Preface: I am the Lord your God, perfect in knowledge, you shall have no other gods before me. Jesus said: I am the light of the world, I am the good shepherd (John 10:14), I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), I am the resurrection (John 11:25), I am the soon coming King.
Introduction: Matthew 5:13-16
1. We are once again in a transition.
2. Moving from the abstract definition of Christian.
3. Now moving toward a functional definition of the Christian life.
Definition:
1. Abstract: For instance hunger – an uneasy sensation, caused by the want of food.
2. Functional: Hunger is what millions of people experience in our world because of malnutrition.
3. Similar definition apply in the study of theology.
a) We might ask: What is God?
i) God is Spirit, He is infinite, He is eternal, all powerful, holy, just, good, and full of truth.
ii) What is more true is – God is Jesus Christ who died for our sins, and rose again for our justification.
b) The functional definition of the true Christian.
i) You are the salt of the earth!
ii) You are the light of the world!
iii) It is true that the true Christian is to be poor in spirit, mournful for sin,
meek, thirsty for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, disposed to
make peace.
iv) The Christian is not to be these in isolation in a very real world.
v) Living out those characteristics in our world is a genuine responsibility.
vi) As salt affects the medium to which it is applied – so the Christian is
to affect the environment he/she find themselves.
vii) Jesus clearly presupposes that the Christian to influence society in a
very real way.
Soul Thirst: (Salt of the earth)
A. One Salt Is A Preservative:
1. Salt as preservative and curing agent.
2. Salt was most valued in ancient times as a preservative.
a) It was able to resist spoilage.
3. Jesus said: Those that follow Him are indeed the salt of the earth.
a) What is He teaching?
i) Without God this world is rotten because of sin.
ii) As believers we have a preserving and purifying effect on the world.
b) The world may appear healthy – beneath the surface it is unhealthy.
c) Without God our world is spiritually dead or lifeless.
d) Without God – life has gone out of it.
e) The Christian is the life preserving force in our world.
f) Christians should allow God to rub them into the world.
g) We never apologize for being Christian.
h) Living by Kingdom Principles is a daily and natural way of life for the Christian.
4. Christ is the sphere of the Christian life.
a) The human soul thirsts for righteousness
b) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.
B. The Second Thing That Salt Is Good For:
1. It adds flavour.
a) Through the life of Christ we lend flavour to a flavourless world.
i) As seasoning salt enhances flavour.
ii) It brings spice to life.
iii) As Christian we add spice to our world – beautiful flavour.
b) Christians know that soul thirst can only be satisfied in Christ.
i) In Him we move and have our being (Acts 17:28).
ii) The light of God shines because the Spirit of the living God lives in us.
C. The Third Thing That Salt Does:
1. It makes us thirsty.
a) Do we make anyone thirsty for Jesus our Lord.
b) Our presence should create curiosity.
c) Only Jesus can satisfy the intense thirst of the human soul.
i) Jesus is the sphere of our life.
ii) Offering living water (John 7:37-38).
iii) When God created Adam, Divine breath of life entered his being.
iv) This same life is in the believer today through the Holy Spirit.
D. The Fourth Things Salt Does:
1. It is a stable compound – brings stability.
a) Guards against importing impurities.
E. The Fifth Thing Salt Does:
1. Has big impact with small quantities.
2. It does not take much to be influential.
Light Of The World:
A. You Are The Light Of The World:
1. The believer provides light (spiritual light) to everyone in their sphere.
a) Light provides perspective – while darkness ruins it.
b) Darkness obscures/blinds – light offers safety.
c) Light helps us see what is real – helps us see obstacles.
2. There is an obligation here to remain in close relationship with Christ.
B. The Implication Is:
1. The world is a dark place without Christ.
a) Light is most effective in a dark place – like our world
2. Christ initially introduced light to our world.
a) Light illuminates something other than itself.
3. Today it is the responsibility of Christians to be the light (God’s light) to
our world.
a) We need to move away from our light conventions.
b) Christians need to leave their safe zone the church – go into the world.
c) There is all kinds of darkness in our world.
d) A light is only good in a dark place.
4. The Tragedy – Human’s fallen nature prefers darkness.
a) Light always beats darkness.
b) God our source of light shines through us – to disempower darkness.
5. Jesus offers a perfect and holy standard for life.
6. The light of Christ streams into our world to direct our path.
7. David said: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path (Ps 119:105).
C. Be The Light – Walk In Light:
1. John the Baptist was described as a burning and shining light by Jesus.
a) Jesus said of Himself: “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).
b) Christ in us – we are now the light of the world.
c) We illuminate the spiritual sphere around us.
d) God first ordered light to shine in darkness.
e) God now has flooded our hearts with His light.
2. Walking In The Light Of Christ.
a) The love of Christ shed abroad in our hearts.
b) This stimulates desire in our hearts.
c) Desire to remain in the light of Christ.
d) We then embrace Kingdom Principles to live by.
e) You shall have no other gods before Me (Exodus 20).
i) Jesus said: “I am the light of the world”.
ii) We are encouraged to walk in that light.
f) The light in us is a living light.
i) It burns with endless splendor.
ii) Like the Northern Lights that dance in the eyes of the beholder.
iii) The beauty of Christ’s life in us lights up the eyes of others.
g) There is no other God that provides this light.
i) I am the Lord your God who brought you out of darkness into His
marvelous light (Acts 26:18; 2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Peter 2:9).
Conclusion:
1. Three Challenges:
a) Be in the world as salt and light – make an impact.
b) Be different than the world, let’s point people to Jesus and self.
c) Remember – Jesus put you there – you do not need to be big to make a difference.
