THE 2-FOLD CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE

Matthew 5:13—16

In this familiar passage of Scripture, Christians are called to represent both salt and light—a penetrating and illuminating influence, something to be both seen and felt.  Christians are to both attract and transform the world around them.  Let’s consider the following points:

1.  A two-fold sphere 

• The earth.  First, believers are “the salt of the earth.”  The earth simply refers to the planet around us; the place of the curse.  It also refers to the inhabitants of the earth—man—in his inner most part:  his heart.  When our Lord prayed for His Father’s will to be done on earth (Matthew 6:10), He was referring to both God’s will for the planet, but also God’s will for the hearts of man.
• The world.  Second, believers are “the light of the world.”  This is seen as the sphere of man’s mind and thought.  Apart from the light of God’s Word, man lives in a world of utter spiritual  darkness.  In the unregenerate sinner, there is “no light” whatsoever (Isaiah 8:20).

2.   A two-fold action 

• Believers permeate like salt.  Invisible, but effectual in its working.  Believers, like salt, must first get in touch with the corruption of goodness before it can heal.  This represents a believer’s almost unconscious influence on the world around them.
• Believers illuminate like light.  Light is not invisible, light is seen.  The light is something that shines forth, it is the result of a flame that is already kindled. The believer’s life is the light, and life is the light of men.  If there is an abundance of life, there will be an abundance of light.   A living Christ within will produce a steady light without.

3.  A two-fold nature 

• The salt must have savor.  Salt is good, but salt with no taste is useless.  The mere  name and form without this is powerless.  The “savor” is the power of the Holy Spirit.  We may bear the name Christian and have the form of godliness, but without the Holy Spirit we are as useful as savorless salt and “good for nothing.”  In Mark 9:50 Jesus says to “have salt in yourselves.”  Salted with the fire of the Holy Spirit, believers may wield a tremendous influence. No wonder we are admonished to “be filled with the Spirit,” Ephesians 5:18.
• The candle must have light.  Here again, just calling an object a candle doesn’t make it so; it must have a living flame.  A candle must be lighted; it cannot light itself.  Through the Holy Spirit, God has shined into our hearts, giving us light.

4.  A two-fold purpose 

• The salt to the earth.  If believers lose their savor (their usefulness), how will the earth be salted?  If the world does not see Christ in us, how will He be seen?  If the ungodly don’t feel the power of Christ’s presence in the actions of His people, how will they feel it?
• To glorify the Father, verse 16.  The light is to shine, not so that the light may be praised, but that God may be glorified and He be praised among the people.

5.  A two-fold hindrance 

• In losing the savor.  If salt loses its savor, it’s good for nothing.  What a sad picture of so many powerless Christians.  Flavorless salt, withered branches; call them what you will, a powerless Christian is of no value and often just gets in the way of those working for the Kingdom.  Samson is a perfect illustration of savorless salt when the Spirit departed from him, Judges 16:20.  No wonder we are told not to quench the Spirit!
• In hiding the light.  If the light of God’s love and grace has shined in our hearts, it is so that we may share that light (2 Corinthians 4:6).  Let the light in your hearts shine forth brightly in a bold, steady testimony for Christ.  The fear of man is often the bowl that hides the light, or the bed from which it is hard to arise.  A covered light always extinguishes itself, it never gets stronger.