Today’s devotion covers Mark 9:49-50.
“49 “For everyone will be salted with fire.
50 “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 9:49-50.
Calvin, in his Commentary on these verses, states (partial quote):
“Mark 9:49. Every man shall be salted with fire. … According to Mark’s narrative, our Lord, having spoken of eternal fire, (Mark 9:48,) exhorts his own people, on the contrary, to offer themselves now to God to be seasoned with fire and salt, that they may be devoted sacrifices, and that they may not draw upon themselves, by their sins, that fire which is never extinguished. To be salted with fire is an incorrect phrase; but as salt and fire possess the same quality of purifying and refining, Christ applied the same term to both. Such was the occasion on which this sentiment was uttered. It was, that believers may not refuse to be purified by fire and salt; since, without this seasoning, they cannot be holy to God. He alludes to an enactment of the Law:
“Every oblation of thy meat-offering shalt thou season with salt, neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat-offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt,”
(Leviticus 2:13.)
But now he shows, that believers are salted by the word of the Gospel, that they may be sanctified.
He next adds, salt is good. This extends generally to all, whom God has once been pleased to season with his own word. He exhorts them to retain always their savor. To give the name of salt to what is salted is rather a harsh metaphor, but it creates no doubt as to the meaning. When men have lost, by their carelessness, that savor which they obtained by the grace of God, there is no farther remedy. Those who lose their faith, by which they were consecrated to God, and become without savor, are in a desperate condition: for the good savor cannot be acquired by any other seasoning. Besides, those who have become corrupted, by making void the grace of God, are worse than unbelievers, as salt spoils the land and the dunghill
Mark 9:50. Have salt in yourselves. This word may be taken in a different sense from what it had in the former verse, as meaning that seasoning of good odor, which is obtained by faith, or rather the wisdom of the Spirit. When Paul enjoins, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt,” (Colossians 4:6,) he means, that we ought to be holy, and purified from all profane follies and corruptions, and filled with spiritual grace, which edifies all who hear it, and diffuses over them its sweet odor. If this exposition is adopted, it may be necessary to understand the latter clause as referring to the mutual peace, which is promoted by that salt. Yet, as it is more probable, that this last sentence depends on the former discourse, I think that Christ is exhorting his own people to maintain the rigor of faith, which may serve also to purify others. “You must do your endeavor, not only to be salted within, but likewise to salt others.” But as salt bites by its sharpness, he immediately admonishes them to regulate the seasoning in such a manner, that peace may be preserved entire with one another.”
Here is the link to the full Calvin Commentary which also draws within the parallel passages of Matthew 5:13-16 and Luke 14:34-35 – http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom31.ix.xlii.html
In summary, using quotes from Calvin, first, “believers may not refuse to be purified by fire and salt”. Second, believers must preserve within themselves “that savor (BH – unique flavor of salt) which they obtained by the grace of God” and “which may serve also to purify (BH – and preserve and attract) others”. Third, “But as salt bites by its sharpness”, believers should “regulate the seasoning in such a manner, that peace may be preserved entire with one another.”
Regarding this first point of purification, Zechariah 13:9 states:
“… Refine them as silver is refined,
And test them as gold is tested
They will call on My name,
And I will answer them;
I will say, ‘They are My people,’
And they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.'”
“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” 1 Peter 1:6-7.
Regarding the second point of preservation of their own unique flavor, Matthew 5:13 states: “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.” Yes, we, believers, are certainly different and should not try to lose our distinctive taste and smell to the world. The non-elect will be offended, but the elect will be attracted. “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?” 2 Corinthians 2:14-16.
Regarding the third point of avoiding needless irritation, believers should not be salty in the sense of needlessly offending others. A little salt is good; a lot of salt is bad. Colossians 4:5-6 states: “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” Romans 12:17-18 states: “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 