Power of Christ
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Salt
Of The Earth
Matthew
5:13
"You
are the salt of the earth…"
This lesson discusses the matter of salt that Jesus says we are during His Sermon On the Mount given in Matthew Chapters 5-7. Jesus described salt in terms of its flavor because that is how people understood salt at that time. Today, however, we know much more about "ordinary" salt. How much more will we understand in the future. This lesson speaks of salt from the point of view of modern chemistry and of salt's practical implications. Emphasis is on how smart Jesus is and getting to heaven by living God's way. God's word means more to us now than it ever did.
Lesson Outline
Saltiness and Necessary Flavor
Is A Preservative
Makes You Thirsty
Melts Ice
Makes You Sweat
Great Salt Lake
Piezoelectrics
Salt Corrodes Metals
Bonneville Salt Flats
Salt Lasts Forever
Salt Mines
Lesson
Part A – Saltiness and Necessary Flavor
As Jesus said, salt adds flavor to foods. His followers understood this to mean that they add a flavor to the world as it was at that time. Salt is also a necessary nutrient required by humans for life. Jesus meant that His words, His message, was essential to human life here on earth.
As Jesus said, salt adds flavor to foods. His followers understood this to mean that they add a flavor to the world as it was at that time. Salt is also a necessary nutrient required by humans for life. Jesus meant that His words, His message, was essential to human life here on earth.
Part B – Is A
Preservative
The people in Jesus' time knew that salt was a preservative. It kept food from spoiling and was used for that purpose. Jesus meant that His followers, Christians, would keep God's word alive, unspoiled, for future generations. It is for this reason that we have the bible today and know God's word. It is our duty as Christians today to preserve God's word for future generations.
The people in Jesus' time knew that salt was a preservative. It kept food from spoiling and was used for that purpose. Jesus meant that His followers, Christians, would keep God's word alive, unspoiled, for future generations. It is for this reason that we have the bible today and know God's word. It is our duty as Christians today to preserve God's word for future generations.
Part C – Makes You Thirsty
Eating salt makes you thirsty for water. Bartenders, and the like, know this. That is why they give salted pretzels and peanuts away for free. The salt will make you thirsty and you are likely to buy more drinks. Jesus, however wasn't talking about thirst for ordinary water. He meant living water. Remember His conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well? He told her that His living water would quench her thirst forever. (See John 4) We as Christians are to pass God's word on to non-believers so that they too may receive everlasting life. This is what the Samaritan woman did. She told her friends and they "came to Him." (John 4:30 NKJV)
Eating salt makes you thirsty for water. Bartenders, and the like, know this. That is why they give salted pretzels and peanuts away for free. The salt will make you thirsty and you are likely to buy more drinks. Jesus, however wasn't talking about thirst for ordinary water. He meant living water. Remember His conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well? He told her that His living water would quench her thirst forever. (See John 4) We as Christians are to pass God's word on to non-believers so that they too may receive everlasting life. This is what the Samaritan woman did. She told her friends and they "came to Him." (John 4:30 NKJV)
Part D – Melts Ice
If you live in a cold climate, you know the best way to clear a hard icy sidewalk is to pour salt on it. The salt melts the ice and becomes dissolved throughout out resulting liquid water. In the same way, salty Christian love can melt through a person's hardened heart and soften it. How many times is hard-heartedness mentioned in the bible? Very many times. This is why we read in Luke 6, Matthew 5, and Romans 12 to love our enemies. It is our job as Christians to pour the love of Jesus onto the hard hearts of others.
If you live in a cold climate, you know the best way to clear a hard icy sidewalk is to pour salt on it. The salt melts the ice and becomes dissolved throughout out resulting liquid water. In the same way, salty Christian love can melt through a person's hardened heart and soften it. How many times is hard-heartedness mentioned in the bible? Very many times. This is why we read in Luke 6, Matthew 5, and Romans 12 to love our enemies. It is our job as Christians to pour the love of Jesus onto the hard hearts of others.
