Salt of the Earth

   Matt 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

   THESE spoken to here are among the salt of the earth . . . are YOU among those whom Jesus says are the salt of the earth?

   Are you among those who are “preserving” the earth with The Truth . . . or having lost The Truth are you “in the Words of God” GOOD FOR NOTHING . . .

   In the days of old – salt was used to preserve meat so that the hungry could be fed. 

   Matt 5: 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

   The blessing that is pronounced here upon the hungry – is the direct result of “the salt of the earth” which refers to the NTC as they feed the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ . . .

   Today “The Truth of God” is food to the hungry soul and it is also medicine to the sick of heart. 

   If we (as God’s people) carry The Truth with us in our lives - Then it is in this way that “the hungry sould” will be fed and the spiritually sick can be nurtured back to health . . .

   1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God (set Him apart) in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

   The alternative to I Peter 3:15 is to pollute the vision of Lord God that the world sees in our heart through mixing Truth with error such that

   we are no longer the salt of the earth that PRESERVES – but having lost our savour (having compromised The Truth by moving the

   landmarks) we are thenceforth GOOD FOR NOTHING but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. If you think that “to compromise a little” is a good thing . . . consider what Jesus says in . . .

   Mt 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

   Jesus tells His closest followers that it is through “The Truth” that He has deposited in His NTC that they are quite literally “the salt” which is able to give the world hope in Christ Jesus . . .

   Please understand that I did not say that salvation was found “in the church” . . . As important as the church is . . . the purpose of the church has

   NEVER been to save the soul of any man . . . the actual purpose of the church is for those of us who are ALREADY saved – to be able to bring

   honor and glory to our savior through obedience to the commandments of proper worship that He left us in His Word . . .

   Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

   What the Bible teaches in regard to “what a church is supposed to DO” . . .  is that The Truth which is able to lead all men – or to point all men toward the need for salvation in their lives – this Truth has been placed in the care 

   of His Church for the purpose of SHINING that Truth out into the world – like a city that has been set upon a hill . . .  And this is the reference that is meant by YE ARE (through the church) the

   salt of the earth . . . But Jesus quickly follows this with the idea that if the church is not careful . . . then those people who were once able to hold

   up a gospel that would give hope to a lost and dying world . . . If they added to – or if they took away from The Truth which God has left in their care . . . then they would become cast-a-ways concerning The Truth . . .

   Cast-a-ways that were GOOD FOR NOTHING . . . but to be trodden under foot of men – which gives the idea of something that is to be rejected    because of how it has become so spoiled that it is no longer fit to be used.

   Matt 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

   Once again Jesus tells His closest followers – The NTC – that because of “The Truth” which only they possessed . . . they were quite literally THE LIGHT of the world.

   To be the light of the world DOES NOT refer to the fact that the church can save any man . . . but it does refer to the fact that the church can

   SHINE THE LIGHT which God has given to them - upon the path that “leads” to salvation – and that path is faith and repentance toward Jesus Christ . . .

   “The city of Truth” that is set upon a hill - is something that it is just not possible to hide . . . likewise the Cross of Calvary – the sinfulness of men – and the perfection of Christ are things that will NEVER go unnoticed when 

   they are  proclaimed by the people of God through proper worship of their savior . . .

   The only way to hide such a light “as this” from those who need it the most . . . is to actually “move the city” or to redefine the boundaries by moving the landmarks of God’s Truth . . .

   1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, “un-moveable” always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

   But think about all the progress we can make if we weren’t so stedfast and un-movable regarding doctrine . . . God tells us point blank . . . that your labour IN THE LORD is not in

   vain --- to believe this – is to secure the landmarks . . . to not believe it – is to allow those landmarks to be moved.

   As long as “the church” remains stedfast upon The Truth where Jesus has planted it . . . The Light will continue to shine for all men to see

   but if the church moves her foundation to another location . . . the light of the world will be lost to the next generation. 

   Jesus tells His church . . .YE ARE currently THE LIGHT of the world.

   The implication being -- ARE you going to REMAIN as the light of the world . . .

   I Peter 2: 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

    10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now (because of their separation – they are) the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

   YE ARE a chosen generation is once again a direct reference to the local NTC . . . notice how the church has been called OUT OF DARKNESS . . . ARE WE among the chosen generation – or have we gone back into the darkness . . .

   To be called “out of darkness” means that “the darkness” of untruth is something that has been left behind. 

   The city of Truth is set upon a hill so that LIGHT “and not darkness” is shown to the whole world . . .

