27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
Luke 14 34-35 Being the Salt 08 Christ revealed through us
📖 Luke 14:34-35
20Jan2020 - *Christ revealed through us* - _Luke 14:34-35_ - Bible reading: _II Corinthians 5:18-20_
_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._
We have been studying the passage in Luke 14:34-35, on being salt but we must also look at Matthew 5:13 because, Jesus is calling us to be the salt of the earth. To be salt of the earth, there are four applications that we must consider. They are as follows.
1. We are fundamentally different
2. We must penetrate the non-Christian world
3. We must influence and transform the non-Christian world towards the kingdom of God
4. We must retain our distinctiveness
We have looked at the first two applications. We will now look at the third application of being the salt of the earth, which is to influence and transform the non-Christian world, towards the kingdom of God.
The plan of God is to reconcile a world that is rebelling against Him, back to Himself. God’s heart yearns for us, for He loves us and He does not want anyone to perish. God’s plan is to reveal Himself through us. _Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory._ Christ in us is the hope of glory. The glory of His kingdom is made known to the world, through us.
God has made us His ambassadors, in order for us to carry the message of His love for a lost world. We are beseeching a rebellious world to be reconciled back to God, on His behalf. _II Corinthians 5:18-20 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, (19) that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. (20) Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God._
We can only fulfill our ambassadorship, when Christ is being sanctified in our hearts, continuously. Every day the cleansing of God’s word must happen in us, so that we are without spot or wrinkle. _I Peter 3:15-16 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts,_ We are then able to give a response to people, who ask us, why are being different from the ways of the world. _and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;_ We share our transformation story, not with arrogance, but with humility for we know that we are being changed by God’s grace. _(16) having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed._
*Thought to ponder*
```How effectively are you fulfilling your ambassadorship?```