INFLUENCE Matt 5:13-16
PRESENTED BY STEVEN SCHILLER SEPT 4 2022
INTRODUCTION
In "The Beatitudes" Mt 5:3,4,5,6,7-12, we see...
The character of those who would be citizens of the kingdom
The blessedness of the citizens described
In the final beatitude, Jesus implied the attitude the world would often display towards the citizens of the kingdom - Mt 5:10-12
The world would revile and persecute those in the kingdom
The world would say all kinds of evil against them falsely for His sake
The world would persecute them just as it persecuted the prophets before them
-- Thus the influence of the world upon the kingdom would often be one of persecution
Jesus then proceeded to describe the opposite...
The influence of the kingdom upon the world
The impact the kingdom was designed to have upon those in the world
He uses two metaphors in doing so. The first, in Mt 5:13, involves the figure of salt...
"YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH"
SALT HAS SEVERAL CHARACTERISTICS...
It is white, enhances flavor, preserves, etc.
Based on the context, it is probably salt's ability to enhance flavor to which Jesus refers in his illustration
Notice: "...but if the salt loses its flavor..."
Salt has the ability to give flavor to that which is otherwise bland
Job mentioned this ability in Job 6:6
THROUGH THE METAPHOR OF "SALT"...
Jesus depicts the relationship of the citizens of the kingdom to the world as one of:
Making the world palatable (bearable) to God, and possibly to others as well
Perhaps making it possible for God to continue to bear with this world and its "distasteful" wickedness
The idea that the "righteous few" can make it is easier for God to forbear the many wicked is illustrated:
In Abraham's conversation with God over Sodom - Gen 18:20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28-32
In God's dealing with Jerusalem - Jer 5:1
-- So from God's point of view, the citizens of the kingdom give the world what good "flavor" it has!
JESUS WARNS AGAINST LOSING OUR FLAVORING ABILITY!
With pure salt...
It actually never loses its flavor
But when mixed with impurities salt can lose its ability to enhance flavor
We too might lose our ability to be a "flavoring agent" for the world...
By allowing "impurities" into our lives - 1Co 15:33
Therefore, we need to keep ourselves from sin - Ep 5:3,4-7
IF WE LOSE OUR "FLAVOR"...
How are we going to be "seasoned"? (impurities prevent us from being useful)
We will be thrown out!
Is Jesus teaching the possibility of losing our salvation?
He certainly does elsewhere! - Mt 13:40-43; Re 3:15-16
[First of all, then, we are told of the relationship of the kingdom to the world FROM GOD'S POINT OF VIEW: "You are the salt of the earth."
In Mt 5:14-16, we find Jesus teaching concerning those in the kingdom as to their PRIMARY FUNCTION in the world...]
"YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD"
USED BY GOD TO TRANSMIT HIS GLORY TO THE WORLD...
They are "lights" in a dark world - Php 2:14-15
Their purpose: to proclaim the praises of God! - 1Pe 2:9; Ep 5:8-9
THEY ARE NOT A "LIGHT" IN AND OF THEMSELVES...
Only in the Lord - Ep 5:8
Christ is the "true" or "original" light - Jn 8:12
Citizens of the kingdom are simply "luminaries" reflecting The One True Light, just as the moon reflects the sun - 2Co 4:6
THEIR TWOFOLD RESPONSIBILITY AS "THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD"...
They must be visible
Implied by Jesus in His use of a "city" and a "lampstand" as metaphors
Jesus therefore expects His followers to be seen by the world - e.g., Jn 13:35; 17:21
They must radiate (give light)
This principle conveyed by the idea of the lamp
Designed to shine on a lampstand
Not put under a basket
This principle explicitly stated in "let your light SO SHINE before men"
-- The purpose of such visible radiation: so men may glorify the Father in heaven - 1Pe 2:11-12; 2Co 9:12-13
CONCLUSION
The influence and impact that the citizens of the kingdom are to have on the world can be simply stated...
"You are the salt of the earth"
"You are the light of the world"
Why make the effort to be salt and light? Because of He who is described as "your Father who is in heaven"!
