The Teachings of Jesus Christ. Pt. 8 The Sermon on the Mount
This is another wonderful day that our loving Lord created and He has given us life to enjoy it and use it profitably. One way that we can wisely use the time we are allotted is by studying the Word of God.
My hope is that you are being blessed and encouraged in our studies together. I am hoping that you point your relatives, friends, and acquaintances to this Bible study blog so that they may also soak up God's truth.
Salty salt and pure Light are needed for God's kingdom purposes.
Matthew 6:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
The text above is the next paragraph of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus Christ is calling us to be changed into salt and light. We are always warned about having too much salt in our diet but a certain level of salt intake is also linked to some positive health benefits.
Salt does bring benefits when used properly
First, salt provides iodine our bodies need in order to produce thyroid hormones that do a lot of necessary things in our body. Second, salt helps us with rehydration by making us thirsty and by helping maintain a proper level of electrolytes. Third, rinsing our mouth with a salt water solution reduces gum disease. Fourth, gargling with a salt water solution can treat a sore throat. Fifth, soaking in salt water helps relieve muscle cramps.
In addition to the beneficial qualities of salt listed above, salt is used as a preservation to prevent meat from spoiling and is used to flavor foods that we eat.
How a Christian can be useful salt
Jesus tells the born again Christian that we need to be like salt. What does this mean? It means that as we live according to God's word and as we share God's word in a dark and corrupt culture, our life and witness have a preserving effect upon our culture.
People see that there is a better life to have than what they have been living. People hear us when we share God's truth and the Spirit of God uses the testimony of truth in their hearts convicting people of sin and leading people to Christ.
When salt loses its good qualities
What about salt that has lost its savour? This refers to salt that no longer has any power to preserve or salt that no longer has any benefits to offer. In those days, salt that was no longer useful for its intended purpose was spread on the roads to kill weeds.
The idea here is that a wayward Christian compromises his or her testimony to a lost and dying world. A Christian that is worldly no longer sees the need to share God's truth to those around him or her. A Christian living in sin is no longer "salty salt" and will be cast out on the road to be walked on and ground into the pavement.
The road in the photo below has had salt put on it to kill weeds and keep the dust under control. You can see that nothing is growing on this road and that the road is hard and dead looking.
The Christian that loses his or her savour is like that hard, dead road. Spiritual growth stops and we will have no fruit for the Master. He or she becomes hardened to the things of God or dead to the pleading of God's Spirit.
This teaching of Christ Jesus is really a vivid picture between serving the Lord and enjoying the great blessings that Christ brings into our lives or serving self and forfeiting the blessings and joy that Christ wants to bring to us.
A sin darkened world needs to see the glorious light of the Gospel
Matthew 5:14-16 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
A born again Christian has been rescued from sin and darkness and has been placed into the kingdom of Light. I have listened to Christians share the story of their conversion and often heard them say "It was like a light went on in my mind."
Let's look at some New Testament teaching on this truth so that we understand where Jesus Christ is directing our thoughts.
Paul tells us that we were formerly children of darkness and enslaved to sin. When Christ saved us, He brought light into our lives and we are now the children of light.
Ephesians 5:8- For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Again, the apostle Paul writes about our conversion to Christ using a picture of light contrasted to darkness. Jesus saved us and joined us with other saints in light. Christ delivered us from the power of darkness and firmly planted us in His kingdom. The power to redeem sinners is through the blood of Christ at the cross.
Colossians 1:12-14 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
God called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. This is how we should view what Jesus is teaching us when He says "Ye are the light of the world." It is light that God put there through the work of Christ on the cross. It is not light that we have earned. It is a grace gift from our Father because we placed our full trust in His Son.
Jesus then talks about light with practical pictures that we can all grasp. Many cities were built on hills for the purposes of defending themselves. Samaria, Jerusalem, and many others enjoyed being situated on a higher elevation. Travellers could easily see every city perched upon on the hills.
Then Christ talks about lighting a candle and the folly of placing it under a basket that obscures its light. Jesus points out the true use of a candle which is being placed on an elevated stand so that a home receives illumination.
Jesus then teaches us that we have the light of God in us from salvation and we carry with us the light of the gospel. We are to let His light shine through our lives into a sin darkened world.
Our good works that others see refers to the changes in our life as old things pass away and all things become new. It is walking in newness of life that Paul wrote about. It is Christian parents holding up the light of God's word in a home to show their children the glory of Christ.
There will be two responses as we shine the light of God into the world. Those who do evil will hate the light and will not come to it. Those who recognize the truth will come to the light seeking God.
John 3:20-21 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Points to Ponder....
My hope is that you are being blessed and encouraged in our studies together. I am hoping that you point your relatives, friends, and acquaintances to this Bible study blog so that they may also soak up God's truth.
Salty salt and pure Light are needed for God's kingdom purposes.
