Smells Like Jesus In Here
2 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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The apostles at that time first preached the Gospel but later, by the will of God, they delivered it to us in the Scriptures, that it might be the foundation and pillar of our faith.
Irenaeus; Jerome
The Gospel is so powerful that it can not only save us, but change us. Empower us. Enable us to accomplish what we cannot on our own. Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” This is why we preach. Why we meet.
Church, what you is so powerful that a rich man was willing to spend everything to get it and
2 Corinthians 2:12–17
12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, 13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia. 14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
Lets examine the text a section at a time.
12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord,
Though successful in Troas, his desire to know the status of the church in Corinth made him restless and he left to go to Macedonia.
The city of Troas was developed in 310 bc by Antigonus and Antigonia. Troas did not receive its name, however, until Lysimachus changed it to Alexandria Troas in 301 bc. He named it Alexandria in honor of Alexander the Great but added Troas to distinguish it from other cities also named in honor of Alexander. Because Troas was an important city in the Graeco-Roman world, it appears several times in the New Testament; Turn to Acts 20
In particular: Acts 20:6–12 “But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days. 7Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. 8There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together. 9And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” 11Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. 12And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.”
Christ, is Messiah, is Anointed one. The oil of anointing the king was the incredibly fragrant oil of the temple. Here refers directly to jesus as his station and authority.
Christs gospel - euangelion - good tidings. Paul would also say my gospel. Its all The Gospel. Good news. That we have salvation from sins and the gift of eternal life IN Christ Jesus our Lord. Have you repented of your sins, have you experienced the life changing power of the Good news of Jesus?
13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.
Titus was a gentile Christian (Gal 2:3) and a regular co worker, and trusted companion of Paul on his journey. (2Cor 8:23; 8:6; 12:18; Gal 2:1) in Titus 1:4 “To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.” Oh that I would have the love and respect like this of Paul. What grace God gave them.
NO Rest in spirit. Having no peace, no comfort that even though everything looked like “success” it wasn’t. Paul who was always seeking the Lord, even when they got to Macedonia, it wasn't the place, it was the person, it was his concern for Corinth. 2 Corinthians 7:5–7 “For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. 6Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.”
Paul was worried in his center about the church in Corinth. Its the nature of a shepherd, of those that Love the body of Christ, Paul loved them, was probably worried about Titus. We see here, their love for each other.
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
Leads us in triumph. The roman victor would lead the procession when returning to Rome, on a white horse, the wreath of victor, captives lead behind, and they burned incense through the streets to be pleasant.
From the celebration in the Christian view, the triumph not in violence but love. The winner, champion is jesus. The anointed one. That fragrant aroma of the anointing and we are in him.
Jesus is the source, we are the result. through us diffuses/manifests the goodness of Jesus in lost world. 1 Corinthians 1:18
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
no matter what happens to us we know that God has His hand on us. We are confident, assured, that if Jesus calls, we go, the result is His to accomplish. Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Saved: sozomenois - present passive plural - being saved. We have been saved are being saved, will be saved. Our salvation was accomplished on the cross. Is being worked out in us in sanctification and will be complete when we are transformed/resurrected anew in Him.
we live in Christ as He lives in us. (John 15)
This is our fruit. Our fruit shows the nature of who we are rooted in to both those that know Him and those still in the world. Smelled apple, cherry blooms? How beautiful.
15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?
To one, we affirm the smell of life. Remember fresh baked bread or cookies? How incredibly pleasant? There are smells that some love some hate. I love the smell of gasoline. Some folks cant stand it. We who are becoming like Jesus, are attracted to his “anointing” whereas those who love their sin, would hate Jesus.
Turn to 2Co 5. when you read in v17 it sounds very much like the statement .
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.
2 Corinthians 4:6 “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” possible Reference to transfiguration (Mark 9; Matt 17).
Who can measure up? Who is equal to this task? No one is inferred answer. With this in mind, why would anyone think they could take advantage through it? We think it was so deep, spiritual no one would be like Copeland or Duplantis, abusing those who love Jesus. Lets seem them;
17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
Someone who has truly responded to the good news, would not peddle it, make light of it by being a huckster. There are folks who misuse greatly the grace and light of God for personal gain.
video: prosperity preachers
2 Corinthians 2:17 “For we are not like a lot of folks who go about huckstering God’s message for a fee; on the contrary, we speak out of a sincere heart, as people sent by God, standing in God’s presence, living in union with the Messiah.”
We say let all be done for the glory of God. Am I doing it for His glory? My job, my family, my downtime, my play, whatever it is, am i doing it for His glory?
A friend has a family member trapped in a church that charges fees for spiritual enlightenment. the more holy spirit power you want, the more you pay.
1 Peter 4:11 “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Ok, why does Paul go from waiting for word about y’all to we smell like Christ, to don’t take advantage of it. Jesus with Peter we talked about last time, and Paul, wanted to assure them, I really do care about y’all. Enough so that I would advance our plans because I see Jesus in you and you see him in us, and you know we aren't just trying to get something or take advantage of you. Paul in Christ, Loves them wholly.
And Jesus wants to love you and show you his grace, wholly, totally, completely. He wants to go through your joy, your hurt, your success and pains. He wants to be your all in all. In the same manner, there are some things in the Christian life we just cannot teach, they must be experienced. You can know all about how to share the gospel, but you wont experience the saving power of Christ in someone else's life until you begin sharing the Gospel with them.
This is done not just with a method or words, but your whole life. At church, at home, at work. We are following the victor home. Jesus has won the war, we are now, even in this fight, walking the victory march.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.