Salt of the Earth

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot" (Matthew 5:13)

In sermon 24 of the 52 sermons, Wesley reminds us of the interior work that the Beatitudes seek to do in us, and that this interior formation is the substance of our Christian character. He also reminds us that we are not to be totally withdrawn from the world, but that it is in our character to be "salty," to season that which is around us. "The Providence of God has mingled you together with other men, that you may share with others whatever grace you have received from God."

Following immediately on Jesus' words about sharing the grace we have received form God, Jesus shows us what happens to us when we do not share what we have received: "if the salt loses it's saltiness, it is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."

If you were holy, had your mind in heavenly things, and therefore did all the good you could, but you are no longer "salty," and therefore cannot impart the good things you have received from God to others...how can you be re-salted? You can't.

To those who have never tasted the goodness of God, He is indeed full of pity and mercy, but to those who have tasted and fallen away (John 15:2-6; Hebrews 6:4 ff) He is a god of Justice.

But who are the ones who lose their saltiness? Those who fall away completely, into apostasy. A believer may fall, even into sin, and rise again because "we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and He is the propitiation for our sins." But we really need to beware. It is one thing to sin and fall down, it is another to keep falling and finally fall away for good.


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