Are You Salty? (PM Lesson Outline)
GIST: Sin is serious, and Hell is real. Therefore, watch yourself because you have been called for a purpose and are being watched by those around you.
SCRIPTURE: Mark 9:42-50
42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
The title for tonight’s discussion has a two-fold meaning because of some modern slang that I hope fades away so quickly that this title will be dated in a few years (because it’s ridiculous☺). If you don’t work with teenagers, you might not have picked up their use of “salty”...but it doesn’t mean flavored with salt. It’s used to mean “upset or bitter”...and usually unnecessarily.
That actually ties into this passage because it’s all about us being sinful, having the wrong attitude, living selfishly--the slang use of salty--but needing to be purified by Christ and live as an example of Him to the world--the Biblical use of salty. The gist for tonight? Sin is serious, and Hell is real. Therefore, watch yourself because you have been called for a purpose and are being watched by those around you.
(Reminder, this is just an outline for our discussion. If thoughts feel incomplete, that might be why...or it could be the result of my many other failings ☺.)
I. SIN IS SERIOUS, AND HELL IS REAL
Sin Is Costly. We often take our sins for granted. Yes, we make mistakes. Yes, we do things we shouldn’t do. But that’s just because we’re human. True...but that doesn’t make it ok. It’s like what James says in reference to our untamable tongue in James 3: “10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” This passage minces no words--our sin is costly. As we’ll see, this is not only for us, but for those around us, as well. The result of unforgiven sin for everyone though… is Hell.
Hell Is Terrible. Some of the imagery here is taken from Isaiah 66:24 which references judgement on rebellious Israel: 24 “And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”
The word translated Hell here is Gehenna. This was a physical location south of Jerusalem where at one point bodies were sacrificed to Molech. However, King Josiah put an end to that (which we actually alluded to in the Children’s sermon this morning). Jeremiah then prophesied that it would become a place of judgement for those who rebel against God (Jeremiah 7:30-31). In later times, it was used for burning waste and the bodies of criminals, so there was literally always a fire burning there...and it was an absolutely terrible place to be. It became synonymous with “a place of judgment”. So, the use of this term emphasizes the despair and devastation of Hell. Hell is real--and the result of unforgiven sin. We cannot shy away from teaching this doctrine, no matter how unpleasant or unpopular it becomes.
Teach This With Tears. Yet, we do not teach it with joy in our hearts. We do not tell the lost they are dying and going to Hell because we’re glad to see them “get what they deserve”. We all deserve Hell, and we teach this doctrine with tears. If you’re not torn up by the thought of anyone going to Hell, you haven’t understood it’s severity; that goes for me too. I need reminded of this every day. Jesus died and endured Hell and rose again so we wouldn’t have to face the punishment we deserve. This passage is a warning: DON’T GO DOWN THIS ROAD.
II. THEREFORE, WATCH YOURSELF
43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’
Be Careful Little… Remember the Sunday School song? “Be careful hands what you do; be careful little feet where you go; be careful little eyes what you see for the Father up above is looking down with love, so be careful...” That is the message here, too. Hyperbole is being used to express, again, the seriousness of sin. While we’re not being called to literally cut off body parts, we are being to to destroy or completely remove anything that causes us to sin.
Hands, Feet, and Eyes. These are used deliberately. We do things with are hands. We go places with our feet. We look at things with our eyes. If something you’re doing, or some place you’re going, or something you’re seeing is causing you to sin--Get rid of it! If you’re reading this, think of examples in your life. What are the things you do, or places you go, and things you look at that cause you to sin? How can you go about destroying them?
Destroy. It is so easy to say this from a distance and so hard to put into practice. What if this makes you look bad to those around you? What if this means admitting your flaws to your spouse or family? What if this means losing face, or possible promotion, or social standing? It’s worth it...because eternity is forever.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 “24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
Real Talk.
⇒What are those things?
⇒Remember it’s not even worth the risk!
Examples to make us think: Are you alone with non-spouse members of the opposite sex? Turn off the stinkin’ TV (Not all TV is bad, but the stinkin’ stuff stinks. Why waste your life and flood your heart with filth?). You’re not drinking, but everyone else is…? It’s just something everyone at work does…
⇒Remember, life is too short to waste on junk.
III. BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED FOR A PURPOSE
49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Salt Refined By Fire. There are two aspects of salt here. The first seems to be the most complicated. What does it mean that we will be salted by fire? The references here are actually really neat. In Leviticus 2:13 we’re told that all sacrifices must be offered with salt (“3 You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.”). In ancient cultures, salt was used not only to add flavor, but to preserve. This preservate quality seems to be the emphasis. So, in the sacrifices there was a reminder of the everlasting covenant between God and His people. In Romans 12:1 we’re told to be living sacrifices (“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”) We are to give ourselves wholeheartedly to God. And this giving is referred to as a sacrifice...because it is costly. As we mentioned before, this will mean cutting off that which causes us to sin. We’re called to be salt--that which preserves through trials--but let’s not forget the trials will come. We are wholeheartedly given over to God, and persevere in refining trials.
Salt Of The Earth. The second reference should be more familiar sounding because it’s used in the Sermon on the Mount, as well. As living sacrifices, we are also to live as those wholly given over to God for the benefit of those around us. Look at the Matthew 5:13-16 context: 13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Salt Of Peace. Why not look at the Sermon on the Mount again here? ☺ Matthew 5:9 “9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” And here we come full circle. Last Sunday night, we looked at the debate over greatness. This morning, we discussed the danger of denominational arrogance. Then, Jesus says essentially: You’re a sinner. Live for Me, and be agents of pointing other people to Me, together. All those little bickerings are distracting you from your purpose. They’re hurting your witness, and could potentially lead to devastating effects→
IV. AND ARE BEING WATCHED BY THOSE AROUND YOU.
42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
Stern Warning. These little ones could refer to actual children, but in the context, it seems to refer to all believers. If by our actions we cause others to sin, we’re doing a detestable thing. If we’re discouraging others from following Christ because they’re not part of our group, or if by our own sinful action we cause others to shake in their convictions, we are pointing them away from Christ instead of drawing them closer to Him. It’s the opposite admonition from James 5:19-20 “19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”
Unity Connection- Stand on the truth and be humble and don’t stop them because their not “yours” and don’t, by your actions, cause other believers to stumble. We’re called to be Biblical salt. Don’t let your sin cause you to lose that saltiness, and be just plan “slang-salty”. Point to light; don’t live in darkness.
TAKEAWAYS
1. Sin is serious, and Hell is real.
2. Therefore, watch yourself.
3. Because you have been called for a purpose.
4. And are being watched by those around you.
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