3,18 Salt Covenant
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Social
--At this time, there was not a clear understanding of the NATURE of the church. We see in that social cliques and factions had been formed.
The problem was stemming from SELF—the people were too busy thinking of themselves as individuals and small groups.
--At this time, there was not a clear understanding of the NATURE of the church. We see in that social cliques and factions had been formed.
The problem was stemming from SELF—the people were too busy thinking of themselves as individuals and small groups.
THE CHURCH
THE CHURCH
—identified as:
I.Unity
I.Unity
We will see in this passage several common characteristics of living life as one CALLED by GOD---“worthily”==”equal weight”==calling & conduct balance.
Called to Unity--
Called to Unity--
Vs1- I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called-
are called-
-Lord—owner, master
-vocation-position, station of life
-ye are called- you are called “to”—Paul is saying that each should walk as he has been called.
he has been called.
B) Characteristics of Unity-
B) Characteristics of Unity-
Vs2- With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
-lowliness- humility—put God 1st, others 2nd and self last
-meekness/gentleness- under self control
-long-suffering--/patient—long tempered, endure discomfort without
-long-suffering--/patient—long tempered, endure discomfort without
fighting back
-forbearing one another in love
Vs3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
C) Constant in Unity
C) Constant in Unity
--Vs 4-6- In this passage you will see a consistent theme— ONE.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
ONE occurs 7 times—
ONE occurs 7 times—
Paul does this to establish the essential value of the UNITY of the Church.
ONE—in all languages, it is the symbol of UNITY
-excludes all differences, because there is NO second to cause conflict -Sufficient—God needs no other
-Marks the beginning—
-The unity of the Body of Christ is a unity we cannot make. It is made for us in Christ.
It occurs 3 times in vs 4----points to the Holy Spirit
in Christ.
It occurs 3 times in vs 4----points to the Holy Spirit
-3 times in vs 5---points to Jesus Christ
-1 time in vs 6---points to God the Father.
The Church is to be a reflection of our God.
The Church is to be a reflection of our God.
UNITY is important to God.
II. Covenant
II. Covenant
—How did we become part of the body of Christ? It was by a covenant made by Jesus Christ.
The new covenant assures the presence of the Holy Spirit in the live of every believer.
Covenant—a formal agreement made between two parties
Covenant—a formal agreement made between two parties
-if you are saved today, you made a covenant with God -Married? You made a covenant with your spouse and God -Parent? You made a covenant with God to be a godly parent.
In the OT, an interesting type of covenant was used—SALT COVENANT, or the “covenant of salt”.
In the OT, an interesting type of covenant was used—SALT COVENANT, or the “covenant of salt”.
The phrase “covenant of salt” is usually understood to refer to the perpetual obligation of the covenant. It was a two-way agreement symbolized by salt. As a purifying agent and preservative in cereal offerings,
SALT SYMBOLIZED:
SALT SYMBOLIZED:
Permanence
Permanence
()- All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the Lord, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before the Lord unto thee and to thy seed with thee. –a provision for the Priesthood.
A symbol emphasizing the quality and permanence of the relationship between Yahweh and the Aaronic priesthood.
A symbol emphasizing the quality and permanence of the relationship between Yahweh and the Aaronic priesthood.
Because of this permanence, God provided for the priests and their families.
-the indissoluble nature of the covenant between God and Israel,
Purification
Purification
- ()- 13 And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.
Ancient peoples rubbed babies with salt at birth, as a purifying agent.
-Elisha used salt to purify a polluted spring ()
-Leaven corrupts but salt purifies.
-Leaven corrupts but salt purifies.
-Salt keeps meat from corruption, hence becoming an emblem of incorruption
Grain offerings were to be seasoned with salt //God’s covenant cannot be destroyed
Loyalty
Loyalty
()- 14 Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;
“we have maintenance from the kings palace”—literally, “we have eaten the salt of the palace”.
-being in the service of—OR—under obligation to OR receiving a salary from.
Our word “salary” is derived from salarium, salt money.
-If a host gives a guest salt, the guest is under the protection of his hospitality which is considered a binding obligation.
-If a host gives a guest salt, the guest is under the protection of his hospitality which is considered a binding obligation.
-Eating a prince’s salt is an oriental phrase equivalent to “receiving maintenance from him”, to be in the king’s pay. Thus, we should be loyal to our King.
Because we are the church, we are ONE. Let us serve Him with PERMANENCE,
CONSERVING HOLINESS AND LOYALTY.
Discipleship
Discipleship
——part of Jesus’ message, Sermon on the Mount—
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
As a disciple, as Salt, we are to be “flavorable” to those around us.
As a disciple, as Salt, we are to be “flavorable” to those around us.
—As a disciple, as Salt, we are to be “flavorable” to those around us and also, “preservative”—So we are to put life “into” situations and defend against “corruption”.
and also, “preservative”—So we are to put life “into” situations and defend against “corruption”.
“Salt in yourselves”—
we are to have within ourselves the purifying influence of the Spirit of Christ.
we are to have within ourselves the purifying influence of the Spirit of Christ.
purified from selfishness, self-seeking, bitterness, anger, irritation and self-centeredness—-then we can “have peace one with another”.
——let your speech be seasoned with “salt”- preserving holiness and loyalty.
The association of salt with the people of God reminds us that our discipleship and its effect on the world carries with it a strong context of “covenant”.