An expression which should remind us that God is both:
Tender (He is our "Father"; a term of tenderness)
Majestic (He is "in heaven")
Such a Majestic Being, willing to be our Father, makes Him:
Worthy to be pleased!
And worthy to be praised!
We who claim to be the children of God, citizens of the kingdom, are we:
Pleasing to our Father (by being "the salt of the earth")?
Praising Him (by being "the light of the world")?
If not, then may the prayer of David in Ps 51:10,11,12,13-15 become our own:
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed,
O God, The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise
OBEY THE GOSPEL
HEAR
BELIEVE
REPENT
CONFESS
BE BAPTIZED
LIVE FAITHFULLY
- Home
- Abortion is murder?
- Abortion AP
- Abortion laws repealed thank GOD
- Animations GBN
- All scripture
- Abortion (forced termination)
- Abounding hope
- Are you a Christian
- A place for God`s name(this is it)
- All have sinned
- (ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN) STAYING SAVED DB
- Awesome Father,Son,Holy spirit
- Are you the enemy of God
- Audio Bible (KJV)
- All authority
- All things work together for good
- Accuser of GOD`S people
- Abomination
- Avoid being mislead by the devil
- Afraid in fear of Baptizm
- Authority
- Amazing grace
- Adversary
- Acts conversion chart
- Accuser
- AUDIO RIVERSIDE CHURCHOFCHRIST
- Baptizm immersion not sprinkle, pouring
- Baptizm (antitype)
- BAPTIZM POINT OF SALVATION
- Apologetics press
- Baptizm search for truth
- Rebaptizm
- Baptizm NT
- Baptizm forgiveness of sin, washed in the blood of JESUS
- Belief more than knowing there is a GOD
- Brand new creation
- Baptizm Greek Baptizo fully covered
- Born again
- Bible super human
- Bethel
- Blessed is the man
- Being mistreated for doing good.
- Bible verse of the day
- Be not many masters.
- Blasphemy the name of Jesus
- Brain washed (believing lies)
- Bless your enemies curse not
- Bible`s scientific foreknowledge
- Bible read & listen
- Bible inspiration
- Bible charts Donnie Barnes
- Beyond the logos
- Coming home
- Children giving glory to GOD
- CONTACT US
- CONTACT
- Christian and spiritual growth Donnie Barnes
- Christ
- Christianity full time privilledge
- Christianity 101
- Church built on Christ
- Choice 2
- Children learn what they live
- Choice I
- Cast the first stone
- Committed to GOD
- Church of CHRIST Romans 16:16
- Creation
- Can GOD`S house be established today?
- Childrens video
- Condemn your brother with your tongue
- Childrens : Digger Doug
- Christs
- Church of Jesus Christ
- CHURCH IN NEEDS
- Church built by GOD
- Does doctrine matter
- Duty of care
- Drinking alcohol
- Divorce and remarriage
- Did Jesus build more than 1 church?
- Dictionary
- Day of the Lord
- Diotrephes
- Deception of false teachers
- Denominationlism
- Evil heart of unbelief
- Fabricated truth
- Faith the substance of all things
- Faith
- False prophets
- Filthy rags
- Fake preachers
- First gospel sermon
- False teacher, False preacher DS
- False Preachers
- False Teaching
- Forgiveness
- False brethren brought in
- Falling away
- False brethren
- False preaching can keep u from heaven
- Forget God?
- Gossip David Schmidt
- God`s will for you
- Grief
- GOD
- Give no offence
- Gospel broadcasting network
- GOD`S calling, the good new`s
- GOD`S PLAN IS NOT MAN`S DESIGN
- Give account for yourself
- GOD is righteous
- GOD built true church not man
- God`s preventative word James Watkins
- Gospel Enacted
- Hymns
- How beautiful are the feet that preach
- How do you obey the gospel?
- Hypocrites
- How to get to heaven?
- Heart
- How is the church organized?
- Hypocrites1
- Heaven/Hell
- Homosexuality
- Hope
- Have you obeyed the gospel?
