{"id":2983,"date":"2021-03-07T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-07T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/?p=2983"},"modified":"2021-03-13T23:13:00","modified_gmt":"2021-03-14T06:13:00","slug":"you-are-the-salt-of-the-earth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/2021\/03\/07\/you-are-the-salt-of-the-earth\/","title":{"rendered":"You are the Salt of the Earth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"You are the salt of the earth - Sunday Service MVCOG\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ee_F8zFwNxQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a href=\"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Mathew-5v13-You-are-the-Salt-of-the-Earth.pdf\">Mathew-5v13-You-are-the-Salt-of-the-Earth<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Mathew-5v13-You-are-the-Salt-of-the-Earth.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button\" download>Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">You are the salt of the earth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Jesus makes this verse <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">personal<\/span>.&nbsp; If we are <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">disciples<\/span> of Christ, He\u2019s talking to us.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Salt is a necessity.&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The first thing to understand is that salt is a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">necessity<\/span> of life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Salt is a preservative<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before refrigeration was invented, salt was valuable everywhere as a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">preservative<\/span>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Salt is a seasoning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Just like today, salt was valued for the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">savor<\/span> it gave to food (see Job 6:6).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Salt is a purifying agent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Salt was considered a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">purifying<\/span> agent (see 2 Kings 2:19-22) We see salt used as a picture of God\u2019s power in purifying as a provision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Salt as a symbol of hospitality friendship and loyalty.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sharing salt in the ancient world was considered a symbol of <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">hospitality<\/span> and <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">friendship<\/span>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Salt in the Sacrifices and Aaronic Covenant<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Salt was a symbol of the covenant between God and Israel.&nbsp; Salt is not changed by time, and is <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">perpetual<\/span>, and <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">incorruptible<\/span>, not rusting or spoiling It was a necessary part of the sacrifices in the temple.&nbsp; In Leveticus 2:13, God commanded that salt be added, saying <strong>\u2018Every grain offering of yours, moreover, you shall season with salt, so that the salt of the covenant of your God shall not be lacking from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.&nbsp; <\/strong>Since salt is symbolic of the covenant, it is a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">necessary<\/span> part of the offering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also symbolized God\u2019s <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">provision<\/span> for the priests, the descendants of Aaron.&nbsp; God emphasizes the perpetual nature of this agreement in Numbers 18:19 saying <strong>\u201cAll the offerings of the holy gifts, which the sons of Israel offer to the LORD, I have given to you and your sons and your daughters with you, as a perpetual allotment. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the LORD to you and your descendants with you.\u201d&nbsp; <\/strong>Their <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">service<\/span> for the Lord was their <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">provision<\/span> and <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">inheritance<\/span>, perpetually.&nbsp; The priests were <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">responsible<\/span> with <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">maintaining<\/span> the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">spiritual health<\/span> of the Nation before God.&nbsp; The ability of salt to preserve other things symbolizes the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">priestly<\/span> duty to preserve the Nation.&nbsp; When the priests sat down at sat down to eat the part of the sacrifices that were theirs, the other person that they were sitting down in <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">fellowship<\/span> with was God!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Davidic Covenant<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When God made a covenant with King David to establish his kingdom, it was also a perpetual agreement.&nbsp; (see 2 Sam 7:11b-13).&nbsp; In speaking of this covenant, King Abijah of Judah was able to later say in 2 Chronicles 13:5 <strong>5 Do you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave the rule over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt?&nbsp; <\/strong>It\u2019s also a perpetual covenant, and speaks of the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Messiah<\/span> that would come through David\u2019s kingly line.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Salt as a symbol of the New Covenant and the Citizen of Heaven<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Christians have life in Jesus through His blood<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The New Covenant that we have with God as Christians is through the blood of Jesus.&nbsp; (see Mathew 26:27-29) As citizens of Heaven we <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">partake<\/span> of this covenant, both here on earth and someday in our Father\u2019s kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Peacemaking<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Salt is symbolic of the role of Citizens of Heaven as peacemakers.&nbsp; Just as the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">sharing<\/span> of salt in the ancient world was considered a symbol of hospitality, friendship and peace, when we do the Will of the Father in sharing Jesus with someone, and they accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they have a peace with God, made <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">possible<\/span> by Jesus\u2019 shed blood on the cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Kings and Priests<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">two<\/span> places where a salt-covenant is mentioned in the Old Testament are the Aaronic covenant with the priests, and the Davidic covenant with the royal line of David.&nbsp; Citizens of Heaven are described Kings and Priests.&nbsp; (see Rev 1:5-6, 5:9-10). <strong>9 And they *sang a new song, saying, \u201cWorthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slaughtered, and You purchased people for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation. 10 You have made them into a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth.\u201d&nbsp; <\/strong>We, the Citizens of Heaven are the ones <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">purchased<\/span> as the people of God by the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">blood<\/span> of Jesus from every tribe, language, people and nation.&nbsp; Just as kings have to be trained for their rule, we like David looking after the sheep, are trained and sculpted into the people that Jesus can trust to reign as God would have us reign, in <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">humility<\/span> and service to Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Priests<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>1 Peter 2:5 reminds us that as Citizens of Heaven, we are priests of God, <strong>5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.&nbsp; <\/strong>Priests <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">serve<\/span> God.