“If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” (1 John 4:20 ESV)

The truth is not in the hypocrite

“Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:4 ESV)

The hypocrite’s heart is far from God

“You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Matt. 15:7-9 ESV)

Hypocrites won’t escape God’s judgement

“Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?”

Covered things will be revealed

“Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.” (Luke 12:2 ESV)

The answer to hypocrisy

“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” (Matt. 7:5 ESV)

“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” (1 Peter 2:16 ESV)

 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” (Matt. 5:13 NIV)

As part of His sermon on the mount, in the above passage, Jesus described His followers as the salt of the earth.

Interesting facts about salt

• Salt is a crystalline compound NaCl that consists of sodium chloride.
• It has multiple uses. Salt is a mineral used since ancient times in many cultures as a seasoning, a preservative, a disinfectant, a component of ceremonial offerings, and as a unit of exchange. 
• Salt is a necessity of life, without it you will die.
• Salt never loses its flavor unless it is mixed (contaminated) with something else.

Jesus warned that salt is worthless if it loses its saltiness (flavor)

If believers lost their “flavor,” they would be of no benefit to others. They would then only be worthy of being “thrown out and trampled upon by men” (Matthew 5:13)

We need to be “salt”

Salt creates thirstiness. A follower of Jesus has a job to make people thirsty for God. If a Christian isn’t “flavoring” his world for Jesus he probably has been contaminated by the world in such a way he has lost saltiness.

Get the salt out of the shaker and into the world

• You can can share God’s love with others around you. “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.” (2 Cor. 5:20a ESV)
• You can be ready to give gracious answers. “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Col. 4:6 NIV)
  
• You can hold fast to the infallible Word of Truth.  “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” (Prov. 30:5 ESV)
• You can live a life of integrity. “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. (Prov 10:9 ESV)

 “Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.” (1 Tim. 6:17 NLT)

It’s okay to be rich, but be careful

Some people are rich in this world, and that’s okay. The Bible doesn’t teach that having money is wrong. It’s the “love” of it that’s wrong (1 Tim. 6:10). The above passage warns that rich people should not be proud or put their trust in their money, but their trust should be in God.

It’s dangerous to trust in riches

“Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf..” (Prov. 11:28 NIV)

The deceitfulness of riches choke the Word

“But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” (Mark 4:19 ESV)

Where your treasure is your heart will be

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:19-20 ESV)

Therefore…

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5 ESV)

 “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.” (Prov. 29:11 NIV)

Peacemakers are blessed and called children of God

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matt. 5:9 KJV)

Peacemakers are peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy, good fruits, are impartial and sincere

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17 ESV)

Peacemakers seek peace

“Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalm 34:14 ESV)

Peacemakers restrain words and remain cool

“Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” (Psalms 17:27-28 ESV)

 “I am the true vine.” (John 15:1 ESV)

Jesus described Himself using metaphorical statements, such as this one, “I am the true vine.”

The true vine and the gardener

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” (John 15:1-4 NIV)

He is the vine, you are the branches

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:5-8 NIV)

 “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6 ESV)

Jesus described Himself using metaphorical statements, such as this one, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

In this passage Jesus said He was three things

1. The way –  “No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6b ESV) “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Tim. 2:5 ESV)

2. The truth – “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13 ESV) “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 ESV)

3. The life – “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” (Rom. 5:10 ESV)

 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” (John 11:25 ESV)

Jesus described Himself using metaphorical statements, such as this one, “I am the resurrection and the life”

And He was declared to be the Son of God by His resurrection

“And was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,.” (Rom. 1:4 ESV)

We are born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3 ESV)

We may know the power of His resurrection

“That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” (Phil. 3:10 ESV)

In your heart believe it, confess it with your mouth, and be saved

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9 ESV)

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11 ESV)

Jesus described Himself using metaphorical statements, such as this one, “I am the good shepherd”.

Good Shepherd 

In the above passage He describes Himself as not only “the shepherd” but the “good shepherd.

He knows His sheep and they know Him

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.” (John 10:14 ESV)

He is unique in character

• He is the Good Shepherd of Psalm 23 – “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:1-6 NIV)
• He is the great shepherd os sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant - “Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord.” (Hebrews 13:20 NASB)
• He is the shepherd guardian of your soul - “Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:25 NLT)
• He will appear as the Chief Shepherd with the crown of glory for you that will never fade away – “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” (1 Peter 5:4 NIV)

 “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:9 ESV)

Jesus described Himself using metaphorical statements, such as this one, “I am the door of the sheep”

Jesus is the door!

Jesus said that He is “the door,” not “a door.” He is the only door by which we may enter and be saved. There is no other way.

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7 ESV)

Access to the Father is only through Jesus

“… No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 NIV)

Jesus is the only mediator between God and man

“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” (1 Tim. 2:5-6 ESV)

If anyone hears His voice and opens the door…

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Rev 3:20 NIV)