The Salt of the Earth

Matthew Allen

 

FILING INFORMATION:

2001040

Subject: influence

Preached Originally: 08/05/01 – Rapid City, SD

 

Introduction:

A.     What kind of value would you put on your influence?  There is nothing more important to being effective in sharing the gospel w/others – than to have a good influence/reputation.

1.        We know people who carry great influence.  Live up to expectations of Christ.  Easily seen that they put on Christ.

2.        That’s the kind of Christian I want to be!  I want to be able to have a positive effect on everyone I meet!

a)    major goal – to let others see Christ living in me.

b)    Store clerk…wife/family….brethren….everyone!

c)    Involves daily commitment.

B.    Beatitudes teach us how we can be happy in this life & enjoy the blessings God has rained down upon us.  God will bless those who serve Him!

1.        OT – Gen. 22:17 – Abraham

2.        22:18 – those who serve Him will also be a blessing to others.

3.        Mt. 5:13-16 shows how our living to Christ can be a blessing to others.

4.        We can have such a personality that we will have a most wonderful influence upon others.

5.        Jesus will drive this point home by using two metaphors very common to man – salt & light!

C.    Why salt?

1.        Salt has been important to mankind since ancient times.

a)    considered essential to man’s comfort & preservation of life.

b)    It preserves things from corruption….thus is has become a symbol of incorruption & purity.

c)    Pliny: - So essentially necessary is salt that without it human life cannot be preserved: and even the pleasures and endowments of the mind are expressed by it; the delights of life, repose, and the highest mental serenity, are expressed by no other term than sales among the Latins. It has also been applied to designate the honorable rewards given to soldiers, which are called salarii or salaries. But its importance may be further understood by its use in sacred things, since no sacrifice was offered to the gods without the salt cake."

2.        it was a metaphor they would completely understand.

 

I.  In what way are we the salt of the earth?

A.    In that we are different….  One of the most significant features about salt.

1.    It is different from the meat in which it is rubbed; different from the food that it’s put into to give flavor; etc. etc.

2.    1 Pet. 2:9-12 – the Christian is to be different as well!

a)    we to march to beat of a different drum.  Love different things….have different set of values….than rest of the world.

B.    We are salt in that we play a role in preserving the world.

1.    Meat will rot if not salted.  Basic use of salt.  Could we not say that the world would rot w/o the presence of Christians?

2.    We play a role in the preservation of the earth in that…

a)    we are God’s agent in saving the world.  We play a role in the salvation of others:

1)    1 Tim. 4:16; 1 Cor. 9:22.  How?

2)    We have the power of the gospel at our fingertips – Rom. 1:16

3.    Stevens: there is no conversion w/o the presence of this “salt.”

a)    Where would the eunuch been w/o Philip? Acts 8

b)    “” Saul” w/o Ananias? Acts 9

c)    “” Cornelius w/o Peter? Acts 10

4.    Like Paul we must plead with others to be saved.  (2 Cor. 5:19-20.

C.   We are salt in that we save the world through the righteous influence of our life.

1.    co workers clean up conversation when walk in door?

2.    We save by example as well as by precepts – 1 Tim. 4:12; Tit. 2:7

3.    Look at what Peter tells women married to unbelievers – 1 Pet .3:1

a)    Peter says unbelieving can be converted – just through one’s influence for good!  See also 1 Cor. 7:16.

D.   We are salt in that we preserve the earth from destruction simply by our presence.

1.    God will/has spared whole societies b/c of a righteous few.

2.    Gen. 18:32 – would have spared Sodom for 10 souls. Gen. 18:32

3.    Could this by why He has not brought down our society as of yet?

E.    We are salt in that we are to work quietly.

1.    to be no fanfare w/our Christianity…no grasping for glory.

2.    There no need for a formal announcement of our presence.

3.    We must work through the maintaining of our influence – change will come about b/c of our righteous conduct.

 

II.  We must guard against losing our influence.

A.    2nd part of 5:13.

B.    In the east…if salt left out in open; i.e., exposed to rain, sun, & air – it would be rendered useless b/c it lost it’s savor.  Only that which remains unexposed keeps its savor/usefulness.

C.   Application?  What good is a Christian w/o positive influence?

1.    Remember:  Jesus said salt loses savor – useless.  Only thing to be done was to throw it into walkway.  More later…

2.    Must resolve that we will not be made useless for Christ.  That we will maintain proper influence: for brethren; children; co-workers; everyone!

3.    1 Cor. 15:33 – who do I primarily associate with?  What kind of people should be my first choice of friends?

a)    principle here so true….how many ruined b/c think they change bad & they wind up going bad themselves?

4.    Must guard influence by not conforming to world – Rom. 12:1-2.

a)    involves my disposition/attitude AND my actions.

b)    See also Eph. 4:21-24.  Must strive to be like Jesus!

1)    holy! Righteous! 

2)    Why?  If not, then not only will I be useless for Christ…

D.   But I can damage or harm the spiritual lives of those around me.

1.    Salt that loses savor will destroy fruitful/fertile ground.

a)    Barnes: it is not only good for nothing itself….but it actually destroys all fertility where it is thrown and is this is the reason it is cast into the street.

b)   Clarke: There was a species of salt in Judea, which was generated at the lake Asphaltites, and hence called bituminous salt, easily rendered vapid, and of no other use but to be spread in a part of the temple, to prevent slipping in wet weather.

2.    Note 5:13 – words Christ used in painting this picture….

a)    thrown out…

b)   trampled under by men – an expression of contempt & scorn.

c)    No place it can be tolerated….no place around house/garden/or yard for it.

3.    A poor, pitiful influence on the part of some have ruined countless spiritual lives.

a)    parents/children

b)   preachers/church members

c)    elders/flock….

4.    Such behavior will cause one to be excluded from God’s kingdom.  Doomed to ruin and rejection.

a)    1 Tim. 1:19-20; 2 Tim. 1:15; 4:10

b)   See also Heb. 10:26-31; 39

c)    2 Pet. 2:20-22

 

Conclusion:

A.    Christians = salt of the earth.  Would you like to:

1.    be different?

2.    play a role in the preservation of the earth?

3.    maintain the proper influence so others can see Jesus in you?

B.    I can think of nothing more tragic than to lose my influence/compromise my reputation & be a harm to the cause of Christ.

1.    I cannot stressed enough to brethren here guard & build up your influence!

2.    All things are possible w/Christ!  Phil. 4:13

3.    Your life may be in shambles now…but through Jesus you can grow up & be molded into the kind of Christian God has in mind.

4.    Do it today!

C.  I N V I T A T I O N