Set Apart for a Purpose - Masterclass
The sermon on the mount was Jesus’s ‘masterclass’ for how we need to live our lives within His will. The message of Jesus’s sermon wasn’t about how we should live in order to be His disciples; but rather, how we should live because we are His disciples.
To follow Jesus means we are not like the world
As Jesus began the sermon on the mount, very quickly it became clear that His message was not like the rest of the world. In order to live out that teaching, we would have to forsake what the world values and pursue what Christ values. Beginning with a series of attributes and promises known as the Beatitudes, Jesus outlines the characteristics that His followers will have and will seek to grow in.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” -Matthew 5:6 NIV
To follow Jesus means we have value and purpose
The next section that we see is how Jesus describes His disciples living out their faith in the world - as salt and light.
13 “You 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 underfoot.” -Matthew 5:13 NIV
During the time of Jesus’s teaching, salt was a valuable commodity. In fact, it was often used as a wage for Roman soldiers which is where we get the phrase, “worth his salt.” Jesus declares that Christians add value to their surroundings, as we are the salt of the earth.
Salt also served an important purpose in preservation. It helped preserve meat and slow decay. Jesus declares that His disciples will have a preserving influence on the world around them.
Finally, salt is flavorful. R.T. France said, “Disciples, if they are true to their calling, make the earth a purer and more palatable place.” If salt loses its qualities, it no longer serves a purpose. There would be no need to add flavorless salt to your food, or to preserve meat with salt that has lost its preserving properties. In this same way, Christians must hold onto the qualities that make us the salt of the earth which we find in Jesus.
To follow Jesus means we have a responsibility
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” -Matthew 5:14-16 NIV
When Jesus calls His followers salt and light, He is not making suggestions for our behavior; He is establishing the identity of those who have said yes to follow Him. When our faith is in Christ, we will be like the city on the hill which cannot be hidden. We won’t be able to help it but to show God’s light to the world. All of this light is to serve a single purpose. We don’t shine so that we may be glorified; we shine so that God may be glorified. The responsibility of Christian is to live your life in such a way that people can’t help but see Christ through you and turn to Him themselves. This isn’t based on our capabilities, but on the righteousness of Jesus within us.