Text: 2 Corinthians 2:12-17(Key: vvs. 14-16) (NIV for all scriptures unless otherwise noted)
12 Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me,13 I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia. 14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

Purpose:Who or what you hang around will influence what you do and therefore determine what you smell like.

I. Introa. As we continue with our sub-theme, “Love in Action”, I thought we needed to take a step back and investigate the origin and the effects of true agape lovei. Remember, agape love is the God kind of loveii. Only acquired through accepting Jesus Chris as Lord and Savior1. When we accept His Spirit on the inside of us, He brings a lifetime supply of agape love, to us to flow through usa. That love compels me to learn more about Jesus and to tell someone what He has done for me, with a hope that it will entice others to wonder what Jesus could do for themi. There is an underlying question, “Do we love others enough to tell them about the love of God?”ii. “Is your life attracting or repelling?”b. Paul uses the analogy of a fragrance or aroma that can draw others to Godb. Each day, we are bombarded with a variety of smellsi. Some are pleasant and some are rancidii. Some draw us closer and some push us away in disgustiii. Sometimes the thing that stinks is not immediately evident.1. Ex. Kitchen Trash cana. You can’t put your finger on it, but your senses are letting you know that something is wrongiiii. There are even times when you are in denial about smells that others notice1. Ex. B.O.a. Interesting how you don’t notice your own stink until it gets unbearablec. The sweeter or more pleasant the smell, the more we are drawn to iti. Ex. Advertisers want young men to believe that if you use ACT body spray that young women will be drawn to you, uncontrollablyii. Ryan Seacrest in a commercial wants us to believe that if you have minty fresh breath, women will overlook what you are saying and just be drawn to the freshness of your breathd. Today, we will be examining thefragrance that is pleasing to God and will draw man
II. Point #1: What Smells?a. 2 Corinthians 2:14 – 14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.b. Paul often refers to himself as a servant of God in his writingsi. Here, he gives the imagery of the Roman generals who would march back into town after a great victory1. His captives would be following him2. I don’t know but I am glad to be a captive of the Lord Jesus Christa. I feel honored that he will allow me to serve Himc. Throughout the Old Testament there is one thing that is repeatedly mentioned to be a “sweet savor” or “fragrance” to Godi. Exodus 29:18 –“Then burn the entire ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire.”ii. Exodus 29:25 –“Then take them from their hands and burn them on the altar along with the burnt offering for a pleasing aroma to the LORD, an offering made to the LORD by fire.”iii. Leviticus 2:9 –“He shall take out the memorial portion from the grain offering and burn it on the altar as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.”iiii. Leviticus 3:5 –“Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.”v. What is the thing that the Lord considers to be a sweet smell? Sacrifice!vi. There are 44 references to the sacrifices that are a fragrant aroma to Godd. Why is it that God gets so much pleasure out of sacrifices?i. We must first understand the definition of a sacrifice1. Sacrifice – The forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of something or someone considered to be of greater value2. The act of sacrificing the best that one has is a clear sign of one’s obedience, love and reverence for Goda. You could not bring any old broken-down animal to be sacrificedi. It had to be the first and the beste. Not all offerings are a sweet aroma to Godi. Just to following an ordinance without faith and a right heart are actually a stench to Godii. Ex. Genesis 4:3-7 –“In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”iii. Samuel put it like this:1. 1 Samuel 15:22 –22 But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”2. The act of giving anoffering is not good enough to be a sweet aroma to Goda. It must be done in complete obedience to the way that God wants to receive itf. God is so serious about the importance of an appropriate sacrifice that He had to give us an examplei. I can imagine God saying to Himself, “I am so tired of these half-hearted, insufficient sacrifices. I am going to show them the kind of sacrifice that pleases me and will be an aroma “rush” for me.”1. God took the first and the absolute best that he had in order to be and example for us and to provide the ultimate aroma pleasure to Himselfa. He sent the first and the bestb. He sent an unblemished lambc. He sent an obedient servantd. He sent Jesus Christ!ii. Since Jesus was the most perfect and unblemished sacrifice that could be given, He became the most fragrant and lasting aroma God has ever smelled1. Ephesians 5:2 –“live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”g. We are commanded to spread the word about what Jesus did (i.e. “The GOOD NEWS!”)i. v. 14 –“…through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ.”ii. Wherever Paul went, when he told someone about the sacrificial work of Jesus he was spreading the fragranceiii. Every time we share the gospel we are spreading a sweet fragrant knowledge of the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of us
