Matthew 5:13-16 Well Seasoned

What we ARE is more important than what we say or do! Noisy gong...clanging cymbal (1 Cor. 13:1) Don’t be hypocritical (Matt. 6:1-5) What is the person of vs. 1-12? SALT & LIGHT

SALT (NaCl) Preservative To stop perishing (in the present): For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor. 1:18) For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing (2 Cor. 2:15)2 Cor. 2:15

There is a future perishing: Unless you repent you too will all perish (Luke 13:3)Luke 13:3 The remedy for Perishing: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16)John 3:16 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish (John 10:28)John 10:28 Our role as SALT: How can they hear without someone preaching to them?’ (Rom. 10:14)Rom. 10:14

SALT Purity The people of the city said to Elisha, ‘Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.’ ‘Bring me a new bowl,’ he said, ‘and put salt in it.’ So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, ‘This is what the Lord says: “I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.”’ And the water has remained pure to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken. (2 Kings 2:19-22) God portrays His purity through His people

Self righteousness always condemns the unrighteous Gods’ righteousness attracts the unrighteous as seen in Jesus! We are called to be salt to display Gods’ righteousness

SALT Gives Flavour I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10b) Creates Thirst As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? (Psalm 42:1-2)

LIGHT Jesus is “The Light of The World” While I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (John 9:5) “There is only one possibility of being ‘the light of the world’, and that is through a relationship with Jesus Christ which allows him to be in us, what he was himself, here on earth. He does not teach us how to shine as a technique, for he is himself, the light.”

Simeon: “...a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” (Luke 2:32) ‘The true light that gives light to every man …’ (John 1:9)John 1:9 The function (what we are) of a Christian is to surrender ourselves to Christ living through us: When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ (John 8:12) vs. 16: In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.” What they see is ‘your good deeds’, what they recognise is ‘your Father in heaven’