- Identity of the church
- Interview with satan(father of lies)
- Is there more than 1 church? no
- In Jesus Christ
- Is your heart right with GOD
- Influence
- Inspired word of GOD
- In Christ the fullness of the Godhead
- Inspiration what is it?
- In Christ
- In Christ (what is it being in Christ)
- Influence of evil
- Jesus (way)
- JESUS
- Jesus is our faith to our beloved
- Jesus is Lord
- Jesus the way
- Jesus never changes / Changing world James Watkins
- Jesus & children
- Jesus has come in the flesh
- Jesus is Lord (Kurios)
- JESUS CHRIST IS LORD
- Jesus Jesus Jesus
- Kingdom come ?
- Kenya gallery1
- Lying Christians is their any without
- LOCATION OF ONE TRUE CHURCH
- Leaders of this world should be ashamed
- LORDS church part 1
- Law of Liberty inCHRIST
- Love God, the creator of Love.
- Lost
- Light at Riverside Church of CHRIST
- Love of GOD overcomes
- Lord`s church
- Lamentations 3
- Lying wonder
- Leading to Christ
- Ladies videos
- Lying 1
- Lying preachers
- Lord`s supper
- Looking for things to get better
- LINKS
- Lesson`s books of the bible gbn
- Light of the world
- More about JESUS
- Man`s device (not GOD`S)
- Mat 19:6
- Meddling & Gossip is sin
- Man`s tradition or God`s word
- MURMURINGS, MURMURERS, MURMUR
- Making the change
- Moral issues
- None righteous no not one
- New Creation
- No change
- NT reveals one church
- Obey the gospel
- Overcoming the world
- Offenses
- Our GOD is a awesome GOD
- Only 1 church (church of CHRIST)
- Overcome evil with good
- Preachers leading w/ no authority from GOD
- Preach the word
- Pleasing God
- Preaching Jesus
- Persecution and Oppression
- Persecution
- Power of the tongue
- Pray without ceasing
- practicing SIN
- Pride of men hinder the advancement of the gospel
- Perverting the gospel
- Prayer
- Right hand of falsehood lesson by Steven Schiller
- References on request
- Reject God
- REPENT!
- Root of all evil
- RESPONDING TO THE CALL OF GOD
- Rule your own house?
- Riverside gallery
- Repent
- Religious error
- Such were some of you
- Repent Repent Repent
- Salvation
- ROCK SOLID FAITH JAMES WATKINS
- SIN
- Sober
- Sinners prayer 4min video
- Scriptually organized w/o deacons?
- Sheet music
- Safe in the arms of GOD
- Stairway to heaven
- Submit and we will pray for you
- Searching for truth
- Spirit to the churches
- Serving GOD or Self serving
- Service to GOD
- STOP
- Sound teatching
- Sincere,True Ministry
- SERMONS
- Slave of GOD
- Slave of the creator
- SHEPHERD
- Salvation of the LORD
- Spirit of GOD
- Searching for truth(book)
- Speaking evil of Christian brother
- Same sex marriage
- Speak evil of no man
- Scriptual and unscriptually organized churches
- Standard of authority
- Speak evil of a Christian is sin against Christ
- SINS
- SPIRIT & TRUTH
- Slander
- SUNDAY APRIL 17 2022
- The devil
- The children
- The dog has returned to his vomit
- Turn from sin to GOD
- Truth about
- Take the name of Jesus with you
- Truth
- 2 Reasons to believe ap
- Those who persecute you
- Truth for the world
- Time for truth
- The Lord`s Supper
- The Church
- Thanks to GOD
- The holy spirit
- This is God`s church
- The way we were
- U HAVE AN ENEMY!
- Unless the Lord build the house
- U WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR IDLE WORDS
- Unscriptual organization of the church
- Unified church James Watkins
- Vengeance
- WOE WOE WOE
- What is the Gospel?
- What must i do to be saved?
