January 6, 2013
Evening Service

This morning we looked at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes. This is Jesus speaking to each of us and making it very plain what attitudes please Him and also make us “blessed.”  We saw where He wants us to be poor in spirit, meek, mourn, hungry, merciful, pure, peacemakers, and rejoice in the face of persecution.  A feat we alone could never accomplish, but “with God, all things are possible.”  (Matt. 19:26)

 

I want to clarify again that these attitudes DO NOT count toward in any way “earning” our salvation. 

 

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,  (9)  not of works, lest anyone should boast.

 

Our salvation is a free gift that is simply to be accepted by us.  The attitudes Jesus is asking us to add into our lives are not to “earn” salvation or “justify” ourselves.  That work is completed as you comply with these verses in Romans.

 

 Rom 10:9-10 Because if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.  (10)  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation.

 

This confession and belief will guide you into obeying the scriptures by entering into the waters of baptism and your “death, burial and resurrection.”  At that point, if your heart was true, your salvation is sealed.  Because of this wonderful gift of salvation we want to please our Savior and He spells out His expectations clearly for us in this sermon.  These are simply acts of obedience that allow us to grow and fulfill what He has planned for us.

 

Once Jesus explained these Beatitudes, He explains to us why it is important for us to manifest them in our lives. 

 

Ephesians 1:15-23  Therefore I also, hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love to all the saints,  (16)  do not cease giving thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers,  (17)  that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,  (18)  the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,  (19)  and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us, the ones believing according to the working of His mighty strength  (20)  which He worked in Christ in raising Him from the dead, and He seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies,  (21)  far above all principality and authority and power and dominion, and every name being named, not only in this world, but also in the coming age.  (22)  And He has put all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church,  (23)  which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

 

The church (which is us) is the avenue by which Jesus now works in this world.  He invested and trained His apostles, who in turn invested and trained men to lead fellowships of His church.  As time continues to change the church does not.  We are still His body, hands and feet.  We are to represent Christ with our words, actions, and attitudes.

 

 Mat 5:13 You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its savor, with what shall it be salted? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and to be trodden underfoot by men.

o   Notice the personal pronoun: you.

·         Jesus again teaches us in things that we know and understand.

·         We are salt.  What does salt do?

o   It hinders the spread of corruption, creates thirst, and brings out the flavor of food.

o   Applied to our lives, we must also preserve this world from total corruption, pointing the world to our Savior.

o   We must create a thirst in others to seek after the One true God.  We should live life in such a way that they will want what we have.

o   We must bring out the best in every situation.  We should be making an impact in others’ lives in the name of Christ.

·         If we fail to be salty (preserve, create thirst, and enhance flavor), Jesus asks what purpose do we have?  Unsalty salt has no purpose and is tossed underfoot.

·         An unsalty Christian, who fails to exhibit attitudes that glorify Christ, in essence, tramples His testimony under their feet.  An undedicated believer creates contempt for Christ not glory.

 

Mat 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  (15)  Nor do men light a lamp and put it under the grain-measure, but on a lampstand. And it gives light to all who are in the house.  (16)  Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.

o   He again addresses this parable very personally.

John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke again to them, saying, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

o   Jesus is the true source of light and we are to merely reflect His brightness.  He has illuminated us with the truth.

o   We are a city on a hill.  When we confess Christ as our Savior, we place ourselves on an elevated stage that cannot be hidden.  We will be watched in the life that we live to see if our actions match our profession. 

o    The parable here is very clear.  We are not to hoard these teachings for ourselves, but broadcast them for all to see.  A lamp or light is place in the best possible location to maximize its illumination for all to see clearly.  Light is to be used to drive away darkness and make our path visible.

o   In Verse 16, He makes it very clear that our good works are to be a beacon of light to the world that there is a God who cares for them.  Our actions, words and attitudes are all to bring glory to our Heavenly Father.  It should be our heart’s desire to please Him with our lives.

 

We are called to be salt and light by displaying the Beatitudes and practicing the things He will tell us in the rest of this teaching.  This calling is to each of us personally and collectively as His church.

 

May the Lord use us to make this world a better place and guide others to find true happiness and peace in Him.