&nbsp; Our <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">service<\/span> for the Lord is our <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">provision<\/span> and <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">inheritance<\/span>, perpetually.&nbsp; We the Church are <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">responsible<\/span> with <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">maintaining<\/span> the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">spiritual health<\/span> of first the Church before God, but also sharing the Gospel so that those who will believe through His Word through us, will have a right relationship before God.&nbsp; The ability of salt to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">preserve<\/span> other things symbolizes our priestly duty share the truth about God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And, just as the priests sat down to eat their allotment, the other person that we are in fellowship with is God.&nbsp; As Citizens of Heaven, we are in fellowship with God, at peace with God, and we get to sit down with Him at His table, enjoying this \u201ccovenant of salt\u201d, the enduring New Covenant made possible by the blood of Jesus.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>but&nbsp;if the salt has become tasteless, how&nbsp;can it be made salty&nbsp;<em>again<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Salt is salt.&nbsp; It doesn\u2019t <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">change<\/span> over time.&nbsp; If you left salt in a salt shaker for 1,000 years, when you came back to it, it would still be salt.&nbsp;&nbsp; If salt is truly salt, then it can\u2019t really <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">lose<\/span> it\u2019s flavor.&nbsp; If it does, then it wasn\u2019t <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">really<\/span> salt in the first place.&nbsp; But it can be compromised, adulterated, diluted so that it becomes <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">useless<\/span> for it\u2019s purpose.&nbsp; And our purpose is serving God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If salt no longer has the properties that make it salt\u2014the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">preserving<\/span> power, the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">flavoring<\/span> power that makes the world bearable, the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">purifying<\/span> power, then it is really good for <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">nothing<\/span> much.&nbsp; The Romans would take salt that was of such bad quality that it wouldn\u2019t be useful for anything else, and they would throw it onto their <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">roads<\/span>.&nbsp; If we lose sight of our service to God, then we will be an unhappy, unjoyful Christian.&nbsp; If that\u2019s where you find yourself now, then Go Serve God.&nbsp; Make <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">disciples<\/span>.&nbsp; Fulfill your ministry of <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">reconciliation<\/span>.&nbsp; Use the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">gifts<\/span> the Spirit has given you to minister to the needs of the saints and others.&nbsp; Be salty.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You are the salt of the earth Jesus makes this verse personal.&nbsp; If we are disciples of Christ, He\u2019s talking to us.&nbsp; Salt is a necessity.&nbsp; The first thing to&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-services"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2065,"url":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/2018\/07\/22\/tribal-signs\/","url_meta":{"origin":2983,"position":0},"title":"Tribal Signs","author":"Robert","date":"July 22, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Matthew 5:13-16 \u201cYou are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.\u201d 14You are the light of the world. A city on a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Services&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Services","link":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/category\/services\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":221,"url":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/2012\/01\/29\/no-deposit-no-return\/","url_meta":{"origin":2983,"position":1},"title":"No Deposit, No Return","author":"Robert","date":"January 29, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"sermon-20120129 MATTHEW 5:13-16 MSG \u201cLet me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. Here's another way to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Services&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Services","link":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/category\/services\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2989,"url":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/2021\/03\/14\/you-are-the-light-of-the-world-mathew-514\/","url_meta":{"origin":2983,"position":2},"title":"You are the light of the world  Matthew 5:14","author":"Robert","date":"March 14, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/gZnWf7qL5c0 You-are-the-light-of-the-world-Mathew-5v14Download One of the most surprising things about what Jesus says is who he\u2019s saying it to\u2014a group of fishermen and tradesmen, former tax collectors and zealots; people that the religious leaders looked down on as insignificant.\u00a0 But Jesus says that His disciples, and only His disciples, are the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Services&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Services","link":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/category\/services\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/gZnWf7qL5c0\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2055,"url":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/2018\/07\/08\/this-is-us\/","url_meta":{"origin":2983,"position":3},"title":"This is Us","author":"Robert","date":"July 8, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Revelation 5:8-10 When He took the scroll, [the victorious Lamb, the Lion from the tribe of Judah], the 4 living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Services&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Services","link":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/category\/services\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2925,"url":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/2020\/12\/27\/repent-the-kingdom-of-god-is-at-hand\/","url_meta":{"origin":2983,"position":4},"title":"Repent, the Kingdom of God is at Hand","author":"Robert","date":"December 27, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/_69_y0YrlzU Sermon-on-the-Mount-Introduction-OutlineDownload \u00a0It helps our appreciation of what the Sermon on the Mount is all about to put it in the larger context of Jesus\u2019 earthly ministry.\u00a0 The Sermon on the Mount took place around the area of the Sea of Galilee, in the Northeast of Israel, and in fact\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Services&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Services","link":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/category\/services\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/_69_y0YrlzU\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2946,"url":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/2021\/01\/17\/blessed-are-the-meek-for-they-shall-inherit-the-earth\/","url_meta":{"origin":2983,"position":5},"title":"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.","author":"Robert","date":"January 17, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/LDqWj0gmA84 Mathew-5vs5-Meek-Inherit-EarthDownload Now first it\u2019s important to understand that meek does not mean weak. the gentle The Greek word praeis is translated meek in KJV was often used to describe a gentle breeze as opposed to a fierce biting wind, or a horse that was well-trained and under control.\u00a0 When\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Services&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Services","link":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/category\/services\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/LDqWj0gmA84\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2983","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2983"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2983\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}