“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 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 inter in and 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)

“…for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11 NASB) 

Definition

• Webster’s definition of Lord: having power, authority or influence; a master or ruler, leader, chief, superior, monarch, sovereign, king, emperor, prince, governor, and commander.

• Bible’s definition of Lord: the name for God, it means that he is above all other things; a name that we use for Jesus; we use it when we obey him; someone with authority.

Jesus Christ is Lord

“For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11 NASB)

There is one Lord, Jesus Christ

“…yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.” (1 Cor. 8:6 NASB) 

He is Lord of lords and King of kings 

“These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” (Rev. 17:14 NASB)

Preach Christ as Lord

“For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake.” (2 Cor. 4:5 NASB) 

Confess with your heart Jesus as Lord

“…that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9 NASB) 

Sanctify Christ as Lord in your heart

“…but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.” (2 Peter 3:15 NASB)

If you call Him Lord, then do what he says

“Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46 NIV)

Therefore

“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” (Col. 3:17 NASB)

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Cor. 15:58 ESV)

Sometime progress is slow in coming and just plain hard work

When my children were small, I was building a fence in my backyard. My son, Matthew, was watching me. I looked up from my work and said to him, “Inch by inch, it’s a synch, and by the yard, it’s hard!” And without missing a beat, he said, “And, by the mile, it’s a pile.”  We both laughed. The truth is most jobs eventually get done if you just stick with them and don’t quit.

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Gal. 6:9 ESV)

It produces character

 “And endurance produces character, and character produces hope,” (Rom. 5:4 ESV)

Therefore

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12 ESV)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Cor. 6:9-11 ESV)

In the above passage is a list of “the unrighteous” who “will not inherit the kingdom of God.” The passage warns us not to be deceived about this. 

This list includes… 

·      sexually immoral: From the Greek por·neiʹa, where we get the English word pornography. This word is also translated as “whoredom,” “fornication,” and “idolatry.” It means “a surrendering of sexual purity”. It is any type of sexual expression outside the boundaries of a biblically defined marriage relationship (Matthew 19:4–5). 

·      Idolaters: image-worship or divine honor paid to any created object. Paul describes the origin of idolatry in Romans 1:21-25 

·      adulterers: adultery generally refers to sexual relations by a married person—either a man or a woman—with someone other than his or her mate.

·      homosexuality: God created humans to engage in sex only within the arrangement of marriage between a male and a female. (Genesis 1:27, 28; Leviticus 18:22; Proverbs 5:18, 19) 

·      thieves: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 19:10 NASB)

·      greedy: a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (such as money) than is needed. “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)

·      drunkards: a drunkard is person who is habitually drunk. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” (Eph. 5:18 KJV)

·      revilers: to reproach angrily and abusively. “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” (Matthew 5:11) 

·      swindlers: someone who lies or scams to get someone’s money.

What a list! If you look at what we in America entertain ourselves with in our music, tv shows, and movies, you will notice that it’s about participating in the things on the list.

Such were some of you!

The good news is there is hope for those guilty of participating in any of the things mentioned on the above list! The passage continues with, “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Cor. 6:11 ESV)

Therefore

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17 ESV)

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exo. 20:12 ESV) 

Complete disrespect

I happened on a modern sitcom while flipping through the dial (I don’t usually watch them) and I was taken aback by how the main character, a teenage youth, addressed his parents. He called them by their first names, never mom or dad, laughed at them and treated them with complete disrespect. Each time he referred to them in an unflattering manner, the laugh track responded loudly. What really bothered me was that the show was teaching young viewers that it is acceptable to disrespect their parents. According to the Bible this is very dangerous. The Bible commands children to honor their parents and gives the promise that when they do, “It may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Sadly, if children don’t honor their parents the opposite will be true! Things WILL NOT go well for them, and they WILL NOT live long in the land! 

For this is right (means it’s righteous)

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” (Eph. 6:1-3 ESV)

Those who resist will incur judgement

“Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” (Rom. 13:2 ESV)

A sign of the end times

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” (2 Tim. 3:1-5 ESV)

Therefore

Continue to honor them always,  even when they become old.

“Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” (Prov. 23:22 NIV)

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Pet. 2:9 NIV)

When I was a child attending grade school I was the smallest kid in my class. I had been born early and weighed only a pound and a half. It took me many years to catch up to the others in my age group and I was usually a head shorter than everyone else. Being the smallest in the class put me at the bottom of the list to be chosen on any team sport. I remember well the humiliation of always being the last kid chosen in any lineup.

In the passage at top we learn some wonderful news about being chosen by God 

·      You are a chosen people. Chosen means to be selected, picked, appointed, elected, favored, hand-picked. 

·      You are a royal priesthood. A priest acts as an ambassador, a chosen vehicle through whom God has chosen to serve the people and represent Him, on His behalf.

·      You are a holy nation. Defined as a kingdom of people who are sacred, consecrated, sanctified, revered, and blessed. 

·      You are God’s special possession. Which is the state of ownership, care, custody, charge and guardianship.

And the reason God chose you 

·      So that you can declare the praises of God. “Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!” (Psalms 150:1-6 ESV)

·      Because He called you out of darkness. “To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’” (Acts 26:18 ESV)

·      Because He brought you into His wonderful light. “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 ESV)

“Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.” (Luke 2:52 NLT)

“And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with people.” (1 Sam. 2:26 NIV)

I had a lot to learn

I remember very early on, shortly after I had received Christ, I was leading a Bible study in a Christian coffee house. In the group was a woman who had been a Christian for many years. After the study she said to me, “Young man, you’ve got a lot to learn!” She was certainly correct! It’s been over 50 years since then, and I’m still learning and growing.

God will continue His work within you

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Phil. 1:6 NLT)

Press on towards the goal in Jesus Christ

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:12-14 ESV)

Grow up in your salvation

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Pet. 2:2-3 NIV)

Be rooted and built up in Him

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Col. 2:6-7 NIV)

Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (2 Pet. 3:18 NIV)

Therefore

“Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.” (1 Tim. 4:15 ESV)

“Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24 NIV).

This passage says, “Believe that you have received it” (past tense). And “it will be yours” (future tense).

In other words, you must believe (expect) in order to receive. God wants to answer your prayers, therefore, in faith, you can expect him to answer you.

Fully expect and hope in boldness

 “For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past.” (Phil. 1:20a NLT) 

Faith is confidence and assurance about what we do not see (but do expect)

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” 

Therefore

When your heart trusts (expects) you are helped.

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” (Psalm 28:7 ESV)