We Are Salty
The Similitudes (Sermon on the Mount) • Sermon • Submitted
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· 7 viewsThose transformed by the Beatitudes will transform the World!
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Intro: The World is Decaying
Intro: The World is Decaying
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
Problem: The World is Decaying
Problem: The World is Decaying
The World is Decaying at a rapid rate
Decaying physically, morally, and spiritually
A false narrative of racism is being falsely driven which is giving rise to racism.
There is violence in the streets.
People are rebelling against the police.
People are being shamed into quietness.
People are trying to control other people.
People are rising up against authority.
Sin against God is at an all time high
The World is at War with God
This not new
History of Spiritual Decay
History of Spiritual Decay
The moment at Adam and Eve sinned in the garden and corrupted the perfect paradise they forfeited intimacy with God.
Sin introduced death into the world physically and spiritually.
Mankind begin to age and death was introduced to nature itself.
Man fell away from God and decayed morally, spiritually, and physically.
By Genesis 6 mankind decayed so much spiritually God said he will make him decay physically at a more rapid pace.
Physical Decay
Physical Decay
And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”
Spiritual Decay
Spiritual Decay
Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
God decided to one righteous man named Noah and his family of 8 people while he destroyed the rest of mankind and started over.
But even after the restart an area of the world known as Sodom and Gomorra had to be destroyed because of its moral and spiritual decay.
And the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”
Abraham out of concern for lot interceded on behalf of Sodom and Gomorra and asked God if he would kill the righteous with the wicked.
And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it?
Sodom and Gomorra were so wicked with moral and spiritual decay that they had given themselves to homosexuality and other sins that even after Abraham interceded and ask God if there were a minimum of 10 righteous would he spare the whole city and God said yes if there were 10 righteous he would spare the area. But guess what? The were so morally and spiritually decayed that God saved lot and his family but he destroyed Sodom and Gomorra of the face of the earth!
Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?”
And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” So the Lord went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.
You see there is nothing new under the sun.
Mankind without God is dark!
Mankind without God is dark!
Men and women when they separate themselves from God they are dark.
Man’s heart unless it is changed by God is dark!
“The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
I, the Lord, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings.
Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
But rather than letting mankind decay or destroying mankind again God decided to save man.
God is so good, loving, and merciful he had a plan from the beginning.
He would give us a salty Savior and Holy Spirit through His Word!
Jesus would leave the Apostles with his doctrine from God.
Those who would be changed by the Beatitudes, be reborn through Repentance and Baptism would be the answer and are the answer to this decaying world.
The Apostles and those who follow in their doctrine are the salt to stop the world from total decay!
We are the salt of the earth and we are salty!
We Are Salty and Preserve the World
We Are Salty and Preserve the World
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
Jesus is saying once I change your heart you have to influence the world
Stop its decay and preserve as many as you for the return of Jesus.
This why as Jesus looks upon those who were separated from God through sin and eventually the gentiles he specifically says to the disciples,
YOU AND YOU ALONE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH!
YOU AND YOU ALONE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH!
Salt and Sacrifices
Salt and Sacrifices
I find it to be powerful that salt was associated with sacrifices in the Old Testament.
And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.
The sacrifice had to be preserved with salt
The sacrifice had to be preserved with salt
We as the sacrificed have been salted by Jesus and now as the salty we stop the decay of the world!
Jesus paid the disciples the highest complement when he called them the salt of the earth!
Salt is Distinct
Salt is Distinct
Jesus gave the disciples/Apostles and now his his followers distinction from the world while being in the world to stop the decay of the world.
Peter speaks of this distinction:
who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
The Disciples and the People Understood the Distinction of Salt!
The Disciples and the People Understood the Distinction of Salt!
Salt was used in covenants
God implemented salt in sacrifices
Salt was used for trade
Salt was called white Gold
Salt was a valuable commodity!
The saying: Worth Your Salt...
The saying: Worth Your Salt...
Roman soldiers were sometimes paid in salt.
If the soldiers did not live up to their duty the would be deemed as not worth the salt they were paid with hence
Are you worth your salt?
As the Salt of the Earth the Church has to be Worth its Salt!
As the Salt of the Earth the Church has to be Worth its Salt!
The Church has to be the salty and salt the world.