   Referring to the first NTC Jesus tells them YE ARE the salt of the earth . . . What about our

   church . . . have we lost our savour (moved the landmarks) – making us GOOD FOR NOTHING except to be rejected . . .

   Referring to the first NTC Jesus tells them YE ARE the light of the world . . . What about you and I . . . have we moved “the city of Truth” or

   does God’s Truth shine just as bright in our church as it did in the first church . . . to shine bright in the world does not refer to size – nor

   does it refer to progress – but it does refer to love – and it also refers to obedience as we keep – guard and protect His Commandments . . .

   Referring to the local NTC Jesus reminds those who followed Him during His personal ministry that because ye have continued in MY

   WORDS . . . because of your patience YE ARE a chosen generation . . . So what about you and I . . . are we part of this chosen generation – or

   has God rejected our worship . . . To be sincere does not mean that we will be accepted . . .

   Mt 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

   II Cor 6: 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for YE ARE the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

   17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye SEPARATE, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

   YE ARE the temple of the living God because of how God’s Word is such an important part of your lives and your worship . . .

   John 6: 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

   67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

   YE ARE either where God wants you to be . . . or YOU ARE in a place where Satan wants you to be . . .

   Ye are the salt of the earth . . . ARE YOU the salt of the earth – or have you lost your savour . . .

   Ye are the light of the world . . . ARE YOU the light of the world – or have you moved the city of Truth

   YE are the temple of the living God . . . ARE YOU the temple of the living God  or have chosen to be the temple of an idol God . . .

   Mt 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

   I once heard a story about how penicillin was sold on the black market during WWII . . . as you know – penicillin is and was almost a

   miracle cure for infection and many illnesses . . . well the story goes like this . . . because of the

   war -- it got to the point where penicillin was literally the difference between life and death for millions of people . . . and as such it became

   extremely valuable . . . so what do you think those who sold it on the black market began to do . . . they began “watering it down” so that

   they could increase their profits at the expense of those who needed it “undiluted” in order fight the infection in their bodies and survive . . .

   The result of watering down this medicine on the public’s health was catastrophic . . . lives which could have easily been saved were not only lost . . . but many were also maimed and crippled for life . . .This made those who were guilty of “watering down” the cure very unpopular even among 

   the criminal element . . . they became criminals among criminals . . . and when these profiteers were caught they received NO MERCY at all . . . in the words of Matt 13:5 . .

   they were cast out as GOOD FOR NOTHING to be trodden under foot of men . . . 

   To hear the words YE ARE the temple of God – it is first required that we be UNWILLING to water down the cure by refusing to move the

   landmarks – by being careful not to lose our saltiness – by under no circumstances allowing the city of Truth to be taken down off of the hill where God has placed it . . .

   Pr 23:10 Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

The purpose of the Holy Spirit

Given below is a "statement of faith" that is held to be a fundamental doctrine in what is commonly considered a typically conservative "main stream" religion.
This lesson is based upon the principles taught in this "statement of faith". 

We believe the Holy Spirit is the divine Administrator for Jesus Christ in His churches (Luke 24:49; John 14:16, 17; Acts 1:4, 5, 8; Acts 2:1-4).

To believe in something is to have faith in something . . . in this instance – to believe that The Holy Spirit “supervises” or controls

the NTC means that we have faith in “the power of God” as opposed to faith in “our own power or wisdom” to uphold and to direct His church . . . Notice what Jesus told His church in John 4 . . .

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments (even when those commandments are not popular)

Luke 6: 22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Far too often we look at religion as a means to retain popularity . . . religion may be designed to “please” the world . . . but as we

see in Luke 6:22-23 . . . Christianity is designed to only “please” God . . . so if we love God enough to guard/protect/keep/practice His commandments of New Testament Worship . . . then God's promise to us is . . .

16 And I will pray the Father, and (after I am gone back to heaven) he shall give you another “Comforter” that he (the comforter) may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

The comforter that is mentioned here is “The Spirit of Truth” (The Holy Spirit) that today dwells IN the NTC . . . and this “spirit of comfort” also enters INTO the heart of every believer when we accept Jesus as our personal savior.

