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Title: Kingdom Bound: Kingdom Influence – Matthew 5:13-20 Aim: Sound the call to be salt & light. Intro: If add black paint to white, it will change the color to gray, how dark depending on how much black you add. It will never be white paint again, nor black. Adding garlic or garlic powder to any food will definitely change the taste; some like, some don’t. Say this for Pastor Tom’s benefit, since we celebrate him today: getting rid of some players & adding some others seemed to be a big part of the dramatic turnaround of the Red Sox last yr – from worst to first. Not better talent necessarily, but better chemistry. All of which comes under one heading: influence. The black paint influences the white (& vice versa); the garlic influences the taste of the food; & personalities influence others, for good or ill. What kind of influence are you? We all have influence, for good or ill, in the lives of those around us, whether we think we do or not. Theme: Kingdom Bound – if we are in Christ, then we are bound for eternal life in the future kingdom of God to come, a sure hope for which we should be grateful. But also, if we are in Christ, then we are bound by the present kingdom of God – the rule of God in our lives & over all. That rule of God should/must mark our lives now as we follow our King Jesus. Should make a distinctive difference in our lives, a difference that will influence others for Christ. I submit to you that every follower of King Jesus is intended by God to be a kingdom influence. Turn our attention once again to Jesus’ wds in His Sermon on the Mount, today Matthew 5:13-20 [READ]. I think what Jesus is getting at should be evident to us. Salt & light are both influences. Salt has a precious quality, value. Some cultures thruout history have used salt as currency, because of its value. Roman soldiers were sometimes paid w/salt. Perhaps that’s where the phrase, “worth his salt” comes from. Salt has value because of its various uses. Think of just a few. Salt preserves – used to cure, preserve meat. My father used to love salt-cured ham – a bit too salty for me, but he grew up on it. In Strong’s Concordance it is reported that in some oriental cultures, as a symbol of a compact or treaty being preserved unchanged thru the yrs to come, the 2 parties would partake of salt together, because salt preserves. Salt also flavors, or enhances the flavor of food. Even if don’t actually taste the salt, it may be used in cooking to enhance the flavor. My oldest brother, who doesn’t drink coffee, was said to make the best coffee at his work. His secret? He put a little salt in the grounds, thus lessening any bitterness of the coffee. Salt also purifies. Will hurt like the dickens, but put salt on a wound it will keep from infection, purify. So we can understand the meaning of what Jesus was saying: you are the salt of the earth. We should be a positive influence in the world in which we live. Some would argue that Christianity & all religions (especially Christianity, Islam & Judaism) have had a negative effect on the world thruout history, & that is an argument that, sadly, can be made. A lot has been done in the name of religion, even Christianity, which has been negative. But I would argue that true Christianity – following Christ & making disciples & proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom of God – has never been a negative influence but always positive. Schools, hospitals & benevolent societies have often had Christian origin. Christian awakenings thruout history have always resulted in moral reform, often whole towns/cities being affected. But we’re not just talking about Christianity as a whole; we’re talking about your life & mine. Jesus was speaking to His disciples; He’s talking to you/me. We are to be salt in our worlds. We should add value to whatever group, endeavor of which we’re a part, but not our own value; rather, the value of Christ, Christ-likeness. We should be preserving factors – preserving what is good & right, God-honoring. We should be flavor enhancers, leaving a good taste in others’ mouths, making better whatever we’re involved in. We should be purifying agents, insofar as we introduce others to the only One who can change their lives, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our lives should make others thirsty for Christ, as they see the difference He has made in us. Of course, if they can see no difference in us, they won’t be influenced for Christ. Jesus said that salt that has lost its saltiness is good for nothing except to be thrown out & trampled underfoot. When we lose our positive influence for Christ, what good are we for His kingdom sake? Next, Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.” That is such a marvelous statement. In I John 1:5, we read that “God is light, & in Him is no darkness at all.” Jesus said of Himself in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” We are called by God thru John to “walk in the light as He is in the light” (I John 1:7). We are reminded & admonished by Paul in Eph.5:8 that at “one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light…” Those who have encountered the light of the world, Christ, have themselves become the light of the world. We’re not the source of this light – Jesus is; but we who are in Christ become like candles lit by the fire of Christ. We receive & reflect His light, like the moon, which has no light of its own, but reflects the light of the sun. Like salt, light has many valuable uses. Light illuminates – helps us to see. The older I get the more light I need to read by (or the stronger the reading glasses). We talk about the light coming on when what we mean is that something becomes clearer to us, so that we can understand. Light also guides, helping us to see where we’re going. How valuable a good flashlight is on a dark night walk, or the headlights of our cars when we’re driving at night, or a candle when the power goes out – guides us thru the darkness. Light also exposes & dispels darkness. Darkness cannot exist in the presence of light. What was in the dark is exposed for what it is when the light shines upon it. Darkness is dispelled – cast out – wherever the light shines. So, again, we can easily understand what Jesus meant. We who are in Christ, in whose hearts the light of Christ has shone, are to reflect His light to others, helping them to be able to see, know the truth of His life changing gospel, guiding them to Christ & faith in Him, the light of Christ in us lovingly exposing the