Living Differently
Matthew 5:11-19
Nelson Thomas Mumbai wrote in an article entitled The Truth of Separation: Meaning and Importance, "In Kerala South India, brethren believers are called the ‘separated people’. More than a century ago when our forefathers came out of the ecclesiastical system to worship the Lord according to the New Testament pattern, not only they separated themselves from the traditional churches, but also they adopted a distinct life style- even in their dress and business. They stopped growing ‘pan’ plants saying if we don’t want to use it we should not grow it for others as well. Many of them had to face much hardship from their dear ones, even to the extent of leaving their home, just because they chose to stand for the word of God. That much zeal they had in practicing separation in their spiritual life. So the people around them called them ‘separated ones’. But sad to notice that today, it seems the reverse is taking place. Many of the present generation, does not know the importance of separation and the Biblical basis of it. Knowingly or unknowingly many follow the trend. Some even began to separate themselves from the NT truths and pattern our forefathers dearly held! Not only in India, we see, all over the world there is a deliberation to forsake the distinctive teachings and practices that separate born again Christians from the nominal ones. They consider such a step towards change and progress. So, it is high time we consider our identity, our standard and stay true to the word of God."
What does Christian separation mean? Realize that your effectiveness as a Christian hangs on your concept of what separation means. We have been called to impact the world for Christ and not to become absorbed by the world. We are to live differently - to stand out as salt and light.
I. Called to be Salt and Light
A. Matthew 5:11a "You are the salt of the earth..."
B. Christ said that Christians are the salt of the earth and to have an influence in the lives of those we come in contact and on the world around us.
C. In biblical times, salt was highly prized and often used as a medium of exchange. In the Old Testament book of Ezra salt was mentioned in the context of the pay of the Persian king's servants. Roman soldiers were paid an allowance to buy salt, the origin of our salary. A man worth his salt is efficient or capable.
D. Salt adds flavor to that which is bland and makes food palatable.
E. Colossians 4:6 "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."
F. Salt preserves food from decay and destruction. The ancient Greeks said that salt could put a new soul into dead things. Without salt a thing putrefied and went bad. As believers we too are to seek to preserve the faith from corruption and error.
G. Jude 3-4 "Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. for certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ."
H. In America our faith is being challenged daily.
1. Between 1980 and 2012 the number of Americans claiming to be "Christian" dropped from 86% to 76%.
2. The American Religious Identification Survey conducted by the Institute for the Study of Secularism in Society & Culture at Trinity College was one of the most comprehensive studies on religion in America that has ever been done. According to that study, 15 percent of all Americans say that they have “no religion." 25 percent of all Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 say that they have no religion.
3. The Barna Group asked participants in the survey if they agreed with the following six statements….
1) Believing that absolute moral truth exists.
2) Believing that the Bible is completely accurate in all of the principles it teaches.
3) Believing that Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic.
4) Believing that a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or by doing good works.
5) Believing that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth.
6) Believing that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today.
Less than 1 percent of the participants agreed with all of those statements
4. Many school textbooks teach anti-family values, promote homosexuality, teach moral relativism, encourage sexual conduct, and, of course, instill evolution as a fact. In addition, they condemn the notion of a Christian God even being mentioned. Consider the following:
"When 10-year old Raymond Raines bowed his head and silently said grace over lunch in a St. Louis public school cafeteria, he was placed in detention for a week and told that he must eat in a room by himself if he continued to pray."
"When 30 Texas high school students gathered to pray at the flagpole before school one morning, the principal politely told them not only to leave, but to pray out of sight."
"In Illinois, a high school principal sent police to break up a similar prayer group. Two students were arrested." - Matt Slick, CARM
5. We must earnestly contend as salt for the faith that was once held dear by the saints.
I. Salt creates thirst.
J. When people look at us do they see something that makes them thirsty? Do they see joy and peace and love? What about compassion and mercy? Do they see anything about us that is different... that makes them thirsty?
K. Called to be light
L. Matthew 5:14-15a " “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see..."
M. Someone has said we are to be light in all aspects of this world’s life and to radiate it to all people of the world.
N. Ephesians 5:8 " you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in our Lord, therefore so walk as children of Light."
O. Christians are called to be torch bearers in world chained by the darkness of sin with depraved hearts that have been blinded to the truth of the Gospel.
P. It means to shine for Christ 24/7 not just on Sunday morning it means to be as Paul said in Philippians 2:15 "blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world"
II. Called to be Different
A. Salt must remain pure to be of value.
B. Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men."
C. The disciples understood what Christ meant by salt becoming good for nothing. Some of the salt that the Jews used came from saltpans, flat expanses of ground covered with salt and other minerals which evaporated on the margins of the Dead Sea, but much of their salt was obtained from Jebel Usdum or Mount Sodom a ridge of limestone and rock salt at the south-west corner of the Dead Sea. This rock salt was the literal salt of the earth. Because the deposit’s outer layer was exposed to the elements, it became contaminated and its salt content depleted by weathering, losing its taste and value, so becoming good for nothing.
D. Titus 2:12 " Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world."
E. 1 John 2:15 " Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
F. The salt has lost its savor when professed Christians stray away from Christian principles and standards soiling themselves as they yield to the lure of the world which results in stunted spirituality.
G. Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
H. Light that is hidden under a basket cannot be seen nor can light beam forth and shine through soiled glass.
I. Christ is the sole light that shines within the believer's heart and life.
J. 2 Corinthians 4:6 " For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
K. But little if any of the light of Christ will pass through us for others to see if our lives are soiled by that which is contrary to the light.
L. Have you ever used a kerosene lamp? Anyone who has any experience using one, knows how important it is to keep the globe clean. If the inside of the globe is covered with soot, then very little light will get out. At best you might see only a faint glow. For the lamp to shine brightly the soot that has built up on the globe must be gotten rid of. Dirty lamps don't shine.
M. Nor is the light to be hidden. A lamp does not serve its purpose if it is put under a bucket. It will do absolutely no good there. God's truth is useless if we hide it, do not put it into action in our daily lives, or share it with those around us.
N. Some people hide the light because:
1. They don't want to be found out - they fear rejection or ridicule
2. They don't want to be inconvenienced - they might have to get involved
3. They don't want to pay the price - they may have to give up some things
III. Called to be wholly holy and live separated lives.
A. Separation is the hall mark of a born again Christian. God cannot use a person who is not separated unto Him and His purposes.
B. Matthew 5:17-19 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
C. If we are to be salt and light we must live according to God's standards and walk in His paths.
D. Proverbs 4:18 "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day."
E. Understand God's standards have not changed. The scriptures tell us that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He does not change and expects us to live as children of the One True King.
F. We are to live clear and clean allowing His light to shine through us. Likewise we are to keep ourselves pure that we as salt will retain our savor and cause others to desire Christ.
G. Matthew 6:33 " But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
H. 1 Peter 1:16 " Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."
I. Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
