Outward Manifestation

1. Introduction: Matthew 5:20 Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees you shall not enter the kingdom of Heaven (Key Verse)
    1. The common people thought only the Scribes and Pharisees were holy and were going to heaven
    2. Beatitude = Blessed.  This word describes someone who has already gone to heaven
    3. The beatitudes describe true righteousness and Christian ATTITUDES and the INWARD condition of the born again believer
    4. The similitudes describe the OUTWARD manifestation of salvation
    5. A simile is a  figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another. In this case Salt Light with Born Again Believers
       
      2. 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
    1. At the time of Christ salt was a valuable commodity
    2. The food during the time of Jesus was very simple not much variety and very bland. Lentils, dates, fruits, grains, nuts and fish were common
    3. Salt brings out the FLAVOR
    4. Out witness/testimony is to give people a GOOD TASTE of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
    5. Psalm 34:8 Oh,TASTE and see that the Lord is GOOD. Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
    6. WE CANNOT LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN THE MOUTHS OF UNBELIEVERS. How can the believer lose his FLAVOR?
      1. By being a bad tipper
      2. By displacing anger
      3. By being fake
      4. By being self righteous
    7. Salt makes you thirsty (We are to make people thirsty for Jesus!)
    8. If the believer loses his saltiness he is GOOD FOR NOTHING
    9. Salt is no good if it never leaves the salt shaker
      3. Salt was used to preserve fish was dried and salted there was no refrigeration :  Christians are present to preserve the culture by being a restraining force
    1. Lead People To Jesus pop the question
    2. Disciple your family disciple a new believer
    3. Be a voice in the community
      4. John 8:12 I AM the light of the world he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life
    1. One of 7 I AM statements in John (Messianic Claim)
    2. 5:14 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 lampstand, 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
    3. He said you are the light of the WORLD not the light of Jerusalem
      1. The mission is the entire world
    4.  Oil wick lamp: The hardest part in the time of Christ was to get the thing lit. No zippo lighters bic lighters or matches
    5. Put it under a basket NO! I’m gonna let it shine  (I am not ashamed of the gospel)
    6. There will be GOOD WORKS fruit no fruit no salvation
    7. Like a lighthouse we are to help people see their way to Jesus
      5. Description of a salty Christian that is filled with the light of the world
    1. Poor in spirit, mourning over his own sin, gentle meek submitting to the Lord’s will for their lives, hungry for true righteousness and a relationship with the Lord, merciful, fulfilling the Lord’s purpose for your life being salt and light
      6. 5:17 Do not think that I came to destroy the law and the Prophets I did not come to destroy but to fulfill
    1. For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect
    2. The law revealed God’s righteous character
    3. The law showed man his sinful state
    4. The law restrains the flesh of man
    5. The law did not does not save anyone
    6. if you go back under the law you have to keep the whole law