Tuesday, February 5, 2013

SALT in Bible,..The Metaphor! - 2

SALT as the Seasoning, THE HOLY SPIRIT!
(continuation from the last post)

If  Obedience is the Sacrifice. How it can be seasoned? 

2 Mark 9:49
“For everyone will be salted with fire.”

Let us read complete context of this verse
If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
“For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

SALT is a symbol of Purity.

Here Jesus Christ is reminding us the importance of leading a sanctified life worthy enough to spend our eternity with him. 
  • Sanctification does not come just from repentance - Though repentance is the first step.
  • Repentance of Sins
  • Salvation thru Christ by accepting him as the Savior and living a righteous life - This is where I would like to refer to the verse “Salted with FIRE”
This means to invite HOLY SPIRIT to live in you to lead and counsel you. Without HOLY SPIRIT - the comforter, there will be no peace for the holy nation or the workers of the LORD. 

2 Mark 9:50
Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Sanctification of SALT brings peace not for themselves but also for others around. They will be a blessing and bring Harmony in the community. 

So, it is important for every one of us to be salted with Holy Spirit. It is achievable (Phil 4:13)

Matthew 5:13
 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

You are the SALT of the earth. Earth is filled with people who rely on their knowledge and comprehension. However, those you understand and accept that Jesus is the way, truth and life, became the salt of the earth like Fertilizer to grow people that can bear fruits for HIS honor.

“but if the salt has become tasteless,”

What happens if the goodness of the SALT i.e essence of the Holy Spirit is lost?
BTW, what is the essence of the HOLY SPIRIT?

Galatians 5:22-23
”But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control are the essence of the SALT.

If we lack the above qualities, we lose the significance of being SALT of the earth.

2 Kings 2:20 - 21
He said, “Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him.
He went out to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘I have purified these waters; there shall not be from there death or unfruitfulness any longer.”

The above verse beautifully explains you that the baptism of HOLY SPIRIT purifies our body, our soul. And now we are made free from Death and we no longer are unfruitful but bearing 9 fruits of Holy spirit bringing harmony.
Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person

Being Salted meaning being graceful in walks and talks. Old testament has one more interesting account of SALT.

Exodus 30:35
With it you shall make incense, a perfume, the work of a perfumer, salted, pure, and holy. 
The incense which you shall make, you shall not make in the same proportions for yourselves; it shall be holy to you for the Lord.

The above verse is an interesting formula for making a perfume desirable for the LORD given by the LORD itself. You will see SALT is used here again. 

Similarly if YOU are an offering, a perfume that spreads the aroma of his love and peace then you must have been pure, holy and salted in HOLY SPIRIT. 

“it shall be holy to you for the Lord.”

And that offering, that kind of formulated perfume is allowed ONLY for the lord. Why? If that is offered to anybody else in the world, it will reap no good but sorrow. But when offered to GOD, he returns us with peace, honor and blessings.

You will find an interesting thing that SALT has also been used in terms of punishment in Old Testament e.g. waste land of Salt etc. However, in New Testament SALT is not used in that tone or aspect. 

GOD‘s Covenant with us is HOLY. He respects it and he is faithful to it. Though we fell short, Lord Jesus Christ has paid the penalty and has renewed the covenant for us.

However, HOLY SPIRIT inspired life alone will find our place in the mansion prepared by our Savior in Heaven.

Be Saved! Be Salted!

Note: Try reading the Salt related verses from the perspective of Back sliding of faith 

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