WORLD PRESERVATIVES
You are the SALT of the earth; but if the salt loses its
flavor, how shall it be seasoned?
It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and
trampled underfoot by men.
You are the LIGHT of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but
on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the
house. Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works and glorify your
Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16 )
You are the SALT of the earth; but if the salt loses its
flavor, how shall it be seasoned?
It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and
trampled underfoot by men.
You are the LIGHT of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but
on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the
house. Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works and glorify your
Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16 )
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How do we function as salt and light of the earth?
In the Sermon on the Mount or the “Beatitudes” are the elements of the Christian life. But
the next section (which we are going to look at) deals with Christian influence.
Jesus seems to be saying quite clearly that the source of our influence is found in the
person we are!
None of us exercise influence upon other people by our words if what we say is not
backed up by what we are.
Notice the Lord said that we are the SALT of the earth
*We are to exercise our influence in the here and now: Our Community/Our Jobs/Where
ever we are.
*Salt does it’s most effective work by being brought in direct contact with the substance
upon which it is to work.
*So we are not to withdraw ourselves from the world, but as the Apostle James says we
are to stay “unspotted from the world” James 1:27
If we want to make a difference in the world, we will have to be different from the world.
God will hold us accountable to maintain our saltiness. (that is our usefulness)
If we are too much like the world, we are useless. Christians should not blend in with
everyone else. Jesus tells us, as he told the disciples, that we must be different if we
want to make a difference. We dare not allow the world to dilute our effectiveness. If we
do, we are of no value to Him.
Let’s look at: Salt as a PRESERVATIVE
*Ancient times used salt to preserve things. (food)
*Jesus is telling us that the world around us is in a state of decay, and it needs
something to keep it from rotting and stinking.
*If something like meat went bad it was not the meat's fault, it was the PRESERVATIVE
that did not do it's job.
*Can you imagine what the world would be like without Christian influence?
If we stop doing good, or if we permit moral corruption in our lives—then we cease to
become salty – we cease to have the purifying and enhancing effect on the world that
Jesus intends His followers to produce while they are here.
Verse 14 &15 : Jesus is telling followers to be the “Light of the World”
We don’t put a candle under a bushel we put it on a candlestick AND LET IT SHINE!
A – A light is to be seen
B – In Bible Times, there was only one window and they did not want the lamp to go out
because it was hard to get it going again. (They didn’t have matches back then)
C – Christianity is to be seen in us
D – Christianity should be visible to all
No one should have to ask “Are you a Christian?”
In Matthew 5:16 it says “Let your Light so shine: The believer does not have inherent
light; rather we have reflective light. As we behold the glory of the Lord, we reflect it.
Therefore, we need to make sure that nothing comes between us and the Lord’s light.
(For further study see 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 2:14-16)
Light is to Guide
An airplane approaches a landing strip, the pilot sees a line of lights that mark the path
the plane must take.
A Christian’s life must make it clear to others the way to Christ.
Christians must be an example. Our world needs guiding lights, who’s light
will they see if yours is under a bushel?
Light is to Warn
Lights at a railroad crossing flashing mean a train is coming.
Light on a lighthouse warns us that the coast is near for ships.
If our warnings are given not to condemnation but in love, they will be seen and be
effective.
What I believe Jesus had in mind when He told us through this metaphor that we should
have a positive moral impact on our world: As salt and light, we must savor and
illuminate God’s ways, which alone can preserve and guide humanity. (v v. 13-16)
In the Sermon on the Mount or the “Beatitudes” are the elements of the Christian life. But
the next section (which we are going to look at) deals with Christian influence.
Jesus seems to be saying quite clearly that the source of our influence is found in the
person we are!
None of us exercise influence upon other people by our words if what we say is not
backed up by what we are.
Notice the Lord said that we are the SALT of the earth
*We are to exercise our influence in the here and now: Our Community/Our Jobs/Where
ever we are.
*Salt does it’s most effective work by being brought in direct contact with the substance
upon which it is to work.
*So we are not to withdraw ourselves from the world, but as the Apostle James says we
are to stay “unspotted from the world” James 1:27
If we want to make a difference in the world, we will have to be different from the world.
God will hold us accountable to maintain our saltiness. (that is our usefulness)
If we are too much like the world, we are useless. Christians should not blend in with
everyone else. Jesus tells us, as he told the disciples, that we must be different if we
want to make a difference. We dare not allow the world to dilute our effectiveness. If we
do, we are of no value to Him.
Let’s look at: Salt as a PRESERVATIVE
*Ancient times used salt to preserve things. (food)
*Jesus is telling us that the world around us is in a state of decay, and it needs
something to keep it from rotting and stinking.
*If something like meat went bad it was not the meat's fault, it was the PRESERVATIVE
that did not do it's job.
*Can you imagine what the world would be like without Christian influence?
If we stop doing good, or if we permit moral corruption in our lives—then we cease to
become salty – we cease to have the purifying and enhancing effect on the world that
Jesus intends His followers to produce while they are here.
Verse 14 &15 : Jesus is telling followers to be the “Light of the World”
We don’t put a candle under a bushel we put it on a candlestick AND LET IT SHINE!
A – A light is to be seen
B – In Bible Times, there was only one window and they did not want the lamp to go out
because it was hard to get it going again. (They didn’t have matches back then)
C – Christianity is to be seen in us
D – Christianity should be visible to all
No one should have to ask “Are you a Christian?”
In Matthew 5:16 it says “Let your Light so shine: The believer does not have inherent
light; rather we have reflective light. As we behold the glory of the Lord, we reflect it.
Therefore, we need to make sure that nothing comes between us and the Lord’s light.
(For further study see 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 2:14-16)
Light is to Guide
An airplane approaches a landing strip, the pilot sees a line of lights that mark the path
the plane must take.
A Christian’s life must make it clear to others the way to Christ.
Christians must be an example. Our world needs guiding lights, who’s light
will they see if yours is under a bushel?
Light is to Warn
Lights at a railroad crossing flashing mean a train is coming.
Light on a lighthouse warns us that the coast is near for ships.
If our warnings are given not to condemnation but in love, they will be seen and be
effective.
What I believe Jesus had in mind when He told us through this metaphor that we should
have a positive moral impact on our world: As salt and light, we must savor and
illuminate God’s ways, which alone can preserve and guide humanity. (v v. 13-16)
www.brendacassman.org
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By His Word................John 1:1
Brenda Cassman Ministries Teachings: "WORLD PRESERVATIVES"
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