True Disciples are Salty
Notes
Transcript
Handout
SALT A chemical compound composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl) used to preserve, purify, and season food.
Overview
Salt is one of the most common substances on the earth and cannot be destroyed by fire or time. Also known as “white gold,” it is one of the most significant substances in history, along with iron, gold, and wheat. In ancient societies it was a valuable social and economic commodity. For example, 1 Maccabees records that, at times, taxes were imposed on salt (1 Maccabees 10:29; 11:35). In ancient Egypt it was a symbol of luxury, and Egyptians used it in the mummification of their dead and to preserve olives and fish. At one point in the history of the early Roman Empire, salt from the sea was brought inland and sold for slaves.
Salt has also served as a significant figurative symbol. Sharing salt was a symbol of friendship and hospitality, and ancient conflicts concluded with a meal consisting of bread and salt as a symbol of friendship.
If you could take a peek at God’s Recipe Book and allow your imagination to wander a little, what would you see? Perhaps one page would have a recipe called “mankind casserole a la Salvation.” As you look at the ingredients, you begin to take stock of what is in your pantry.
Ingredients:
1. A world that is mixed up
2. People who need the Savior
3. A cup of the oil of the Holy Spirit
4. A measure of grace and faith
5. One generous helping of the salt of the earth
Baking Instructions:
Mix all of this into the pan of the gospel and serve with the Bread of life. Serve it to “whosoever will.” When the gospel is prepared and shared with the world, it is important to include all of the ingredients and carefully follow all of the instructions. if anything is left out, the recipe flops.
Note: that we cannot provide the power to save anybody. We cannot produce the Holy Spirit. But we can distribute God’s Word to the world, flavoring mankind with His goodness.
There is so much in this little parable, but the main truth is distinctiveness. Salt is distinctively different from the thing upon which you put it. When something is extra salty or has no salt you notice. By nature and by purpose it is different. So are believers. We are distinctively different by nature and by purpose. By nature believers are anew creation, born of God.
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
By purpose believers are to penetrate and change the very taste of the earth. They are like Salt.
The Disciples’ Character: Salty
The Disciples’ Character: Salty
Believers are called and designed to be the salt of the earth. Several things can be said about salt that point out just just what Jesus means in this verse.
Salt is Distinctive
Salt is Distinctive
It is totally different from the food or objects upon which it is put. The power of salt lies in the difference. Believers, just as salt, are to be different from the world. The power of their lives and their testimony lies in their being different and distinctive. They are to be unspotted from the world.
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Salt Preserves
Salt Preserves
It keeps things from going bad and decaying. It cleanses and disinfects. Believers, just like salt, are to cleanse and preserve the world. They are to disinfect the world and keep the germs of the world from causing things to go bad. They are to save the world from corruption.
It is often said that friends should never talk about religion and politics. But one effects the other. We have seen in our nation what is looks like when believers do not stand up and vote or speak out for truth. Things get passed like the abortion law in New York that got passed in 2019 that states a woman can kill their unborn up to 9 months.
The believer knows things like that law to be corrupt and should help preserves the world from it.
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Salt Penetrates
Salt Penetrates
It inserts a new quality, substance, and life. It changes that upon which it is put. Believers are likewise to penetrate the world and insert new life into it.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Salt Flavors
Salt Flavors
It influences the taste of things. It takes a bland, tasteless food and makes it enjoyable. Believers are to so flavor and influence the world for Christ. They are to take the unappetizing and tasteless things of the world and salt them, making them appealing and inviting to the world.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Salt is Quiet
Salt is Quiet
It is visible, but it works silently, making no noise whatsoever during its work. Believers, the salt of the earth, are to work quietly.
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
Salt Spreads
Salt Spreads
Its flavor spreads all about. A sprinkle of salt has a widespread effect. A Believer’s salt should spread in his influences.
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Salt is Irrepressible
Salt is Irrepressible
Once applied, it cannot be stopped. A Believer’s salt, his testimony is also irrepressible; it cannot be stopped.
For as the rain cometh down, And the snow from heaven, And returneth not thither, But watereth the earth, And maketh it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
The believer must move freely within society and liberally salt the earth as he goes. Many unbelievers become uncomfortable when they realize that they are dealing with a Christian. It is important to be yourself, no matter how you are perceived.
Of these seven qualities of salt, which one best describes your character?
Which of these do you most need to develop?
Are you Salty at all?