Matthew 6:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
The text above is the next paragraph of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus Christ is calling us to be changed into salt and light. We are always warned about having too much salt in our diet but a certain level of salt intake is also linked to some positive health benefits.
Salt does bring benefits when used properly
First, salt provides iodine our bodies need in order to produce thyroid hormones that do a lot of necessary things in our body. Second, salt helps us with rehydration by making us thirsty and by helping maintain a proper level of electrolytes. Third, rinsing our mouth with a salt water solution reduces gum disease. Fourth, gargling with a salt water solution can treat a sore throat. Fifth, soaking in salt water helps relieve muscle cramps.
In addition to the beneficial qualities of salt listed above, salt is used as a preservation to prevent meat from spoiling and is used to flavor foods that we eat.
How a Christian can be useful salt
Jesus tells the born again Christian that we need to be like salt. What does this mean? It means that as we live according to God's word and as we share God's word in a dark and corrupt culture, our life and witness have a preserving effect upon our culture.
People see that there is a better life to have than what they have been living. People hear us when we share God's truth and the Spirit of God uses the testimony of truth in their hearts convicting people of sin and leading people to Christ.
When salt loses its good qualities
What about salt that has lost its savour? This refers to salt that no longer has any power to preserve or salt that no longer has any benefits to offer. In those days, salt that was no longer useful for its intended purpose was spread on the roads to kill weeds.
The idea here is that a wayward Christian compromises his or her testimony to a lost and dying world. A Christian that is worldly no longer sees the need to share God's truth to those around him or her. A Christian living in sin is no longer "salty salt" and will be cast out on the road to be walked on and ground into the pavement.
The road in the photo below has had salt put on it to kill weeds and keep the dust under control. You can see that nothing is growing on this road and that the road is hard and dead looking.
The Christian that loses his or her savour is like that hard, dead road. Spiritual growth stops and we will have no fruit for the Master. He or she becomes hardened to the things of God or dead to the pleading of God's Spirit.
This teaching of Christ Jesus is really a vivid picture between serving the Lord and enjoying the great blessings that Christ brings into our lives or serving self and forfeiting the blessings and joy that Christ wants to bring to us.
A sin darkened world needs to see the glorious light of the Gospel
Matthew 5:14-16 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
A born again Christian has been rescued from sin and darkness and has been placed into the kingdom of Light. I have listened to Christians share the story of their conversion and often heard them say "It was like a light went on in my mind."
Let's look at some New Testament teaching on this truth so that we understand where Jesus Christ is directing our thoughts.
Paul tells us that we were formerly children of darkness and enslaved to sin. When Christ saved us, He brought light into our lives and we are now the children of light.
Ephesians 5:8- For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Again, the apostle Paul writes about our conversion to Christ using a picture of light contrasted to darkness. Jesus saved us and joined us with other saints in light. Christ delivered us from the power of darkness and firmly planted us in His kingdom. The power to redeem sinners is through the blood of Christ at the cross.
Colossians 1:12-14 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
God called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. This is how we should view what Jesus is teaching us when He says "Ye are the light of the world." It is light that God put there through the work of Christ on the cross. It is not light that we have earned. It is a grace gift from our Father because we placed our full trust in His Son.
Jesus then talks about light with practical pictures that we can all grasp. Many cities were built on hills for the purposes of defending themselves. Samaria, Jerusalem, and many others enjoyed being situated on a higher elevation. Travellers could easily see every city perched upon on the hills.
Then Christ talks about lighting a candle and the folly of placing it under a basket that obscures its light. Jesus points out the true use of a candle which is being placed on an elevated stand so that a home receives illumination.
Jesus then teaches us that we have the light of God in us from salvation and we carry with us the light of the gospel. We are to let His light shine through our lives into a sin darkened world.
Our good works that others see refers to the changes in our life as old things pass away and all things become new. It is walking in newness of life that Paul wrote about. It is Christian parents holding up the light of God's word in a home to show their children the glory of Christ.
There will be two responses as we shine the light of God into the world. Those who do evil will hate the light and will not come to it. Those who recognize the truth will come to the light seeking God.
John 3:20-21 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Points to Ponder....
- Are we sharing the "salt" of God's word to slow down the rate of decay in a sin cursed world?
- Are we spreading salt by telling others about the gospel?
- Are we spreading salt by living in a way that glorifies God?
- Are we lifting up the light of God to shine forth in a dark and hopeless world?
- Are we telling others about Christ so that they might come into His marvelous light?
- Are we living in such a way that others can look in and see the light of God in our homes?
This paragraph is full of simple yet profound teaching from our Lord Jesus Christ. We need to meditate on these things and perhaps we need to make some adjustments in our lives in order to glorify God.
We must not let our spiritual salt lose its potency and we must not let the light God brought into our hearts be extinguished. Reading the scriptures will keep our salt fresh and our lights shining brightly.
Bob
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