FAITHFULLY BEING THE SALT & THE LIGHT

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on July 4, 2021 under 2021 |

Bethany Bible Church Sunday Message; July 4, 2021 from Matthew 5:13-16

Theme: The greatest thing we can do for our nation is to faithfully be what Jesus said we are.

(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).

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Today, we celebrate our 245th birthday as Americans. We should celebrate. The liberty we enjoy as a nation is the greatest in the world. And though there’s a certain amount of contention going on right now among us, all of us who live in it truly are blessed by God to call this place our home.

This morning, I’d like for us to turn our attention—not so much to what our nation is—but rather to what it needs.

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Now; if you and I were to go out and conduct a survey of what people believe this nation needs, what do you suppose they’d say? You don’t really have to think very hard about it. All day long, it seems, we hear people answering that question without even being asked. There has never been a time when there have been so many different opinions being given about it, and so many different platforms available for people to give those opinions.

But what do you suppose Jesus Christ would say if we asked Him? Wouldn’t He be the best person to ask? What would the Son of God say that this nation needs? As a matter of fact, He’s already answered that question. And His answer, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, is a very surprising one.

He would answer that what this nation needs—and in fact what the whole world needs—is us. What is needed most of all is that you and I be what He says we already are; and to do so fully and faithfully; and to not in any way hide what we are in this nation and in this world.

In Matthew 5:13-16—in the Sermon on The Mount—the Lord Jesus spoke these words to those who were His followers:

“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 lampstand, 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).

People need to glorify God. Not just any ‘god’—not a ‘god’ of their own imagination—not ‘God’ as they merely ‘conceive Him to be; but specifically the God of the Bible—the God who is our Creator—the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The problems of our nation stem—ultimately—from the fact that too many people who live in it do not know or glorify the one true God who made them for Himself. And Jesus has ordained that they learn about Him through us.

So; the greatest need of this nation—always, and perhaps especially right now in these times—is that we, as believers, faithfully be what Jesus says that we are. The greatest times of revival in our nation’s history—its greatest turning-points from the brink of destruction—have always occurred when Jesus’ followers, in the power of the Holy Spirit, recommitted themselves to be what Jesus says they are.

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Now; we need to remember that we have two citizenships. One, of course, is the citizenship that we celebrate today. But that’s only a temporary citizenship. It will come to an end on the day that we leave this world and enter into the full enjoyment of our other citizenship. That other citizenship is the one that the apostle Paul spoke of in Philippians 3:30:

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself (Philippians 3:20-21).

We will not merely ‘become’ citizens of heaven someday in the future. If we have believed on Jesus by faith and have been redeemed by Him, we are citizens of heaven right now. That truly is—at this moment—our primary citizenship. Heaven is our ultimate and truest homeland. And so, right now, we hold dual citizenship. We live in this temporal land as full citizens of the United States; but we do so as—first of all—eternal citizens of heaven.

And everything that we do as temporary citizens of the United States—in our work, in our school, in our neighborhood, in our family, in our leisure—ought to be a reflection of that greater and more eternal citizenship; as we that eternal citizenship plain for everyone to see. There’s a very practical reason why God has left us, as His redeemed people, in this temporary homeland. That’s the reason why we didn’t simply fly up to heaven as soon as we believed on Jesus. It’s so that we may live faithfully in this land as citizens of heaven and declare our Father’s glory to the world. The apostle Peter put it this way:

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy (1 Peter 2:9-10).

That’s what we are. And so, we need to live faithfully as citizens of this nation; but in a way that is consistent with what we truly are. Peter went on to write;

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king (vv. 11-17).

So; whatever else other people may say that this nation needs, the greatest thing it needs is what the Lord Jesus has told us it needs. It needs—above all else—for you and me, dear brothers and sisters in Christ—to be what we are. We do the very best thing we can do to provide for this nation what it needs most of all by faithfully living in it as what Jesus says that we are.

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Now; look again with me at our Lord’s words in Matthew 5. Let’s notice carefully …

1. WHAT JESUS SAYS THAT WE ARE.

He says that we are two things. They are among the most common things we find in everyday life. He told us, “You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the world”.

In these words, Jesus is describing to us what it is that we are by the use of two metaphors. It’s not necessary for us to understand all of the chemical and physiological properties of these two things. It’s enough that we simply understand these things as people typically experience them in everyday life; and that we know that we—as Jesus’ redeemed followers—are like these things in the world.

Think of salt. People all over the world make use of salt every day. It’s one of the most necessary substances for life that we can think of. Salt does many things. It adds flavor and zest to food. French Fries are horrible without it. It sometimes stings and burns and irritates, but it also cleanses and disinfects and helps to promote the healing of wounds. But it’s also very useful in preventing decay and rot in foods and meats.

And that, dear brothers and sisters, is what Jesus says that we are. As His joyful followers, we add flavor and zest to an otherwise dark and fallen world. It’s true that we sometimes irritate those who wish to give themselves over to sin. But we also are used by God to promote and heal the damage caused by that sin. We provide the message of redemption and forgiveness and God’s grace. And we’re also used by God to stand against the tide and prevent a complete downward spiral of culture from occurring. We’re used by God to inhibit the moral rot and corruption of sin. Our presence in this world keeps it from becoming as bad as it could be.

