How Salty are you?

Are You Salty? 

What’s the saltiest thing you can think of? What does "salty" mean?

Mirriam-Webster says, “‘Salty' first appeared in the 1440 Latin-English dictionary as a translation of the Latin salsus, which means both "salty" (tasting of salt) and "salted" (covered or preserved in salt).”

By the late 1800s, 'salty' referred to various aspects of naval life and culture. Since sailors had a reputation for colorful language, 'salty' soon came to refer to crude speech—and, later, to explosive anger.

Who do You think was the 1st to coin this phrase? 

Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out of and sampled under people’s feet.” 

Break it down:

-You are Salt

-If you lose your saltiness, how can your Salt-less-ness be restored?

-Its no longer good for anything except thrown out & trampled under peoples feet.

You Are Salt of the Earth = Every Believer, individually

Q: What is Jesus commanding us to be 

“Salty” 

In the context of Biblical times, salt was used as a preservative 

What is a preservative? Preservatives protect food from corruption.

So with that in mind, what is Jesus telling us to do?

A: Protect the earth from corruption

Q: What does Jesus mean when He says, “but if salt has lost its taste”?

A: to become flat, tasteless

Without taste, salt Does not change anything

Change = it’s intended purpose

Therefore you’ve LOST your Purpose, Intention for being here, for living

In the COVID, people have mentioned loosing their taste. What is it like to lose your taste? Your mouth and tongue feel pasty, cardboard like, flat, flavorless.

Q: How can Saltiness be restored? 

Jesus answers us by giving the result of the life of saltless-ness: "It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet." 

Physically, your body uses salt to balance fluids in the blood and maintain healthy blood pressure, and it is also essential for nerve and muscle function. Salt is critical to cardiac function as well. Isn't it interesting the body's physical reliance on salt for purity and life contrasted with Jesus instruction here? "You are the salt of the earth."

Back to the Spiritual now, we are the SALT of the earth. Salt is seasoning, flavor, preservative, protector from corruption. 

Practically speaking, we are sent out into the world just as Christ sent out His Disciples... to love, live and proclaim His truth. When we go out, we are to "season" the world. The GOSPEL is that vehicle. Perfect LOVE hath no man than this, to lay down His life for a friend. In that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. We are to go in the knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ and be His Love and Peace through the vehicle of the Gospel.

If we choose NOT to be salty, we become void of spiritual life, relish and vigor for the Gospel

We are flat, foolish, graceless, without doctrine and other means to be savory. 

Without Salt, we are unprofitable, unserviceable and we can do more harm for the Gospel than good

It has been said…

Wicked men are the worst of creatures

Wicked Christians are the worst of mankind

Wicked ministers are the worst of Christians

Scripture gives us plenty of warnings:

Isaiah 5:20, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

Revelation 2:2-4, “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are are evil, but have tested those who call themselves spotless and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.”

Without the "Salty" Gospel, we are fit for nothing except to be trampled under foot.

There is NO “Savory” in this world WITHOUT the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Galatians 6:7, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”

Is it any wonder we find our nation: 

Silencing our freedom of speech

Silencing our gatherings

Silencing our worship

YET Sovereign God has left us HERE to SALT the earth.

Back to verse 13, “How shall its saltiness be restored?”

Restore is to become salty again

Salt is white - white as snow

Salt is small & broken into many grains

Salt is penetrating, quick and powerful... a little pinch is all it takes

Hebrews 4:12, “For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, pricing to the DIVISION of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Salt penetrates the heart

Acts 2:37, “Now when they heard this they were CUT to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?”

Salt is cleansing, relishing & a preservative

God gave an Everlasting Covenant of Salt :

Num 18:19, “All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to the LROD I give to you and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual due. It is a covenant of salt forever before the LORD for you and for your offspring with you.”

Salt IS the Everlasting Gospel

Be Salt to the Earth and keep it from corruption until Jesus returns.

Work silently as salt. Just one handful can reach the whole world!

You, my sister, brother, Life Group are a Believer, You are the Salt of the earth, created to protect the earth from corruption. Lean in to the Salt, Listen long to the Spirit of the Lord your God and season the earth well. 

Beware of loosing your saltiness for without it, you will surely be trampled down, stepped on and walked over…

Beat down and pressed down by feet that seek to silence you from speaking the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.