- What names on your sign
- World Video Bible School (WVBS)
- What must i do to be saves (transcript)
- James Watkins
- When you die
- What GOD has cleansed
- Withdrawal fellowship
- Why so many churches (Transcript)
- Wearing the crown
- Whose family are u ruling
- Worship
- Wonderful Grace
- Where in the bible is your church mentioned
- Walking with GOD
- Worshipping idols not God
- Worship of idols instead of GOD
- WORSHIP NOV 6 2022
- Worship to God
- What is the church?
- Wonderfully made
- You must be born again
- You give good gifts
- Your unbelief
- Home
- Abortion is murder?
- Abortion AP
- Abortion laws repealed thank GOD
- Animations GBN
- All scripture
- Abortion (forced termination)
- Abounding hope
- Are you a Christian
- A place for God`s name(this is it)
- All have sinned
- (ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN) STAYING SAVED DB
- Awesome Father,Son,Holy spirit
- Are you the enemy of God
- Audio Bible (KJV)
- All authority
- All things work together for good
- Accuser of GOD`S people
- Abomination
- Avoid being mislead by the devil
- Afraid in fear of Baptizm
- Authority
- Amazing grace
- Adversary
- Acts conversion chart
- Accuser
- AUDIO RIVERSIDE CHURCHOFCHRIST
- Baptizm immersion not sprinkle, pouring
- Baptizm (antitype)
- BAPTIZM POINT OF SALVATION
- Apologetics press
- Baptizm search for truth
- Rebaptizm
- Baptizm NT
- Baptizm forgiveness of sin, washed in the blood of JESUS
- Belief more than knowing there is a GOD
- Brand new creation
- Baptizm Greek Baptizo fully covered
- Born again
- Bible super human
- Bethel
- Blessed is the man
- Being mistreated for doing good.
- Bible verse of the day
- Be not many masters.
- Blasphemy the name of Jesus
- Brain washed (believing lies)
- Bless your enemies curse not
- Bible`s scientific foreknowledge
- Bible read & listen
- Bible inspiration
- Bible charts Donnie Barnes
- Beyond the logos
- Coming home
- Children giving glory to GOD
- CONTACT US
- CONTACT
- Christian and spiritual growth Donnie Barnes
- Christ
- Christianity full time privilledge
- Christianity 101
- Church built on Christ
- Choice 2
- Children learn what they live
- Choice I
- Cast the first stone
- Committed to GOD
- Church of CHRIST Romans 16:16
- Creation
- Can GOD`S house be established today?
- Childrens video
- Condemn your brother with your tongue
- Childrens : Digger Doug
- Christs
- Church of Jesus Christ
- CHURCH IN NEEDS
- Church built by GOD
- Does doctrine matter
- Duty of care
- Drinking alcohol
- Divorce and remarriage
- Did Jesus build more than 1 church?
- Dictionary
- Day of the Lord
- Diotrephes
- Deception of false teachers
- Denominationlism
- Evil heart of unbelief
- Fabricated truth
- Faith the substance of all things
- Faith
- False prophets
- Filthy rags
- Fake preachers
- First gospel sermon
- False teacher, False preacher DS
- False Preachers
- False Teaching
- Forgiveness
- False brethren brought in
- Falling away
- False brethren
- False preaching can keep u from heaven
- Forget God?
- Gossip David Schmidt
- God`s will for you
- Grief
- GOD
- Give no offence
- Gospel broadcasting network
- GOD`S calling, the good new`s
- GOD`S PLAN IS NOT MAN`S DESIGN
- Give account for yourself
- GOD is righteous
- GOD built true church not man
- God`s preventative word James Watkins
- Gospel Enacted
- Hymns
- How beautiful are the feet that preach
- How do you obey the gospel?
- Hypocrites
- How to get to heaven?
- Heart
- How is the church organized?
- Hypocrites1
- Heaven/Hell
- Homosexuality
- Hope
- Have you obeyed the gospel?
- Identity of the church
- Interview with satan(father of lies)
- Is there more than 1 church? no
- In Jesus Christ
- Is your heart right with GOD
- Influence
- Inspired word of GOD
- In Christ the fullness of the Godhead
- Inspiration what is it?
