Page 573 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

SALT SEA - SALVATION

If left piled in one place it results in sterility. Likewise connection there is, if any, between the present state of
the Gospel and the churches are to be spread across the the Salt Sea and the destruction of Sodom and
world and not to be congregated in only one place (Mt. Gomorrah, is not known. In Ge. 14, the battle of the
28:18-20). (6) Salt irritates, as when placed on a four kings against the five was in ‘the vale of Siddim,
wound. Likewise, the Gospel irritates the unsaved, and which is the Salt Sea’ (v. 3). The four kings had come
they do not appreciate God’s message or people. from a distance, but the five kings, of whom the kings of
Jesus warned that salt can lose its savor (Mt. 5:13; Sodom and Gomorrah were two, were near home;
Mk. 9:50; Lk. 14:34). “He was apparently referring to farther than this the connection cannot be
rock salt (rather than the purified salt obtained from traced” (Concise). [See Salt.]
evaporation), used as fertilizer. The rock salt of Jesus’ SALVATION. The book of Romans is an orderly
day could lose its saltiness. Minerals were leached from presentation of the Bible’s doctrine of salvation. It begins
it by moisture, and the salt deteriorated under high by showing the need for salvation. (1) God is holy and
heat. Without saltiness, what remained had no value to punishes sin (Ro. 1:18). (2) Man is sinful and has
anyone” (Revell). broken God’s law (Ro. 1:19—3:18). (3) Nothing man
The Christian’s speech is to be “alway with grace, can do can earn him God’s favor (Ro. 3:19, 20). It then
seasoned with salt” (Col. 4:6). “The meaning seems to shows the way of salvation. Salvation is the free gift of
be, that our conversation should be seasoned with piety God’s eternal blessing through the atonement of Jesus
or grace in a way similar to that in which we employ Christ. It is offered to all who believe on Christ (Ro.
salt in our food. It makes it wholesome and palatable. 1:16, 17; 3:22-30; 4:3-8, 24). Salvation is through faith
So with our conversation. If it be not imbued with the ALONE and grace ALONE, not by any mixture of grace
spirit of piety, it is flat, insipid, unprofitable, injurious. and law, faith and works (Ro. 4:13-16; 11:6). Romans
The spirit of piety will make it what it should be— then shows the evidence and fruit of salvation, which is a
useful, agreeable, beneficial to mankind. This does not holy life (Rom. 6-8).
mean that our conversation is to be always, strictly The Place of Works in Salvation
speaking, religious—wherever we may be—any more Faith alone is the door into God’s wonderful
than our food should be mere salt; but it means that, salvation. Having been forgiven and blessed with
whatever be the topic, the spirit of piety should be eternal blessings in Christ, we serve God with a thankful
diffused through it—as the salt in our food should heart—not in order to be saved or in order to perfect our
properly season it all” (Barnes). “Let all your discourse salvation, but because we have been saved. We are not
be as becomes Christians, suitable to your profession— saved by works; we are saved unto works (Ep. 2:8-10;
savoury, discreet, seasonable. Though it be not always of Titus 3:4-8).
grace, it must be always with grace; and, though the Position and Practice
matter of our discourse be that which is common, yet
there must be an air of piety upon it and it must be in a The Bible makes a distinction between the Christian’s
Christian manner. Grace is the salt which seasons our position and his practice. Other terms for this are
discourse, makes it savoury, and keeps it from standing and state, relationship and fellowship, union
corrupting” (Matthew Henry). [See Salt Sea.] and communion. The believer’s position in Christ is
unchanging, secure, and eternal the moment he is born
SALT SEA. The Bible name for the Dead Sea in Israel into God’s family. His practice, on the other hand,
(Ge. 14:3). “The term ‘Salt Sea’ is very appropriate; for depends upon his day-to-day fellowship with Christ and
it contains much more salt than is found in ordinary sea is changeable. Justification has to do with the believer’s
water [25-35 percent salinity level], which makes it position before God.
extremely nauseous. It is also very heavy, so that a
person cannot sink in it; and after bathing it leaves a The book of Ephesians. The book of Ephesians lays
crust of salt on the flesh. “On the restoration of Israel in out this distinction plainly. Chapters one through three
a future day a river will issue out of the house, the present the believer’s position and standing; chapters
future temple, which river will go down into the desert four through six deal with his practice and state, his
and run into this sea, and the waters will be healed. En- walk. In Ep. 1-3 the believer is repeatedly said to be “in
gedi, about half way along the coast of the Dead Sea, on Christ” (1:1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13; 2:6, 10, 13, 22;
the west) will be one of the stations of the fishermen 3:6, 12). This is the theme of this section of the epistle.
(Eze. 47:1-10) (Concise). Some have speculated there The key word in Ep. 1-3 is “grace” (1:2, 6; 2:5, 7, 8; 3:2,
might be a connection with the Salt Sea and the 7). In Ep. 4-6 the subject changes to the believer’s walk
overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, though this is not in this world. The key words in Ep. 4-6 are “walk” (4:1,
certain. De. 29:23 indicates that the overthrow of these 17; 5:2, 8, 15), “conversation” (4:22), “put on” (4:24;
cities left a residue of salt and infertility. “What 6:11), and “obey” (6:1). The pivotal verse is Ep. 4:1—”I

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 573