Living in the Image of God M01S05
The “salt of the earth” teaching conveys a message that God creates every person with an intrinsic capability to represent his presence and radiate his impact in human interactions. This capability represents the human value of a person before God, which he expects to be evident in interactions with others: to enhance and preserve the goodness of people, like salt enhances and preserves the goodness of food. Let your Godliness be evident to others and motivate them to appreciate God and seek to interact the same way with other people.
In the “salt of the earth” teaching (Matthew 5:13–16), Christ explains the role of a person in human interactions and conveys a message that God creates every person with an intrinsic capability to represent him in interactions with others. Godliness, i.e., the capability to convey the presence of God and radiate his impact in human interactions, is intrinsic to a person as saltiness is intrinsic to salt. Furthermore, every person can implement the capability by harnessing resources that God has provided to guide us in interactions with others. A person’s human value before God arises from the intrinsic capability to represent God in human interactions. Godliness is the intrinsic value of a person in human interactions as saltiness is the intrinsic value of salt in food.
We discuss the “salt of the earth” teaching to understand God’s purpose for every person to make positive impact in human interactions and motivate others to do the same.
Godliness and Saltiness
Saltiness describes the intrinsic value of salt in food as Godliness describes the intrinsic quality of a person to represent the presence of God and radiate his impact in human interactions [Matthew 5:13]: “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.” Godliness is intrinsic to a person and should be evident when the person interacts with others. Similar to saltiness, which is intrinsic to salt and shows whenever salt is used or tasted. The Godliness in a person motivates others to be good and preserves their goodness. Similar to the saltiness of salt, which enhances and preserves the goodness of food.
Created Intrinsic and Empowered to Be Evident
Godliness is intrinsic to a person, because God creates every person with an intrinsic capability to represent him in interactions with others. The Godliness in a person should be evident in human interactions, through commitment to God’s purpose and living according to the commitment. As we describe under Resources for Living in the Image of God, a person committed to God’s purpose seeks connection with God and will be empowered to receive and follow his guidance and direction. Such a person will represent God’s presence and radiate his impact in human interactions and will convey the Image of God to others.
Positive Impact and Light
People feel or observe Godliness in a person through positive impact that radiates from him or her. Similar to light radiating from a light source. Let your Godliness be evident in interactions with others, to motivate them to appreciate God and seek to interact the same way with other people: “… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” [Matthew 5:16].
Summary of What We Learned
The “salt of the earth” teaching conveys a message that God creates every person with an intrinsic capability to represent his presence and radiate his impact in human interactions.
This capability represents the human value of a person before God, which he expects to be evident in interactions with others: to enhance and preserve the goodness of people, like salt enhances and preserves the goodness of food.
Let your Godliness be evident to others and motivate them to appreciate God and seek to interact the same way with other people.
Study Guide with Notes
Study guide available: Link to Study Guide with Notes