The Fragrance of Christ
The apostle Paul made the following statement in 2 Cor. 2:15-16, “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death to death, and to the other the aroma of life to life. And who is sufficient for these things?” (NKJV)
I like the phrase “the fragrance of Christ.” When I think of the word fragrance I think of that which has a pleasant smell – a flower out of the garden. But there are many wonderful fragrances when you live out in the country as I do. The smell of new mown hay, the smell of a cornfield in July on a late summer evening about dusk, the smell of the farm field after having just been turned over (plowed) in the spring. All evoke pleasant thoughts; arouse an inner peace and contentment, a satisfaction with God’s creation, and a comfort in knowing he is out there Lord over all his creation. Strange how smells can direct one to thoughts of God but then God created them that way. Nature is a witness of God (Rom. 1:20, also read God’s answer to Job beginning in Job 38).
If we are a Christian when we think of Christ the thought of him should have the same kind of effect on us as the aromas we have been talking about. It is pleasant to think about Christ. Like the pleasant smells of a country evening in late summer thoughts of Christ should bring a peace and contentment to our souls and they do, that is if Christ is in us and we are in him. When Paul preached Christ those who accepted Christ found the tree of life for Christ was and is that tree, a tree figuratively speaking, with pleasant blooms, a sweet fragrance of life, bearing as its fruit life itself.
But, as there are pleasant smells there are also unpleasant ones – the open sewer, the hog pen, skunks, decaying animals killed in the road, etc. From those we flee. Christ and his gospel are like the unpleasant offensive smell of death in those who are rejecting him. Ever wonder why some just do not want to hear it, the gospel? I am persuaded that deep down they know their guilt and their need but the desire is to live their life as they please (the Bible in the newer translations sometimes uses the phrase “selfish ambition,” or the word “selfishness,” or “self-seeking” with regards to a certain state of mind) and they thus harden their heart as they do not want to hear what they will not accept and that which condemns them.
To the one who hears the gospel and accepts it there is a sense of freedom, the conscience is made clean, and burdens are lifted as the song goes “at Calvary.” To the one who will not hear, does not want to hear, his view of Christ and his gospel is a message of enslavement, of the loss of personal freedom. Thus the fragrance of Christ is to the one party pleasantness while to the other offensive. One man’s heart is hardened by the gospel of Christ while the other man’s is softened and made tender but it is always a personal choice as to which it will be for either way we allow it.
In Eph. 5:2 the New King James version of the Bible talks of Christ’s sacrifice of himself for us as “an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” I think the International Standard Version states it best as far as the meaning of the passage goes when it says Christ “gave himself for us as an offering and sacrifice, a fragrant aroma to God.” That is to say God was pleased. He was satisfied. Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient.
The fragrance of Christ is the fragrance of life, of pleasantness. Each of us must choose either the fragrance of life or the fragrance of death. We get to choose which it will be. Moses, in speaking to the children of Israel in Deut. 30:19 spoke words that are applicable to us today as well. “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.” (NKJV) Why not choose Christ?
About the Author
Denny Smith’s articles are all listed on his web site – dennysmith.net. You will also find there the audio sermons of a friend of his, Waymon Swain. There are over 110 audio sermons on site. Excellent preaching by one who has now preached over 50 years.
Zenbow Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser from Made By Zen;
|
|
North Point HW4274 Blue Heated Stainless Steel Travel Mug with USB – 12 Volt $20.00 Don’t you hate it when your hot drink turns cold? Maintain the heat with this dual 12V and USB stainless steel heated travel mug! It can hold up to 16-ounces of your favorite warm beverage (cold beverage too!) and has a stylish stainless steel and metallic blue profile. Use it while computing or in your car! Keep it hot and savor the taste you enjoy…. |
|
|
Electric Oil Burner Collectible Incense Burner Aromatherapy Decoration $12.01 This gorgeous Electric Oil Burner Collectible Incense Burner Aromatherapy Decoration has the finest details and highest quality you will find anywhere! Electric Oil Burner Collectible Incense Burner Aromatherapy Decoration is truly remarkable.Electric Oil Burner Collectible Incense Burner Aromatherapy Decoration Details:Condition: Brand NewItem SKU: SS-A-59643Dimensions: H: 5.5 (inches)Crafted wit… |
|
|
Electric Oil Burner Collectible Incense Burner Aromatherapy Decoration $10.20 This gorgeous Electric Oil Burner Collectible Incense Burner Aromatherapy Decoration has the finest details and highest quality you will find anywhere! Electric Oil Burner Collectible Incense Burner Aromatherapy Decoration is truly remarkable.Electric Oil Burner Collectible Incense Burner Aromatherapy Decoration Details:Condition: Brand NewItem SKU: SS-A-59644Dimensions: H: 5.5 (inches)Crafted wit… |
|
|
Aroma-the Fragrance of Costly Worship $14.00 … |
|
|
Blue Sky Fragrance Lamp by Alexandria $38.95 Alexandria’s Large Size Fragrance Lamps come in a beautiful gift box and includes: Metal decorative cap Snuffer cap Funnel Wick stone Instruction booklet Free 16 oz bottle of Courtney’s Fragrance Lamp Oil Fragrance Lamp volume is about 10 ounces. Dimensions are 6″ x 3.5″ Courtneys offers a very wide array of fragrance lamp oil choices. Most “burn clear”, but some have a tendency to produce a littl… |
|
|
Sounds & Scents of the Holiday Season (Aroma Disc) $14.00 STREISAND,TONY BENNETT,JULIE ANDREWS,ANDY WILLIAMS AND OTHERS… |
|
|
Serenity Aromatherapy Incense & Oil Set – Gardenia $19.99 Give a therapeutic gift to induce some relaxation with our Serenity Aromatherapy Incense & Oil Sets. These aromatherapy gift sets include incense cones, incense sticks, a decorative incense holder, three tealight candles, fragrance oil, an oil burner, and a diffuser with diffuser sticks. All products included in the set are of the same scent. Sets available in two different scents. Burning and usa… |
|
|
Aroma Night Light with Dimmer Switch – Trees $19.99 Great for bathrooms, kitchens, offices, and any area where a plug-in is desirable. The brighter the light, the stronger the fragrance they produce! The intensity of the fragrance and the ambiance of the light can be adjusted on all of our aroma night lights. Our plug-in aroma night lights are adjustable by a dimmer switch, located on the right side of the base. Simply scroll up or down accordingly… |
|
|
Aroma Night Light with Dimmer Switch – Leaves - $19.99 Great for bathrooms, kitchens, offices, and any area where a plug-in is desirable. The brighter the light, the stronger the fragrance they produce! The intensity of the fragrance and the ambiance of the light can be adjusted on all of our aroma night lights. Our plug-in aroma night lights are adjustable by a dimmer switch, located on the right side of the base. Simply scroll up or down accordingly… |
|
|
HDE (TM) USB Diffuser – Scented Oil Aromatherapy $4.95 Don’t suffer in a stinky workspace. This handy little flash-drive-sized USB stick contains a scent-diffusing pad to make your work area more pleasant. Add a drop of the included oil or use your own favorite scent, and just plug in to an available USB port (reminder: the diffuser must be used in a horizontal position). If the scent stops diffusing, add another drop of oil…. |