30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 14 34-35 Being the Salt 09 People to repent and come to the truth
📖 Luke 14:34-35
21Jan2020 – *People to repent and come to the truth* - _Luke 14:34-35_ - Bible reading: _II Timothy 2:25-26_
_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 are now looking 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.
_II Timothy 2:25-26 in humility correcting those who are in opposition,_ We must correct people around us in humility but without fear. This is possible only by the Spirit of His grace. _if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,_ Our focus, always, in this process is to bring people to repentance and to the truth. The world will question, ridicule, turn against us and also place laws in place that we should not call people to repentance and to turn to the truth. But this is our task, which we must do with humility and boldness.
_(26) and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will._ As we conduct this process, let us be aware that the devil is holding people in captivity and dictating to them to do his will. We must know that God has given us the authority to bind the powers of darkness, as we reach out to people. _Matthew 16:19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."_
We see how Jeremiah worked towards this objective. _Jeremiah 26:12-13 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and all the people, saying: "The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city with all the words that you have heard. (13) Now therefore, amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; then the LORD will relent concerning the doom that He has pronounced against you._ There was meekness as well as boldness.
The same technique we see with Paul, as he addressed Governor Felix and his wife. _Act 24:24-25 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. (25) Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you."_
We desire people to repent and come to the truth but that is the decision for individuals to take.
*Thought to ponder*
```Are you experiencing the process, today, of influencing and transforming the non-Christian world towards the kingdom of God?```