- In Christ
- In Christ (what is it being in Christ)
- Influence of evil
- Jesus (way)
- JESUS
- Jesus is our faith to our beloved
- Jesus is Lord
- Jesus the way
- Jesus never changes / Changing world James Watkins
- Jesus & children
- Jesus has come in the flesh
- Jesus is Lord (Kurios)
- JESUS CHRIST IS LORD
- Jesus Jesus Jesus
- Kingdom come ?
- Kenya gallery1
- Lying Christians is their any without
- LOCATION OF ONE TRUE CHURCH
- Leaders of this world should be ashamed
- LORDS church part 1
- Law of Liberty inCHRIST
- Love God, the creator of Love.
- Lost
- Light at Riverside Church of CHRIST
- Love of GOD overcomes
- Lord`s church
- Lamentations 3
- Lying wonder
- Leading to Christ
- Ladies videos
- Lying 1
- Lying preachers
- Lord`s supper
- Looking for things to get better
- LINKS
- Lesson`s books of the bible gbn
- Light of the world
- More about JESUS
- Man`s device (not GOD`S)
- Mat 19:6
- Meddling & Gossip is sin
- Man`s tradition or God`s word
- MURMURINGS, MURMURERS, MURMUR
- Making the change
- Moral issues
- None righteous no not one
- New Creation
- No change
- NT reveals one church
- Obey the gospel
- Overcoming the world
- Offenses
- Our GOD is a awesome GOD
- Only 1 church (church of CHRIST)
- Overcome evil with good
- Preachers leading w/ no authority from GOD
- Preach the word
- Pleasing God
- Preaching Jesus
- Persecution and Oppression
- Persecution
- Power of the tongue
- Pray without ceasing
- practicing SIN
- Pride of men hinder the advancement of the gospel
- Perverting the gospel
- Prayer
- Right hand of falsehood lesson by Steven Schiller
- References on request
- Reject God
- REPENT!
- Root of all evil
- RESPONDING TO THE CALL OF GOD
- Rule your own house?
- Riverside gallery
- Repent
- Religious error
- Such were some of you
- Repent Repent Repent
- Salvation
- ROCK SOLID FAITH JAMES WATKINS
- SIN
- Sober
- Sinners prayer 4min video
- Scriptually organized w/o deacons?
- Sheet music
- Safe in the arms of GOD
- Stairway to heaven
- Submit and we will pray for you
- Searching for truth
- Spirit to the churches
- Serving GOD or Self serving
- Service to GOD
- STOP
- Sound teatching
- Sincere,True Ministry
- SERMONS
- Slave of GOD
- Slave of the creator
- SHEPHERD
- Salvation of the LORD
- Spirit of GOD
- Searching for truth(book)
- Speaking evil of Christian brother
- Same sex marriage
- Speak evil of no man
- Scriptual and unscriptually organized churches
- Standard of authority
- Speak evil of a Christian is sin against Christ
- SINS
- SPIRIT & TRUTH
- Slander
- SUNDAY APRIL 17 2022
- The devil
- The children
- The dog has returned to his vomit
- Turn from sin to GOD
- Truth about
- Take the name of Jesus with you
- Truth
- 2 Reasons to believe ap
- Those who persecute you
- Truth for the world
- Time for truth
- The Lord`s Supper
- The Church
- Thanks to GOD
- The holy spirit
- This is God`s church
- The way we were
- U HAVE AN ENEMY!
- Unless the Lord build the house
- U WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR IDLE WORDS
- Unscriptual organization of the church
- Unified church James Watkins
- Vengeance
- WOE WOE WOE
- What is the Gospel?
- What must i do to be saved?
- What names on your sign
- World Video Bible School (WVBS)
- What must i do to be saves (transcript)
- James Watkins
- When you die
- What GOD has cleansed
- Withdrawal fellowship
- Why so many churches (Transcript)
- Wearing the crown
- Whose family are u ruling
- Worship
- Wonderful Grace
- Where in the bible is your church mentioned
- Walking with GOD
- Worshipping idols not God
- Worship of idols instead of GOD
- WORSHIP NOV 6 2022
- Worship to God
- What is the church?
- Wonderfully made
- You must be born again
- You give good gifts
- Your unbelief
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