Part E – Makes You Sweat
When we get hot, what happens? We sweat. The natural process of sweating cools our body down. Without salt we would not sweat and we would become overheated and die. Because we have the salt of the knowledge of Jesus we are able to keep our cool, even in tough circumstances. We have the Spiritual fruits of peace, gentleness, and kindness. When we yield to these fruits of the Spirit we remain calm. You can show others the power of Christ by staying calm in any situation. This is a great way for others to see the Christian salt working in you.
When we get hot, what happens? We sweat. The natural process of sweating cools our body down. Without salt we would not sweat and we would become overheated and die. Because we have the salt of the knowledge of Jesus we are able to keep our cool, even in tough circumstances. We have the Spiritual fruits of peace, gentleness, and kindness. When we yield to these fruits of the Spirit we remain calm. You can show others the power of Christ by staying calm in any situation. This is a great way for others to see the Christian salt working in you.
Part F – Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake, the Dead Sea, and the oceans are very salty. The amount of water in these bodies of water make the water dense. You are less likely to sink and more likely to float in salty water than you are in unsalted water. In fact, people who try to SCUBA dive these waters find they must put great weights on their bodies to dive successfully.
Salt of the earth Christians are like these waters. They lift up each other. We are instructed in Galatians 6:2, Ephesians 4:29, and Hebrews 10:24-25 to carry one another's burdens and build each other up. Apply this teaching to non-believers as well as to fellow Christians.
The Great Salt Lake, the Dead Sea, and the oceans are very salty. The amount of water in these bodies of water make the water dense. You are less likely to sink and more likely to float in salty water than you are in unsalted water. In fact, people who try to SCUBA dive these waters find they must put great weights on their bodies to dive successfully.
Salt of the earth Christians are like these waters. They lift up each other. We are instructed in Galatians 6:2, Ephesians 4:29, and Hebrews 10:24-25 to carry one another's burdens and build each other up. Apply this teaching to non-believers as well as to fellow Christians.
Part G – Piezoelectrics
Piezoelectrics is the science of generating electricity by apply mechanical stress or voltage to crystals. Salt is a crystal and electricity can be generated by applying stress to it. Early radios were called crystal radios because they contained galena, a form of salt, which allowed for the reception of radio broadcasts. When Jesus said we are the salt of the earth, He implied that we can generate power under pressure (see section D – Sweat). Peter acknowledges this fact in his second letter, verse three – "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him…" (NIV). Because we are as salt, we have that power. Our eternal life with God is assured.
Piezoelectrics is the science of generating electricity by apply mechanical stress or voltage to crystals. Salt is a crystal and electricity can be generated by applying stress to it. Early radios were called crystal radios because they contained galena, a form of salt, which allowed for the reception of radio broadcasts. When Jesus said we are the salt of the earth, He implied that we can generate power under pressure (see section D – Sweat). Peter acknowledges this fact in his second letter, verse three – "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him…" (NIV). Because we are as salt, we have that power. Our eternal life with God is assured.
Part H – Salt Corrodes Metals
Have you ever seen what happens to metal when exposed to the salt air, like at the beach? It corrodes away until it eventually becomes nothing. Cars too rust much more quickly in seashore environments than in other areas. When Jesus said we are like salt he was referring to the fact that Christian love and gentleness – fruits of the Holy Spirit – can cut through the hardest hearts. Satan cannot live in the Christian heart because the love of Jesus pushes satan away. Just as darkness cannot be in the light (1 John1:7), evilness and hardness of heart is corroded away by Christ's love and gentleness.
Have you ever seen what happens to metal when exposed to the salt air, like at the beach? It corrodes away until it eventually becomes nothing. Cars too rust much more quickly in seashore environments than in other areas. When Jesus said we are like salt he was referring to the fact that Christian love and gentleness – fruits of the Holy Spirit – can cut through the hardest hearts. Satan cannot live in the Christian heart because the love of Jesus pushes satan away. Just as darkness cannot be in the light (1 John1:7), evilness and hardness of heart is corroded away by Christ's love and gentleness.
