Thirsty4Truth

Jesus Said: "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." Matt. 5:13.

He goes on to say: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." Matt. 5:14.

There was a large crowd gathered around Jesus when He spoke these words, and basically what He was saying was this: If you have become salty, then go stale, you can never be salty again, but you are good for nothing.

So does that mean that if we have been saved, then lost our salvation, that we can never be saved again? The answer is yes and no. In order to fully understand that we must examine the context in which Jesus spoke and to whom He was speaking.

In this case Jesus spoke to His disciples and a large crowd which had followed him. He wasn't talking to one in particular, but to the group as a whole. If He had spoken to one in particular then that would mean that if we as an individual are saved, then fall away, we can never come back and serve God again, or be a child of His.

The parable of the prodigal son clearly indicates that if we fall, that we can come back again and be a child of God. So Jesus could not have referred to one in particular.

So we know that Jesus spoke to the group as a whole, and who was this group? This group consisted of true believers, and curiosity seekers who were not true believers. Perhaps they believed at the time but then later fell, like Judas who later betrayed Jesus.

However, I believe that most of these people loved Jesus, the work He did, and they truly wanted to know Him and follow Him. I believe the people Jesus spoke to were the people of the New Testament church. In other words, I believe this is a statement spoken to the church as a whole, because the church is supposed to be the light of the world.

If the church has become salty, then lost its saltiness, it can never become salty again. Let me rephrase that, if the church has been saved, or ordained to be a witness, but fails to be the witness that it was supposed to be and falls into sin, it can never be a witness for God again. Instead it will be trampled under the foot of man, meaning it will become a mockery to the people of the world. The unbelievers of the world will see the hypocrisy of the church and will have nothing to do with it.

That does not mean that everyone in that church cannot be saved again, but the church as a whole has lost its ministry, and cannot be an effective witness again. An individual can still be a beacon and be a witness, but not under the church doctrine, because the church cannot regain its light back, whereas the individual can.

These are very harsh words which Jesus spoke. And it almost seems irrational that a church group cannot repent and start worshiping God again, but there is an explanation and it makes perfect sense.

"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ." 2 Cor. 11:13.

"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." 2 Cor. 11:14.

"Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." 2 Cor. 11:15.

If satan is transformed into an angel of light, where would he take his seat? There is only one place where he can do that, and that is in a fallen church. The elders and leader of the church are given a false doctrine which people want to hear, and the need for repentance never arises, because in their minds, and hearts, all is well.

People who leave this church can once again become effective witnesses, but not as long as they are under the false teaching, because the false light of that church will reflect on the individual, making it impossible.

Satan has taken his seat and will continue in that church, because he wants to be like God and he will not give up, or willingly let go of those people. Even if the ministers leave, satan will get someone else to take over and continue with the false teachings.

The saddest part about this is, that the teachings will be the kind of teachings about peace and love, exactly what everyone wants to hear, and satan is welcomed with open arms.