The Aroma of Christ

Read: 2 Corinthians 2:14–16

14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

Smells are hard to hide.
You know what I am talking about.
We have all done it.
Some of us still think it is funny.

Paul is using this word picture of Christians as the “aroma of Christ” to help us understand that we are carrying a hard-to-hide message with us. Belief in the truth that Jesus lived, died, and rose from the dead should permeate the air around us as we cannot help but speak about what we have seen and heard.

Sadly, I am not always carrying a fragrance that aligns with the message and mission of God. I give off bitterness, jealousy, greed, and arrogance. I am short-tempered, slow to listen, serving self and not others. I choose laughs over lifting others up. I talk sports multitudes more than I talk spiritual truths.

You are giving off an aroma!
What is that aroma?

Reflect on what your life “smells like” spiritually.
What attitudes, habits, words, or reactions are spreading from your life into others?

Transformation Takes Time

Read: 2 Corinthians 3:18

18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

You cannot stay the same.
You are constantly changing…for better or worse.

This is the point Paul is making. When the Holy Spirit dwells with those who believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord, they are being transformed day by day.

Think back to a moment 5, 10, or 20 years ago that was extremely challenging or stressful to endure but may now feel like only a momentary blip in your day today.

We can see growth in our lives. We expect growth in our attitude, careers, and skill sets…. But do we expect growth in our spiritual lives?

Can you see evidence of ways that God is changing you?
 Are you more prayerful?
 Compassionate?
 Forgiving?
 Loving?

If the Holy Spirit is in you, it is working on you. The Spirit wants to mold and shape you to be more like Jesus. Can you feel that?

Transformation is slow. It doesn’t happen overnight or in an instant, but as we look back from where we have been, I hope you can see that you are not the same.

A New Hope

Read: 2 Corinthians 3:7–11

7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

In today’s verses, Paul contrasts the ministry of condemnation vs. the ministry of righteousness. A better way to understand this is the Ministry of the Law vs. the Ministry of Faith.

The law showed us the right way to live. It gave us the rules and regulations to obey and honor God. The problem is not with the law, but with us. While we know what sin is, we cannot will ourselves to be sinless.

That is the rub. The Law revealed sin but could not rescue sinners.

But thanks be to God for the ministry of righteousness that comes through Jesus. In this new era, we live with an understanding of sin, not simply because we are given a rule book, but because we are given the Holy Spirit that teaches, corrects, and helps! The law was only able to condemn. Through faith and the power of the Holy Spirit, not only can we be rescued from sins committed, but we are also equipped to combat the sin that tempts us.

Reflect on whether your relationship with God feels driven more by guilt and fear (remnants of the law) or by freedom and transformation (effects of the Holy Spirit).

Completely Insufficient

Read: 2 Corinthians 3:4–6

4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

“Our sufficiency is from God.”

On Sunday, I preached a message titled “Completely Insufficient.”
That is the last thing we ever want to admit. We spend our days proving our worth and value. We want to show we are not dumb, useless, or to be forgotten. We want to matter, and we strive to make ourselves matter.

Paul had every right to claim what he had accomplished and achieved. He had a resume that outshined any of his contemporaries, yet he says honestly, “My sufficiency is from God!”

In essence, Paul is stating, “Who I am is who God has made me.” I did not garner, gain, or grab hold of this opportunity on my own. God called me. God placed me. God uses me. Only through Him am I anything.

Take a moment and consider how exhausting it is to constantly try to prove yourself worthy, capable, or impressive. How much of your day is an attempt to prove your worth or worthiness? On the flip side, how much anxiety do you carry every day worrying if you are good enough or good enough in the eyes of others?

What would change if you truly believed that your sufficiency in life comes from God?
What pressure would be relieved?
What freedom would be found?

Hear this today: Your sufficiency does not rest in what you accomplish, attain, or achieve. Your sufficiency is not based on how good, kind, holy, pretty, or perfect you are.

Your sufficiency is from God. You are loved because He loves you, not because you are lovable!

Don’t Let Bitterness Win!

Read: 2 Corinthians 2:10–11
Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

There is a time to grieve/despair, but there is also a time to forgive!

Sin has consequences. Relationships are fertile grounds for harm to happen. In this season, tough conversations, challenging choices, and even seasons of isolation and despair are fruitful, but should not be final (assuming both parties are humble and repentant)!

Paul is warning that we must not leave someone wallowing in that state of despair, but like a good parent or leader, we show forgiveness and offer a future. This is not easy! It requires us to let go of our legitimate frustrations and show grace to those who have disappointed us! Grace that only God can provide.

Paul offers a warning at the end of this section, revealing that it is a ploy of Satan to keep the offender isolated forever. It is easy to withhold forgiveness and remain resentful, vengeful, and bitter.

Ask God to reveal where you are harboring these attitudes of the Enemy.
Ask God to give you a heart like His to forgive those who have offended you.
Ask God to remind you of the forgiveness He has given you for your rejection, offense, and rebellion!