Part I – Bonneville Salt Flats
The Bonneville Salt Flats is a 30,000 acre salt bed in Utah, USA where race cars can drive very fast because the area is so large and so flat. Indeed, many land-speed records have been set, and broken, there. But unlike typical race tracks, the Bonneville track is not an oval, it is straight. Cars that race there must drive in a straight line. Read Proverbs 3:5-6. When we acknowledge God, He will make our paths straight. This is the only place in the world where people can go very fast on a straight path. And it is made of salt. Let us take every step as though we are at Bonneville and walk in a straight line toward the narrow gate which is heaven.
The Bonneville Salt Flats is a 30,000 acre salt bed in Utah, USA where race cars can drive very fast because the area is so large and so flat. Indeed, many land-speed records have been set, and broken, there. But unlike typical race tracks, the Bonneville track is not an oval, it is straight. Cars that race there must drive in a straight line. Read Proverbs 3:5-6. When we acknowledge God, He will make our paths straight. This is the only place in the world where people can go very fast on a straight path. And it is made of salt. Let us take every step as though we are at Bonneville and walk in a straight line toward the narrow gate which is heaven.
Part J – Salt Lasts Forever
Salt never goes bad. All other materials can rot away or be altered but salt lasts forever. We know, as Christians that we have everlasting life with God through His son Jesus. Even though our fleshly bodies will rot away, our God created spirit will live forever. That is if we have accepted Jesus into our hearts. We must take Christ into our hearts every day. Die with Him daily that we may live with Him on the final day.
Salt never goes bad. All other materials can rot away or be altered but salt lasts forever. We know, as Christians that we have everlasting life with God through His son Jesus. Even though our fleshly bodies will rot away, our God created spirit will live forever. That is if we have accepted Jesus into our hearts. We must take Christ into our hearts every day. Die with Him daily that we may live with Him on the final day.
Part K – Salt Mines
Most salt in use today comes from salt mines or from the evaporation of seawater and sold as "sea salt". Experts estimate that sea water contains a salt content exceeding 10 billion kilograms. Even more salt is available in underground mines. One mine in Poland open in the mid-13th century and is still in operation today.Inside the mine is a full size salt cathedral carved by miners over the past 700 years. It is a major tourist attraction. Such massive amounts of salt speak to the enormity of God's presence. Every Christian is a testament to that presence, and the number of Christians increases every day. When Jesus said we are the salt of the earth, He really knew what he was talking about!
Questions
What does Jesus say we are in Matthew 5:13?
From where do we receive our power over the devil?
What did you learn about salt that Jesus' followers didn't know?
Why did Jesus speak only of salt's flavor?
How can we best show non-believers that we are Christians?
PRAYER
O Holy God, we love you for being part of our lives. Help us be the salt of the earth that you intended us to be. Help us to share your word in our own communities thereby bringing more people to you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Most salt in use today comes from salt mines or from the evaporation of seawater and sold as "sea salt". Experts estimate that sea water contains a salt content exceeding 10 billion kilograms. Even more salt is available in underground mines. One mine in Poland open in the mid-13th century and is still in operation today.Inside the mine is a full size salt cathedral carved by miners over the past 700 years. It is a major tourist attraction. Such massive amounts of salt speak to the enormity of God's presence. Every Christian is a testament to that presence, and the number of Christians increases every day. When Jesus said we are the salt of the earth, He really knew what he was talking about!
Questions
What does Jesus say we are in Matthew 5:13?
From where do we receive our power over the devil?
What did you learn about salt that Jesus' followers didn't know?
Why did Jesus speak only of salt's flavor?
How can we best show non-believers that we are Christians?
PRAYER
O Holy God, we love you for being part of our lives. Help us be the salt of the earth that you intended us to be. Help us to share your word in our own communities thereby bringing more people to you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.