The basic “purpose” of The Holy Spirit in our lives – is to teach us right from wrong . . . to comfort us in times trouble by reminding us

“in our heart” that God is ALWAYS with us . . . that God will never leave us nor will God ever forsake us . . . but

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

So when we talk of the promise of The Holy Spirit . . . we are also talking about “the comfort” and the wisdom to see the

difference between right and wrong . . . this wisdom is what we as God’s children receive in our heart from this spirit of comfort as we

allow Him to guide our lives.  The setting of these scriptures in John 4 . . . is shortly before Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss . . .

the disciples did not yet understand that Jesus would be put to death and “ascend back to heaven” . . . they did however understand

that the Jews were persecuting them “as disciples” because of their love for Jesus and because of how they worshipped . . . in fact

Jesus told them in verse 15 that if they were faithful to “keep” His commandments “of NT worship” then He would send to them

another comforter . . . this comforter being The Holy Spirit.  As we mentioned earlier . . . we need The Holy Spirit in our lives to teach us right from wrong . . . for instance consider

I Cor 10: 14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

How would we know what idolatry was . . . if we did not have The Holy Spirit within our heart to “convict us” - to “burden us” or to “remind us” that it is a sin to give honor to a

(so called) false god by “worshipping” what is really no more than a stone . . . a piece of wood . . . or an ancient philosophy

How many times have we been guilty of committing some type of sin . . . only to be “miserable” afterward in our heart . . . this

“burden” that we feel is placed in our heart by The Holy Spirit for the purpose us reminding us that we have disappointed God with the

choice that we have made . . . and that we are in need of repentance (we need to tell God we are sorry) in order to find forgiveness and to restore our “fellowship” with God.

So what the disciples did not yet realize – was that the one who had been teaching them . . . the one who had been providing them with

comfort in their times of need . . . the one who had been forgiving them for their wrong doings . . . was about to leave them and go back to heaven.

Notice the following scriptures that lead up to this passage in John 14 . . .

John 13: 1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that “his hour” was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 

2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;

Judas departs the group here in order to betray Jesus and “The final passover” (our present day Lords’ Supper in the church) is complete.

Jesus loves His disciples and tries to prepare them for what is coming next.

3 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so NOW I say (the same thing) to YOU (My church).

Previously Jesus had told the Jews . . . that He was going to depart and go to a place that they would not be allowed to enter . . .

Now He tells this group of His closest followers the same thing . . . He was going to return to heaven . . . but they would have to stay on the earth and continue on with their lives.

John 13: 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples (or follow my teachings) if ye have love one to another.

36 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.

As Jesus approaches the cross . . . the church that He is leaving behind does not yet fully understand that Jesus is about to leave them.

Notice what Peter said here in verse #36 . . . “where are you going” . . . and Jesus’ reply is that “you cannot follow me now . . . but you

will follow me later” . . . we know of course that Jesus is talking about His ascension into heaven after the Resurrection . . .

The church could not follow Him now . . . but there will come a day when the church will follow Him (this is the rapture) . . .

I Cor 15: 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (lay down in death) but we shall all be changed,

The mystery spoken of here is the rapture . . . we will not all sleep in death . . . but those who are alive and following the “new commandment” of John 13:34 at the return

of Jesus . . . they will be changed as they “follow” Jesus to heaven . . . this is the fulfillment of the scripture which refers to “but thou shalt follow me afterwards” . . . this change (rapture) will occur . . .

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Those who have previously died “in Christ” . . . the saved of all the ages will be raised from the dead to receive their glorified bodies . . .

and the “WE shall be changed” refers to the disciples of Jesus who are living at the time . .  this refers to the disciples who have accepted the new commandment of John 13:34 . . .

 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

This is simply a description of the fulfilment of what Jesus was referring to in John 13: 36 when He said . . . you cannot follow me now . . . but you will follow me afterwards.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

You see . . . Jesus promised to send “The Holy Spirit of God” . . . Jesus promised to send The Spirit of Truth (to provide comfort) unto

those “disciples” who continued to follow a certain path in their lives/worship . . . Notice “the effect” that this “Spirit of Truth” would

have in the “disciples” lives . . . but only IF these “disciples” continued to follow the way of Truth . . . more next lesson

Does the church need change?

In this lesson we will look at Matt 16:18 which depicts for us the beginning of (or the birth of) the church of the New Testament . . .

Mt 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

A common interpretation of this verse is the teaching that Jesus installed Peter as the first pope to watch over The Church after He

ascended back to heaven . . . we have touched upon this interpretation in a previous lesson . . . and we are not going to “redo” this topic that what we have already discussed . . . 

