By: Robert Serreyn
Question… What did Jesus mean in Mark 9:49?
Mark 9:49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
Answer: The fire that Jesus was referring to was the gift of tongues (the ability to speak in any language (Gr. Glossa) WITHOUT learning it) mentioned in Acts Chapter 2, Verse1 – 11.
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
In Matthew 5:13 Jesus told his disciples that they were to be salt (witnesses) to the world and through the ability to speak in any language they were to share the Gospel and the Word Of God to the entire earth.
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.
Jesus goes on to tell his disciples that Every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. In other words they (sacrifice) will all suffer persecution (salted) and death (salt) for their proclamation of Jesus as God (John 1:1), Jesus as the only way to heaven (John 14:6), and the scriptures as the true Word Of God (John 17:17).
In Conclusion
Even though the gift of tongues is NOT IN OPERATION TODAY (1 Corinthians 13:8-10), The Great Commission (Mark 16:15) still is.
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
We are to be witnesses (salt) to the world just as Jesus told his disciples.
While Some of us may suffer persecution there will be others that will pay the ultimate price of death for their Stand for Christ, His Gospel, and His Word.
John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as YOUR savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins – See 1 Cor. 15:1-4.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved – Acts 16:31
The moment that you do, YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
John 10:28-29 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH