From the Mouth of the Master- Part 4- Matthew 5:13-16
From the Mouth of the Master • Sermon • Submitted
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· 10 viewsJesus now speaks of the effect that the believer is to have upon the world as salt and light.
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Transcript
Introduction
This morning we considered the persecution that believers must face and the reason for it, our response to it, and ultimately the reward that is promised for endurance.
Tonight we will see Jesus speak of the impact that believers should have upon the world around them. He does this by way of illustration picturing the believer as first salt and then as light.
There is no question that those who faithfully follow Jesus Christ will make a significant impact on the world around them not only by their proclamation of the gospel, but also by the way that they live their lives in obedience to the savior.
The disciple of Christ cannot blend in with the world but will necessarily stand out as distinct from the unbelieving world.
Jesus first pictures the believer as...
The Salt of the Earth (Vs. 13)
The Salt of the Earth (Vs. 13)
In the ancient world salt served two primary purposes, one was the preservation of food from bacteria and decay, the other was for flavoring.
In the ancient world salt was a valuable commodity that could be the difference between life and death in a community. Without refrigeration, the only means of preserving food was salting it.
This certainly speaks to the vital nature of faithful disciples and the impact they may have upon a society in preventing corruption and moral decay.
The second and more primary aspect of the illustration is that of flavoring, it has been witnessed throughout history the impact which a vibrant community of faithful disciples may have upon a society.
Illustration- salt has the unique ability to enhance the taste of any dish, bringing out the complexity of flavors so that the dish has a fullness of flavor that it would not have without the addition of salt.
In this illustration Jesus is actually pointing to a problem, that believers may lose their savour (become tasteless) and thus fail to make an impact upon the world around them.
It is the disciple of Christ which enhances the world around him giving meaning and purpose to life by pointing men to God!
The believer who has lost his savour is good for nothing, and is fit only to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.
Imagine a form of salt that which you could add in large quantity and yet it produced no change in the flavor of the dish. This is the truth that Jesus is communicating. The disciple that has lost his savor has lost the ability to make and impact in the world.
The disciple of Christ is to remain distinct in order to bring a flavor of Christ and of life into a world that is lost and dying.
The salt loses its savor when it is diluted with other substances and thus loses its distinct flavor. The problem Jesus is pointing to is clearly that we must remain distinct from the world lest we lose our ability to impact the world.
This is exactly the problem that has developed throughout much of what is called “Christianity” today. It is and unfortunate reality that much that is called “Christianity” today is so diluted and has been so intermingled with carnality and worldliness, that it bears little resemblance to first century Christianity.
There is among the majority of professing Christians a far greater likeness to the world than there is to Jesus Christ. This has led to a christianity that has little impact upon the world and the culture.
If we Christians would truly pursue likeness to Christ we would again become a distinct people with the opportunity to confront the culture and make a real difference in the world.
We ought to examine ourselves and determine if we are become as salt that has lost its savour.
Jesus then paint another illustration of the believer as...
The Light of the World (Vs. 14-16)
The Light of the World (Vs. 14-16)
The picture here is of a light which penetrates the darkness of this world and provides illumination to see things as they truly are.
Again light is unique in its ability to push back darkness and bring illumination which then brings revelation.
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
This world is a dark place that stands in desperate need of the light of Jesus Christ.
The disciple of Christ is to be a light which shines into the darkness and reveals the true state of the world as lost and condemned.
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Jesu then moves on to speak of the means by which the light will have the greatest effect.
He speaks first of a city on a hill. The light of this city by being elevated above the surrounding country shall be viewed from near and far.
He then speaks of the light of single candle and how its effect may be diminished if it is hidden from view. This is a description of the believer who fears to let Christ’s light shine in him and who would attempt to hide it from view so as to not be recognized as a disciple of Christ.
The candle is instead placed upon a lampstand so that its light may shine to its full effect. This is descriptive of the believer who is unashamed to identify himself with Christ in whose life obedience to Christ is on full display.
Those around us should be able to readily recognize the difference which Christ produces in our lives and our lives should stand out as distinct from the lives of those who know not Christ.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Paul was not afraid to proclaim the gospel and to live for Christ, for he recognized the impact such a life would have.
The intent of Jesus instruction is that we would live in such a way that men would see our lives as a testimony to the power of God and of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
So how are we to “let our lights shine”? We let our light shine by living a life that is consistent with the Word of God.
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
God works in us and will help us to live in a way that stands in stark contrast to the ways of the world and provides strong testimony to the power of the gospel.
Jesus has saved us not only so that we may be reconciled to God and recipients of eternal life, but also that we may stand as a living testimony to the power of the gospel that others may see the difference that Christ has made in our lives and ask of the hope that we have in Him.
Conclusion
This instruction from the Lord clearly shows that we must maintain our distinction as followers of Christ. We must not seek to blend in , but rather to stand out as salt and light in the world.
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
If the salt loses its savor or the light is hidden the opportunity to make a difference is lost and the salt and light no longer serve their purpose. They are then rendered useless and worthless.
We must strive to be the type of salt and light that Jesus would have us to be that we might maximize our opportunity to impact the world for Christ.
Have we lost our savor through compromise with the world allowing ourselves to bear a closer resemblance to unbelievers than we bear to Christ?
Has our light become hidden because we are afraid to be publicly identified with Jesus Christ? Are we ashamed of Him?