I simply want to point out that “the church” of New Testament worship was either built upon Jesus Christ -- or the church that we offer worship in today was built upon Peter as one of the apostles of Jesus . . .

without getting into a “deep” theological debate . . . without arguing with “tradition” just consider

1) that the Bible is God’s Word . . . and that The Bible “is right” even when we are wrong . . . It is not possible for the Truth to change just because we fail to recognize it.

If a “road sign” warns of danger ahead . . . but if that road sign is written in a language that we do not yet understand . . . does the danger

disappear just because we misinterpret what the sign is trying to tell us . . . of course not . . .  well such is also the case with God’s Word . . . the 

dangers that God warns us to avoid in “The Bible” are not diminished at all . . . just because we misinterpret that warning . . .

Romans 3: 3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

The next point to consider regarding whether or not the church is built upon Jesus or Peter is 2) Could the NTC have survived from the

days of Jesus until the present . . . if it had been built upon anyone/anything other than Jesus Himself?

Consider businesses that in the past have come and gone .  . .  DeLorean Motor Co . . . EF Hutton . . . RCA . . . Burger Chef . . . TWA . . .  General Foods . . . Montgomery Wards

At one time each of these companies were worth millions of dollars . . . they were strong and thriving corporations . . . each one of

them had the most talented men of their time at the controls . . . But each one of them is quite literally “no more” . . . companies “for profit” go bankrupt because of “competition from others” who offer the same type of service at a better price . . . 
and Satan attempts to overcome churches that teach “the truth” in exactly the same manner . . . Satan tells us that unless we change our product line (which is the Truth) . . . then we

will be forced out of business through competition from religion that “appeals to the world” even though it is a religion that is contrary to the teachings that are found in The Bible . . .

The point is this . . . that for a church to survive then that church MUST “remain” standing on the truth . . . offering the same old “line of

products” that were offered during the earthly days of Jesus and the apostles . . . if the church deviates from the truth . . . if the

church seeks to increase the products that it offers then that church proves that she no longer has any

confidence in the current management (which is of course The Holy Spirit) . . . the result being that they lose “the power” of The Holy

Spirit to protect them from the power of Satan . . . this happens as they are “over-come”

with a desire to please the world at the expense of sacrificing of themselves for the cause of Christ . . . by continuing to stand

ONLY upon The Truth as they refuse to “expand” their product line to include things that are popular “out in the world”

A corporation falls . . . when the leaders of that company make bad decisions . . . a church that is overcome by Satan (in the manner

that we have described) . . . may not fall by the wayside – such that it actually ceases to exist . . . just like the companies mentioned above

did not really disappear . . . they were “bought out” by larger organizations . . . their names were changed . . . and the previous management was actually replaced . . . new supervisors . . . new administrators . . . new

CEOs were installed to take the old company in a new direction . . .  Unless God has made a mistake - His church does not need to go in a new direction . . . 

The church should not be like Burger Chef who is known today as Hardees . . . with a management staff that is completely different than the original organization . . . 

So what about the place of worship that we refer to as “our church”?

In a corporation . . . if the management changes . . . the company changes . . . likewise in a church . . . if the management changes – then the church changes also.

So our interpretation of Matt 16:18 is really one of the more important things in The Bible that we will consider after the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith.

If we have not been saved . . . then the concept of “the church” . . . the idea of proper worship as opposed to false worship . . . or whether the church is built upon Jesus or Peter is totally irrelevant  . . .

If the “preacher” is the supervisor of my church . . . then when I get a new preacher the direction of my church will be altered . . .

If the pope is the supervisor of my church . . . then with every new pope . . . the direction of the church is altered . . .

BUT if Jesus is the head of the church . . . and if Jesus manages His church through The Holy Spirit (as we humble ourselves before that spirit) . . . then the direction of the church

does not change from one preacher to another and neither does it change from one generation to another . . . if a church is

“managed” or controlled by The Holy Spirit then what was “right” in the days of Jesus will be taught as still being “right” today

But if a religion “changes” their product line in order to be more competitive with “the world” or to attract more followers . . . then they are going against the

management of heaven . . . which means that they refuse to be managed by The Holy Spirit . . . and they soon lose "their identity" in the latest religion of the day just like . . . RCA . . . Burger Chef . . . TWA . . .  General Foods . . . Montgomery Ward all lost their identity with new management that replaced all the "old ideas" and took them in a new direction.

Notice the promise of God Himself to be with His NTC . . . as long as she continues to stand on the Truth without compromise . . .

Luke 24: 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

This promise that is spoken of here . . . is the POWER of God through The Holy Spirit . . . which we will begin to look at in the next lesson.