We Are Salty and Flavor the World
We Are Salty and Flavor the World
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
The salty church as to teach the world how to love, talk, and live
the salty church has to teach, preach, and live against sin.
The salty church has to vote against officials as citizens that go against religious freedoms and American rights
The salty church has to maintain and help other attain salvation.
The salty church has to flavor the world!
The salty church should be positive people and everything around us should be made better!
Salt is Distinct in How it Interacts With Food
Salt is Distinct in How it Interacts With Food
Salt is a unique seasoning
Salt is distinct in that it brings out the flavor of whatever you put it in while maintaining its distinct saltiness.
Salt does not mix but remains distinct.
Have you ever put too much salt in something? There is no getting it out?
Salt is so distinctive and strong like a little leaven leaventh the whole lump, a little salt brings out the flavor of a large dish!
Since it takes a little salt we should be flavor the entire world!
Salt is only Effective When Used
Salt is only Effective When Used
Salt is distinct and strong but only effective when we use it!
Salt left in a shaker will maintain its saltiness but will never flavor anything unless it is shaken out of the shaker on something.
So if we do not get into the world and influence it, flavor it, and preserve it, the world decays we are useless!
We cannot let the world be the only voice in the world!
Athletes, Actors and Entertainers are indoctrinating the world and we cannot let this continue without being the salt and the flavor!
This is why Jesus says something strange.
IF Salt Loses its Flavor, How Can it Be Reseasoned?
IF Salt Loses its Flavor, How Can it Be Reseasoned?
We Are Salty and We Will Not Forfeit Our Flavor For The World
We Are Salty and We Will Not Forfeit Our Flavor For The World
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
Salt Loses its Seasoning?
Salt Loses its Seasoning?
This has puzzled some but it actually makes perfect sense.
It makes perfect sense and makes no sense and Jesus is well aware of this.
The saying was riveting, revealing, and rhetorical at the same time.
SALT CANNOT AND DOES NOT LOSE ITS FLAVOR!!!
SALT CANNOT AND DOES NOT LOSE ITS FLAVOR!!!
What does Jesus mean then?
Phrase: “Lose its flavor”
Phrase: “Lose its flavor”
Lose it flavor is Moraino
Lose it flavor is Moraino
Moraino means to become stupid or do something foolish
Moraino means to become stupid or do something foolish
Jesus is talking about some who would hear the truth and choose not to follow.
Those who would start out with us but never be with us in their hearts and foolishly leave us!
Those who cannot humble themselves but rather become conceited and fall in love with themselves.
People who foolishly forfeit their flavor for fear of punishment from the world.
You may ask can people repent? Yes, but the problem is the salt that loses its flavor are people who will not repent after doing something foolish such as leaving the Gospel.
Romans 1:22 explains this perfectly
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
True Believers Do Not Leave God Nor Forfeit Their Flavor
True Believers Do Not Leave God Nor Forfeit Their Flavor
Some people make mistakes or fail trials but they don’t do it purposely or permanently but rather realize their error and repent.
He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
Those who know truth but choose themselves over God do not repent but become who they are!
Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
Those Who Forfeit Their Flavor Are Good For Nothing!
Those Who Forfeit Their Flavor Are Good For Nothing!
Powerful Statement
Same say the salt from the Dead Sea was poor and would sometimes lose its flavor and the only thing remaining would be impurity.
Jesus used a play on words with Moraino to signify once they foolishly fall away from their commitment to him they will not return.
Jesus says the desalted are not good for nothing but to be thrown out.
Some say impurities from the poor grade of salt would be used to make roads for people to walk on.
Jesus is saying something deeper.
When People Forfeit Their Flavor They Are Indistinguishable From The World and Have Become a Part of The Decay!
When People Forfeit Their Flavor They Are Indistinguishable From The World and Have Become a Part of The Decay!
They are of no use to the church or him
If the church goes this route and not be speak to the world and try to bring them to peace with God they are useless.
So Goes the Church so Goes the World
So Goes the Church so Goes the World
If The Church is not Salty the World decays!
If Those in the Church are No Longer Salty It is a part of the problem.
The Desalted Church will be trampled under the feet of men like gravel used for driveways and highways.
People will walk over the church if it losses its flavor.
Salt Cannot Lose It’s Flavor But People Can
Salt Cannot Lose It’s Flavor But People Can
Conclusion
Conclusion