he not just talking about light

Matt

Matthew 5:16 ESV

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

1. The purpose of the church is to glorify God through its good works so that others will also glorify God.

Let’s clarify a few things

First listen to what the scripture isn’t saying:

Jesus is not saying that we are saved by our good works…

Scripture is very clear that salvation is a result of grace through faith, not a result of works

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Jesus is not talking about the means in order to be saved, rather he is talking about how those who are saved are able to glorify God.

We see this throughout scripture:

John 15:8 ESV

8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Philippians 1:9–11 ESV

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

First distinction:

We are not saved (justified/made right with God) by our good works.

Rather, God is glorified when those who he has redeemed do good works

Matthew 5:16 ESV

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Second distinction:

Matthew 6:1 ESV

1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

What is the difference between 5:16 and 6:1?

The difference is in the motivation behind doing the good works!

5:16 (the passage that we are looking at tonight)

Is motivated to give the one true God glory and fame among those who do not know him, because has already redeemed us and blessed us with the kingdom (remember the beatitudes from last week)

He has already blessed us… therefore we do good works to glorify him

*notice that the the reward has already been given before we do any good works

Matthew 6:1 ESV

1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Is motivated by receiving glory for one’s self instead of God

It is motivated by others seeing our own self-righteousness instead of seeing and glorifying in God’s loving mercy and power that is able to change the life of those who were once poor in spirit.

* notice that in 6:1 Jesus says they will have no reward from the our Father in heaven… in other words, those who do good works to be seen by others are not those who are counted among those that are blessed that will receive the kingdom of heaven

so...

1. The purpose of the church is to glorify God through its good works so that others will also glorify God.

Two distinctions:

first, this has nothing to do with receiving salvation and blessing by good works,

and second, this is so God can be glorified not so that we can impress others by our self-righteousness

We see the function of the church being compared two two objects

salt and light

Let’s go back into our text and take these one at a time first let’s look at salt:

Matthew 5:13 ESV

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

Matthew 5:13 ESV

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

We have to ask ourself this: what is the purpose of salt?

in Jesus’ day salt was more than seasoning for your french fries…

Salt was the difference between life and death. Why?

Because salt was the means by wich people were able to preserve food… It was the ancient refrigerator.

It was used primarily to keep meet from rot and decay

And so Jesus says to his disciples and to us, the church… You are the salt of the earth…

Salt - Preserves that which is passing away

Jesus’ disciples - (that means those of us who are fooling Jesus and are a part of his church) we are God’s plan and purpose by which he is going to save the world from rotting and passing away…

Some may want to argue and say that the church isn’t the means of salvation but Jesus is…

Romans 10:14–15 ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Paul’s point is that they will all pass away unless someone tells them the good news of the gospel!

This is the mission and purpose of the church

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matt 28:

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

And not just in preaching so that some might be saved, but again it is even through our good works

1 Peter 2:12 ESV

12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

1 Pet

Remember our good works glorify God, and they contribute to bringing people from death into life.

Salt - Preserves that which is passing away

and light…

Look v 14

Matthew 5:14 ESV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Light - reveals that which is hidden

He gives the example of a city on a hill…

Everyone who would have gone to Jerusalem would have known exactly what Jesus was alluding to

For a traveler during Jesus’ day, traveling in the dark would have been dangerous for a number of reasons, but the obvious danger would be getting lost and unable to find one’s way to their destination

But when they were able to see the city on the hill… Jerusalem, they would know exactly where to go

Has anyone ever wandered in the dark without a light?

stub a toe or trip

And so, in a world that is dark and without hope...

wandering but unable to see where they are going...

In a world that is in desperate need of vision to be able to see clearly that which is good and that which is bad…

How much more important is it that they would have light...

and we should know, right? for we all were once in darkness

Ephesians 5:8 ESV

8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

And how is it that we are able to walk in the light… because someone told us the gospel.

While God is the one who brings life to that which is dead, it is the Christian who reflected the light of Christ so that we were able to see and believe…

and so...

The church, like salt, is to preserve that which is passing away, and the church, like light, is to illuminate that which is hidden...

but this brings us to a problem.

