What are the inherent properties of salt and light that Christians need to demonstrate? What did salt and light mean in Christ’s days? What do we learn? How do we achieve inherent characteristics that have the power and influence salt and light have?
Salt of the Earth
LIght of the World
Overview
Ref: Matt 5: 13-16 Mark 9.49-50; 4.21; Luke 14.34-35; 8.16
Objectives
Salt
Light
Discussion
Reference
Objectives
To:
- Describe the responsibility of a true disciple
- Know the consequences of losing our property/quality
- Understand that our true calling is to reveal God to the otherwise dying world
Salt - Key Verse
Mt.5:13 “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 by men”.
You are the Salt of the Earth
Salt:
- Purifies and cleanses
- Preserves
- Seasons
- Seals covenant
- Was money
- Creates thirst
Salt Purifies and Cleanses
Elisha’s purifying of the waters of Jericho by using salt symbolises the power of God through purifying property of salt.
2 Ki.2:21 “… he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, “This is what the LORD says : ‘I have healed this water;…”
Salt Preserves
Prevents decay by delaying putrefaction whereas yeast promotes it.
Exo. 30:35 “… and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred”.
Salt Seasons
Salt has the ability to give flavour to that which is otherwise bland
Col.4:5-6 “…Let your conservation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Covenant of Salt
A permanent agreement between God and His people.
“My tumhara namak kaya” (I have eaten your salt)…covenant is enduring relationship after sharing a meal.
2 Chronicles 13:5 “… Don’t you know that the Lord, God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt?”
Salt was money
Salt was in fact a form of money/ wages in those days. That is where the term “you are worth your salt” came from.
Salt creates thirst
“A salty Christian makes others thirsty for Jesus, the water of life.”
If the salt loses its saltiness
Lk.14:34-35 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again ? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
When we abandon our purpose, we are good for nothing.
Light - Key Verses
Mt.5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
A city set on a hill cannot be hid - context
Roman cities were typically on hills. The lights/ torches on walls gave warning signals:
- 2 torches – enemy sighted
- Torch on North and West wall – do not delay
- Torch on East, West and North – we are being attacked – last warning
- Torch on 4 walls – gates closed, under seige
- Torch extinguished – city fallen
Discussion
You are the light of the world
Matthew 5:15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
In the context of warning lights (v 14), how can we put our light under the bushel?
light
- Exposes darkness
- Expels darkness
- Establishes direction
Philippians 2:15 “… become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”
.
Light Exposes darkness
The sin and evil of the world is revealed in the light
John 3:20 “Everyone who does evil hates light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed”
Light Expels Darkness
When we reflect the light of Christ we dispel the spiritual darkness around us.
2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
Light Establishes Direction
Amidst the dangers of the world we can walk safely in His light.
John 11:10 “It is when a person walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.”
We can give out light only because we have received light.
Ephesians 5:8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light”
light of the world
The Source
John 8:12 …Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
The Recipient
1 Thessalonians 5:5 … You are all children of the light and children of the day…
let your light so shine
Our light is not meant to be hidden but to reveal who we are in Him.
Eph.5:9-10 “(for the fruit of light consists of all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.”
1Pet.2:12 “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us”
Recap
You are the salt of the earth. Salt:
- Preserves
- Seasons
- Seals covenant
- Is money
- Purifies and cleanses
- Creates thirst
You are the light of the world. Light:
- Exposes darkness
- Expels darkness
- Establishes direction
discussion
The Source
1.In what respect are the analogies of salt and light similar and different?
2.How can we prevent ourselves from being contaminated which make us lose our very essence?
3.Are we making people in our lives thirsty to know more about Christ? How can we do it more effectively?
4. How can we make sure that whatever we do is for God’s glory in all things?
5. What is the distinction between our lives and that of the people around us?
references
1.The Search – Dr. Ron Charles
2.The Dake Annotated Reference Bible