What does Jesus mean when he said that Christians are the Salt of the earth and the light of the world. Find out more.

1. Salt of the earth Light of the world Mathew 5:13 to 16

3. II. THE PRESUPPOSITION: CORRUPTION AND DARKNESS The world needs salt because it is corrupt and it needs light because it is dark. Jesus saw the corruption and the disintegration of life at every point, he knew that what the world needed was godly influence. The Bible says that the world is corrupted and decayed. Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:13 that “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” Man is inherently sinful and corrupt. David writes in Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psalm 51:5) The last days is characterized as a society going down in terms of morality (II Timothy 3: 1 to 8)

4. II. THE PLAN The world’s corruption will not be retarded and it’s darkness will not be illumined unless God’s people are its salt and light. The “you” in both verses is plural. It is his whole body, the church that is called to be the world’s salt and light. Each grain of salt has limited influence. One ray of light will accomplish little. We are God’s salt to retard corruption and His light to reveal truth. One function is silent the other is verbal. The indirect influence of the way we life retard corruption and by direct influence we manifest light.

5. a.) Being salt 1.) The importance of Salt - Salt has always been valuable to human society since time immemorial. 2.) What salt represents – Some commentators say that since salt is white it represents purity. Others say that Christians are suppose to “flavor” the world. Because salt stings others say that we should be a sting to the world. Others also say that since salt creates thirst, it speaks of Christians being used by God to stimulate thirst for him.

6. Yet the primary reason why Jesus used salt as an illustration is because salt preserves. Christians are a preserving influence in the world. They retard the moral and spiritual spoilage. We represent God’s presence on earth. We are the salt that prevents the entire earth from degenerating even faster than it is.

7. b.) Being light Jesus called us to be light . Salt is hidden. Light is obvious. Salt works in secret while light works openly. Salt is a more indirect influence of the gospel, while light directly communicates. Light by nature must be visible in order to illuminate.

8. III. THE PROBLEM The problem here about salt being not salty or light that is hidden does not speak of loosing one’s salvation. Christian’s can loose their value and effectiveness in the kingdom when sin and worldliness contaminate their lives just as salt can become tasteless when contaminated by other minerals.

9. IV. THE PURPOSE: TO GLORIFY GOD The purpose of letting our light shine and reveal our good works is not to bring attention or praise to ourselves but to God.

10. Most of the Notes in this slide are lifted from John MacArthur’s Bible Commentary on the book of Mathew. For Bible study Guide notes, sermon notes and the audio message of this series by John MacArthur visit www.gty.org . Other inputs and revision of outlines and notes by Zigfred Diaz To download other slides that can be used for sermons visit the Master’s Community Fellowship website at www.tmcf.zdiaz.com