Beacon Hill Church

Have you ever wondered why am I here?

· Why Lord have you placed me on this job or in this office or next to this co-worker?

· Or Lord, why am I in this apartment complex or why did I join this team?

What is the role of a Christian – one who is a follower of Christ – in our culture? What is our relationship to the world around us?

The Importance and Meaning of Salt

1. Salt was a necessity for survival.

2. Salt was both a preservative and a seasoning agent to add flavor to food.

3. Salt was one of the most important and valuable staples of any economy in ancient times.


Christ’s statement, “You are the salt of the earth,” not only describes what believers are or are to become but it also serves as a reminder of what would happen to the world if it was void of salt.


The world lacks the moral quality and life that it needs to cement relationships and to protect itself from moral breakdown and decay.


What has happened to Godly influence in our society?
Has the church, God’s people, lost their quality to influence their community, and preserve godliness in society?


Christ’s word of caution to the church continues in Matthew 5:13:
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. (NIV)


Salt was taken from the Dead Sea or dug from the marsh areas.

· This meant it was often impure and mingled with vegetable and earth substances like gypsum.

· If there is a lot of gypsum in the mixture, the salt became alkaline and would lose its salty character, savor, and ability to preserve because of this contamination.

· Once the salt loses its saltiness it becomes useless, not good for anything.


Jesus used this metaphor of believers being “salt” in this world, immediately following the Beatitudes. Therefore it follows that SALT IS A SYMBOL OF CHARACTER, OF SPIRITUAL AND MORAL FIBERaccording to the standards of the Word of God.


BEING SALT IS CHRIST-LIKE LIVING

· It is a life immersed in the Word of God

· A life that manifests the reality of a personal relationship with Jesus in our day-to-day activities and interactions


WHAT EFFECT DOES SALT HAVE ON THE HUMAN BODY?

SALT CREATES THIRST


The principle is that believers, by their Christ-like living, by their walk and their words, help to create a thirst for God in the lives of those around them.

THE PARALLEL THOUGHT TO “YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH” IS FOUND IN VERSE 14: “You are the light of the world”


When Jesus declares that the disciples are “the light of the world” he means that they as recipients of the kingdom, represent to the world the truth of Gospel of Jesus Christ who brings salvation to everyone.

· We are not to use the “light of Christ” to shine the light on, or expose the sin of people – that is the job of the Holy Spirit – to convict the world of sin.

· Rather we are to “be a light” that directs people to Christ.


Matthew is the only Gospel to place these two metaphors, salt and light, together in a parallel structure. What is emphasized is the uselessness of salt that is not salty and light that is hidden.


VERSE 16: let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven (NIV)

· I don’t believe Jesus was talking about a humanitarian program, but that we gain a reputation through how we, as believers, lives our lives on a daily basis, how we respond in times of crisis to those around us and the grace we show when people and systems fail us.


HOW ARE WE DOING? ARE WE THE SALT OF THE EARTH?

· Do our lives create a thirst for God in our environment?

· Are we preserving a knowledge and understanding of Godliness in our community?

ARE WE SHINING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD AROUND US THROUGH OUR LIVES AND GOOD DEEDS?