Greetings beloved of God,
Today, let’s take a look at how believers are called to conduct themselves and influence the world around them:
“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.”
— Mark 9:50
After explaining to His disciples that they are the living sacrifice and that they will be “salted with fire”—meaning they will go through various trials so that their faith may be perfected—Jesus now makes several statements about the salt itself.
First, Jesus declares that salt is good. In the Old Testament sacrificial system, salt was added to offerings both for preservation and to add flavor. In this context, Jesus emphasizes that salt is good because of its preserving and seasoning qualities.
In a parallel passage, Luke records a similar teaching that follows Jesus’ explanation of the cost of discipleship:
“If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.”
— Luke 14:26
“Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
— Luke 14:34–35
Here, the “salt” refers to the conditions of discipleship. As long as those conditions are maintained, the believer preserves both the flavor and purity of their faith.
Therefore, every believer must remain watchful over the condition of their discipleship. Each of us should examine ourselves to ensure that our faith remains anchored in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Scripture repeatedly calls believers to be sober-minded and self-controlled. Paul writes:
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:3–5
Peter likewise warns believers that the enemy seeks to take advantage of those who are not watchful:
“Be of sober spirit, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
— 1 Peter 5:8
Paul also exhorts believers to continually test and examine themselves:
“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?”
— 2 Corinthians 13:5
It is easy for one to drift into idolatry and lose focus on the one true and living God. For this reason, believers must constantly remind themselves where their faith lies—is it in the finished work of Christ on the cross, or in something else?
Jesus calls the salt “good.” When a believer maintains the qualities of discipleship—faith, perseverance, and holiness—it is a good and pleasing thing. Peter echoes this idea when he instructs believers to add to their faith certain virtues:
“Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these things are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the full knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
— 2 Peter 1:5–8
But Peter also warns of the danger when these virtues are lacking:
“For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.”
— 2 Peter 1:9
Jesus says, “If the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again?” Luke’s account explains that such salt becomes worthless and is thrown out. Likewise, when a believer neglects the conditions of discipleship—forgetting they have been forgiven and made new in Christ—they become spiritually unfruitful.
This is dangerous because Scripture expects every believer to grow in fruitfulness and good works. A believer who loses this “saltiness” loses their spiritual effectiveness.
Jesus then gives the solution: “Have salt in yourselves.” This points to the believer’s responsibility to remain diligent, sober-minded, and steadfast. We are to make use of the ordinary means of grace—regular study of Scripture, prayer, participation in the sacraments, and fellowship with the saints—so that we continue to grow in faith and spiritual vitality.
The evidence of this growth is seen when believers are at peace with one another.
When believers quarrel, fight, or act unlovingly, it reveals that the salt has lost its flavor. This is serious because Jesus commands His followers to love one another:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
— John 13:34–35
Loving one another and living at peace with one another are not just moral duties—they are the natural result of a heart resting in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
When our hearts are fixed on Jesus—trusting in Him not only for our salvation but also for our daily sanctification—peace and love flow naturally from within.
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Leave a Reply