darkness in other lives & dispelling that darkness. God has brought us into His marvelous light thru Christ, & He wants to use us to do the same for others. Jesus compared His followers to a city. “A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” That’s a simple statement w/profound truth. The lights of a city on a hill can be seen from miles away. You can’t hide it unless every light is turned off. If the light of Christ is truly in us, if we truly belong to Christ, that truth can’t be hidden, at least not for long, & especially if we let our lights shine. Jesus went on to say that those who light a lamp/candle don’t do so just to put it under a basket, but they put it on a lampstand so it will give light to all who are in the house. So not only can we not hide our light if Christ is in us, but we shouldn’t try to hide the light, & we should seek opportunities for the light to shine. We are to let our light shine before others by the way we live our lives, the works that we do in Jesus’ name. Is your light shining? The intention is that God will be glorified as others see how we live, the works that we do, the difference Christ makes. Thruout the rest of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus illustrates for us that difference He makes in us, the kind of life we should live, the kind of influence we should have. Jesus would be accused at various times during His earthly ministry of trying to subvert or do away w/Jewish religious law. But He made it clear: “I haven’t come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them.” The Law & the Prophets the authority & principles of the OT – law given to Moses for the people of Israel, the words spoken by God thru the prophets. Jesus fulfilled the Law & the Prophets several ways: 1)By perfect obedience. He lived His life w/out sin, never transgressing the law. 2)By dying on the cross for our sin to satisfy the law’s demands for judgment/justice. 3)By taking the law to its highest level, understanding & teaching them as matters of the heart, not just outward or formal observation. The Law & prophets serve 2 purposes for us today: illustrate to us our spiritual poverty, need of a Savior, which it does by condemning us; & serving as a standard for living – not ceremonial law which we don’t need to practice today – circumcision, ceremonial washings, sacrifices, & not so much penal law, as in stoning children who rebel, but moral & ethical law, which expresses God’s character. David Gudzik wrote, “The law sends us to Jesus to be justified, because it shows us our inability to please God ourselves. But after we come to Jesus, He sends us back to the law to learn the heart of God for our conduct & sanctification.” God’s law hasn’t changed nor will it – not one iota, until all is fulfilled when Christ comes again. Jesus warned that those who sin against the law & teaches others to disregard the law will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven, & I think the meaning of that is these so-called least will not be a part of the kingdom of God to come. If you’re not part of the kingdom of God here/now, you won’t be then. Then Jesus made a very stark statement to explain: “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes & Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” The scribes, students of the law, like lawyers, & the Pharisees, a Jewish sect & elite religious group, they were meticulous about keeping the law – at least outwardly & formally. The apostle Paul took as a reason to boast in the flesh, the fact that he had been, “as to the law, a Pharisee…as to righteousness under the law, blameless” (Phil.3:5-6). Of course his whole argument was that he considered that rubbish & counted it loss for the sake of knowing Christ. But how can anyone have a righteousness that exceeded the scribes & Pharisees? They were teachers of the law & judges of those who transgressed. Exceeding righteousness is vital, inward & spiritual. By vital righteousness I mean the righteousness of Christ counting for us. Thru faith in Christ we are clothed w/His righteousness, credited to us who believe/receive Him as Savior/Lord. That is our right standing before God. Hallelujah! If you don’t have Christ’s righteousness counting for you, you have not entered & will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Come to faith in Christ. By inward, spiritual righteousness is meant Christ the application of the atonement & the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit w/in, the life of Christ flowing in/thru us, righteousness that’s not merely outward, formal, but of the heart, from the heart, moving outward in practical living. And so, the rest of the Sermon on the Mount expresses that righteousness from the heart, Christ-like righteousness which will influence others for Christ like salt in a rotting, tasteless, putrid world & light in a world of darkness where people are in desperate need of the light of truth, the light of life. Read the rest of the Sermon on the Mount & understand your need of a Savior & see the distinctive, influential life of Jesus flowing in you. Vs21-26 – not just avoiding murder, but letting go of anger, letting go of hatred, seeking to be reconciled, understanding the connection between communion w/God & communion w/each other. Vs27-30 – not just avoiding adultery – the outward practice of sexual immorality, but putting away impure thoughts, bouncing your eyes away, putting away lust, striving & crying out to God to be pure in heart, that you might see God! Vs31-32 – not just getting out when the going gets tough; but practicing marital fidelity & seeking marital harmony, oneness that points to Christ & the Church. Vs33-37 – not just making promises to be heard by others, but being true to your word, to God & others, no matter what. Vs38-42 – not seeking revenge, retaliation, even if it’s justified, but turning the other cheek. Let your life be about giving instead of demanding/exacting. Vs40-48 – Not just loving those who love you & are easy to love, but loving your enemies, just as God loved us & Christ died for us, “while we were yet sinners.” 6:1-18 (won’t read) – live your life – whether it’s giving or praying, or fasting, etc. - to please God, not to be seen by others. Do what you do not to get praise from men, but because you love God. Look at the Lord’s Prayer & more of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in the coming weeks, but you/I are called to be kingdom influences – pointing others to Christ & showing them the difference He makes. After all, we’re Kingdom Bound!