The next point in your notes:

It is possible for the church to neglect it’s intended purpose:

that of being a preserving and illuminating presence in the world:

Let’s go back into the text:

Matthew 5:13 ESV

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

Matthew 5:14 ESV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Matt 5:13

Can salt lose actually lose its saltiness?

after season your food w/ salt… will the salty rich flavor go away?

no…

it can get cold

it can go stale

but the food will never become less salty,

much in the same way that water never loses its moisture…

The only way salt loses its saltiness is if it becomes diluted… ruined by the impurity of other minerals

This would have been more common problem in a day where salt wasn’t purchased from the store and kept in sealed containers…

instead salt had to collected, but often times the salt that was collected would be impure and ruined by the other minerals

Matthew 5:13 ESV

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

Jesus is saying such salt that is defiled is rubbish, common material that isn’t good for anything other than being used as common dirt to make a road

The Christian (and the church for that matter) when we defile ourself with sin… make loose our effectiveness to be salt in the world…

When we are marked by sin, and not by good works and righteousness, we prove ourselves to not be his disciples

Remember

John 15:8 ESV

8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John 15:5–6 ESV

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Jn 15:6

If we do not bear fruit (or if we claim to be salt, but lack the flavor of salt) we prove ourself to not be salt at all. But instead we are no different from the rest of the world

And so the church can neglect to do its intended purpose when we defile ourself with sin.

this is why Paul says

Romans 6:1–2 ESV

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

rom 6;2

Or as James puts it

James 2:17–18 ESV

17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

There is another way that we may neglect our intended purpose… Jesus puts it this way

Matthew 5:15 ESV

15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

Matt 5:

Can you just picture this…

Why do you put lights above us?

Why are lamps on tables?

Because a lamp of the floor would be useless…

and furthermore, a lamp under a basket will not light up a thing.

And yet as Christians we often do this.

we stick to ourselves… and only spend time with other Christians.

(now there is wisdom in having Christian Friends)

Psalm 1:1 ESV

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

But Jesus sends us out into the world to be a beacon of light, not in order to bunker down until we are glorified with him…

1 Corinthians 5:9–11 ESV

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

Let me give us a word about shyness…

because this often becomes the reason we hide to ourself

Exodus 4:10–15 ESV

10 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” 13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” 14 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do.

And then again

Exodus 6:12 ESV

12 But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?”

or the way Jeremiah says it

Jeremiah 1:6–7 ESV

6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” 7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.

Even Timothy the young pastor we hear about in the NT

1 Timothy 4:12 ESV

12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Listen: youth.... there is no person who you need to fear so do not be timid…

because we have seen the light of Christ… and the world must see the light too.

One last point tonight

What you believe motivates what you do, and what you do reveals what you believe

What is it that we believe?

What is it that we believe?

We believe that Jesus came to preserve the wold that is under the power of sin and death… We believe that Jesus is the only solution, to the problem of sin and death…

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jn

We believe that salvation is all who believe

Romans 10:11–13 ESV

11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

And we believe they need to hear in order to believe in the life preserving power of the gospel of Jesus then need to hear…

Romans 10:14–15 ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

we believe that Jesus is the true light that gives sight and life to those who are perishing

John 1:4–5 ESV

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

We believe that though we are not the light… we reflect his light as we bear witness about the light…

Jn 1:

John 1:6–8 ESV

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

We be

Jn 6:

John 1:6 ESV

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

John 1:9 ESV

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

John 1:9 ESV

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

We believe that the true light, Jesus has come, and has died so that those who believe in him might be saved…

if we believe this… it will be reflected in our actions…

in what we do… in what we say…

if we believe this, we will tell the world and in doing so we will be salt and light…

What you believe motivates what you do, and what you do reveals what you believe

So… do you have the flavor of salt… and are you an agent that is preserving those who are passing away

or let me ask it this way… do you believe that Jesus is life and that he that he not only brings gives grace, but is able to make you pure in word and deed?

If not, then you might not be salt, but might be no different than the dirt that is cast out on the road

Do you illuminate the light of Christ?

bearing witness to the true light that has come so that those who believe might have life.

If you truly believe that the light has come… then let the world see your light

The gospel is good news that is to be shared

not hidden under a basket

it is too good to keep hidden

not marred by lives that love sin more than righteousness

and God is too good to defile the work

So hear this exortation

be salt that is pure, as one that has been saved from the love of this world

Be a light that is on a stand that is shining bright so that all might see your good works and give glory to your heavenly Father.