Salty Salt and Bright Lights
Introduction –
We have been studying the Beatitudes, seeing the character
of those who have been transformed by God’s wonderful grace. We saw in the last Beatitude how the world
relates to this righteousness we have in Christ. Now we will see how we are to relate to the world. It is important to remember who Christ is
talking to – a bunch of simple fisherman and other ‘unimportant’ folk. You are the salt of the earth…..You are the
light of the world. Truly, God, through
the cross, has put to shame the wise men of this world (1 Cor 1:27). And who are you?
You are the salt of the earth.
Preservative - The ancient world used
salt as a preservative. Meat had to be
salted to keep it from spoiling. What
is the natural course of the world without ‘salt’? This can be seen in big ways (i.e. civilizations and legal codes)
and in little ways (i.e. how the conversation changes when you walk into the
room). The Christian does not tolerate
sin like salt doesn’t tolerate corruption.
Seasoning – It is true that salt
also seasoned the meat, as our speech should be seasoned (Col 4:6), but even
here, the emphasis is on wholesome, uncorrupted talk (Eph 4:29). But we should leave taste in the mouths of
others, or as with another illustration, an aroma (2 Cor 2:14-16). Our natural, mundane, ordinary, but
obedient, lives should promote a thirst for the Water of Life, or condemn like
salt in the wound.
Covenant of
Salt – All sacrifices were salted (Lev 2:13-14, Num
18:19) symbolizing the purity of the sacrifice and the efficacy of the
covenant. Salt accomplishes something
and God’s covenant will always bring blessing or a great curse.
Unsalty Salt? – This was a common
problem with impure salt, and it was often disposed of on roads where it
wouldn’t harm gardens, but would simply be trampled under foot. This is a sober warning to those whose lives
are full of corruption.
Never Purified
– (Matt
13:20-22, 1 John 2:18-19) If you have
lost your saltiness, you have lost your assurance of salvation. Purified salt remains pure. If you turn away from Christ, you are
hopeless (Heb 6:4ff), and your judgment will be worse than that of Sodom (Matt
11:23-24). The Jews had turned away
from their privileges and joined the world of rebellion. They were not salty. Do not be presumptuous.
Application #1
– If
you have lost your gospel-saltiness, you have no reason to believe that you are
a child. You must repent. If you never were saved, you must repent and
believe and receive the covenant of salt.
Application #2 – Our effectiveness is
directly related to our distinctiveness.
We should not try to be more like the world. The goal is effective holiness through gracious distinctiveness. The church has tried to be like the world
and in the process has become the laughingstock of the world. The saltiness is gone.
You are the light of the world.
The Servant was prophesied to be the light to the Gentiles
(Is 42:6), and Simeon proclaims this fulfilled in Christ (Luke 2:32). Christ
declares Himself to be the Light of the world (John 8:12), and in Him, we are
that light. Light reveals the darkness,
rebukes the darkness, and by the grace of God, shows the way out of the
darkness.
A City set on a
Hill –
This is not simply a proverbial statement.
It is rich in meaning to the hearers, sitting on a mount and looking
upon the city, Jerusalem, on Mt. Zion (Ps 48:1-3, Dan 2:34-35, 44-45, Heb
12:22ff, Rev 21:9-10, Ps 122:3). The
City on the Mountain is the place of refuge.
It is also the place of dominion and world conquest. It is the place of community, culture and
society – where we really learn how to live.
This City cannot be hidden.
That is Silly
– Jesus uses a ridiculous example of men lighting lamps and covering them to
make His point. Hidden lights are
stupid lights.
Gospel salt will have its effect. Gospel light will push out the darkness. The Light of this City cannot be ultimately
quenched because Christ is its Light (Matt 16:13-19). The church is not on the defensive, Hades is being
flattened. The result of this City of
Light will be gospel peace (Is 2:2-4).
When you stand like a City on the Hill, the world will get hysterical
(Psalm 46:1-3), but one little Word shall fell him (Ps 46:6). Therefore, let your light so shine before
men.
Dave
Hatcher – October 10, 1999