Just think of what it would be like in this nation—and in this world—if we were not in it. There are many people, of course, who would like to see that happen. And there will, in fact, be a time when they will get their wish. The Bible teaches us that there will come a time when God will remove His redeemed people from this world just before the outpouring of His righteous wrath for sin. Our Lord described it as a time of “great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be”; saying that “unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22). Many of the people of this world may wish to be rid of us; but they don’t realize that it’s our presence that is preventing the world from falling into complete corruption, and from experiencing the fullness of God’s just wrath. We truly are the salt of the earth.

And think of light. I don’t mean to be funny; but just think of what a dark world this would be without the property of light. Light illuminates. Light reveals. Light shows us a clear path for our feet. Light shines forth the truth of things. And we are the light of the world. Obviously, this doesn’t mean that we glow in the dark. Rather, it means that we are God’s provision for the moral and revelational light of this world.

In John 8:12, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world …”’ and we experience that light only in relationship to Him. But now that He has ascended to the right hand of the Father, He has declared that we—His redeemed followers—shine forth His light in His absence. We bear His gospel and proclaim Him to the world. We show Him to be the way to salvation. We declare the truth of His word. As the apostle Paul put it;

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain (Philippians 2:14-16).

That’s what we are. The salt of the earth and the light of the world. And notice carefully what Jesus said about this. He didn’t say that all people are the salt and the light of this world. Rather, He put it very emphatically in the original language of the text. He spoke specifically to those who were His disciples—His redeemed followers—saying as it were, “You … and you alone … and no one else but you.” And he didn’t say that you and I are simply one kind of salt among many other kinds of salt; or that you and I are simply one kind of light among many other kinds of light. Rather, He spoke definitively; saying that you and I are the salt and the light. There is no other salt of the earth provided by God, and there is no other light of the world given by Him, than you and me.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ; just think of how precious and valuable Jesus is telling us that you and I are! We are—by the authority of the Lord Jesus—exactly what this nation needs!

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And because this is true—because Jesus tells us that this is what we are—it underscores to us …

2. WHY WE MUST KEEP OUR DISTINCTION.

Unless you and I keep our distinction as what Jesus says we are, then we cannot provide to this nation what Jesus says it truly needs for us to provide.

In verse 13, our Lord told us, “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.” Salt that is no longer salty—salt that has lost its distinction as salt—is useless. What good would it do to ‘salt’ salt—even if you could do such a thing? There is no use for salt that has lost its flavor. You can’t do anything with it but throw it out onto the streets.

Now; the Lord Jesus is not talking here about someone losing their salvation. But if you’ll think about it for a moment, there are ways that we can lose our salty flavor. When we become so afraid of the criticisms and threats of unbelieving people that we no longer stand against the tide of sin—when we compromise with this world’s wicked standards—when we adopt its descriptions of things and use its toned-down redefinitions of truth—when we go along in order to get along—then we are losing our distinction as the salt of the earth. We’re no longer being ‘salty’.

One of the ways that we can keep our distinction as the salt of the earth is to stay as close in our daily fellowship with Jesus as we can, and continually set ourselves apart for Him—even to the point of being willing to suffer for Him. The apostle Peter wrote;

And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil (1 Peter 3:13-17).

And we also need to keep distinct as the light of this world. You can’t mix light and dark and come up with a new hybrid. Whenever it’s allowed to properly shine forth, light always drives out darkness. Darkness cannot drive out light. But we can try to hide the light in order not to offend the darkness. In verses 14-15, Jesus said; “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 lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”

The Lord Jesus is making it clear that we are not to hide the light that we are. In fact, we cannot hide what we are. We are made by God to shine forth clearly. That’s why He has left us in this dark world. The apostle Paul has put it this way;

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says:

“Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light” (Ephesians 5:8-14).

We shine forth as light when we faithfully declare the gospel of Jesus Christ and faithfully walk in the truth of His word and speak that word to the world. We call things as they truly are, and declare things as God says them to be. But we always do so while pointing to the Redeemer, and inviting people to turn to Him.

The people of this nation need for you and me to protect and preserve our distinction as the salt of the earth and the light of the world. That’s what the world needs; and that’s the need that the Lord Jesus has left us on this earth to meet.

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And when we faithfully do so—even when it costs us to do so—notice finally …

3. HOW WE WILL IMPACT THE WORLD.

In verse 16, the Lord Jesus gave us a command. And that command meant to lead to a result. He said; “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” We’re not to hide what Jesus says that we are. We’re to let it be clearly seen to the lost people around us; and all so that they may know and glorify God through faith in Jesus Christ.

What would it take to make this happen? Perhaps one way would be for you and me, dear brothers and sisters, to allow God to examine us for any ways that we’ve been neglecting to be a distinct people in this world; and that when He shows us how we’ve been neglecting this, to whole-heartedly repent. Let’s do so; asking that—by the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit—He would help us, from this day forward, to faithfully live in this nation as the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

For the greatest thing we can do for our nation is to faithfully be—in it—what Jesus has said we already are.

EA