III. Point #2: Who Smells?a. 2 Corinthians 2:15 - 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.b. Ex. Smell my underarmsc. We know that the knowledge of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us is the sweet aroma, but Paul tells us that “…we are to God the aroma of Christ…”(v. 15)d. If the gospel is the story of Jesus’ sacrifice, how then are we the aroma of Christ?i. No matter how much Dove or Irish Spring you wash with, or how much Lysol or Fabreze, or Pierre Cardin that you spray, you will never smell good enough on your own to be a fragrance to Godii. Jesus Christ washed us Himself1. Ephesians 5:25-27 –25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her26 to make her holy, cleansing her (the church) by the washing with water through the word,27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.a. Jesus washed us with the sacrifice of His bloodi. In other words, he took away the reproach between us and Godiii. After washing, you are clean1. Now you put on the fragrance.a. Ex. In my youth, there were times when I was rushing that I didn’t have time to take showeri. I would just spray on some cologne1. That would only last for a while before my true aroma would come through2. What you put in you, not on you, will determine what comes out of youa. If you are going to be an aroma to God, you have to put the right stuff on the insideb. Ex. Kappa Apple, smell coming out of my pores3. The reason why some people struggle to put love into action is because they have not accepted the love of God on the inside of themiiii. God started the cleansing process by washing us or making us holy through the sacrificial blood of Jesusv. The only way that we can “be” the aroma of Christ is that we must spent time digesting the knowledge of Christ, which is His word(continuously)e. Quick test of what aroma is coming from youi. Those who smell like Christ, act like Christii. Those who smell like the world, act like the worldf. We act like Christ when we love like Christ, and when we sacrifice like Christi. Though we are not called to physically die, we are called to die to self1. Romans 12:1 –“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”ii. How can we sacrifice?1. Remember the definition: The forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of something or someone considered to be of greater value2. The giving of my time, talent, tithes, and resourcesa. If it is not a stretch, it is not a sacrificei. It’s a sacrifice to give up that extra sleep to spend time with Godii. It’s a sacrifice to see someone in need and help them even though you are struggling (or it will put you out)1. Ex. CJ asking me to help push a car at 10:00 at nightiii. It’s a sacrifice to forsake some friends that are fun but are a bad influenceiiii. It’s a sacrifice to live holy though it goes against society’s norms (and you will be talked about)g. Would anyone ever accuse you of smelling like Christ?
IIII. Point #3: Impact of smellsa. 2 Corinthians 2:16 - 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?b. What is the impact of you having the fragrance of Christ on your life?i. Answer: “It depends!”1. It depends on situation of the people that you are aroundc. Triumphant Procession (v. 14a)i. In biblical times, when a king went out to battle and they were victorious, they would bring back the spoils from the enemy and also enemy captivesii. There would be a triumphant parade into their home city and the people would burn incense1. To the victors, that incense was a symbol of their victory over their enemy2. To the captives it was a sign that death was imminentiii. V. 14(KJV)–“…thanksbe unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ…”1. If you are in Christ, victory is a givend. We (those that spread the gospel and bask in the aroma) smell like Christ to both the saved and the unsaved(v. 15) i. Both smell the same thing!ii. When the gospel is heard1. To the saved, it challenges them to examine themselves, but it also encourages them that they will be with Christ in eternity2. To the unsaved, it is a realization of eternal death and torment in hella. It should compel them to give their lives to ChristV. Conclusiona. You have a choice todayi. You can hear the good news that Jesus was obedient and sacrificed Himself for our sins and reject it and spend eternity in tormentii. Or, you can receive the good news and rejoice that you have victory in the here and now, even though it may not feel like it1. You can also be assured of eternal joy and peace with Christ in heavenb. If you have accepted the victory of the good news, are you showing the agape love that was shown to us,spreading it, and allowing others to bask in the fragrance?i. When you go around others, do they smell the fragrance of Christ and his sacrifice through my love?ii. We are generally not a good judge our own scent1. Every once and a while we need to ask someone close to you, “Ignore my B.O. or my halitosis for a moment and tell me, do I smell like Christ?”a. In other words, “Do you see evidence of Jesus in my life?”2. You may be surprise at the answer4/8/18 – GSC North 1

Text: 2 Corinthians 2:12-17(Key: vvs. 14-16) (NIV for all scriptures unless otherwise noted)
12 Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me,13 I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia. 14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

Purpose:Who or what you hang around will influence what you do and therefore determine what you smell like.

I. Introa. As we continue with our sub-theme, “Love in Action”, I thought we needed to take a step back and investigate the origin and the effects of true agape lovei. Remember, agape love is the God kind of loveii. Only acquired through accepting Jesus Chris as Lord and Savior1. When we accept His Spirit on the inside of us, He brings a lifetime supply of agape love, to us to flow through usa. That love compels me to learn more about Jesus and to tell someone what He has done for me, with a hope that it will entice others to wonder what Jesus could do for themi. There is an underlying question, “Do we love others enough to tell them about the love of God?”ii. “Is your life attracting or repelling?”b. Paul uses the analogy of a fragrance or aroma that can draw others to Godb. Each day, we are bombarded with a variety of smellsi. Some are pleasant and some are rancidii. Some draw us closer and some push us away in disgustiii. Sometimes the thing that stinks is not immediately evident.1. Ex. Kitchen Trash cana. You can’t put your finger on it, but your senses are letting you know that something is wrongiiii. There are even times when you are in denial about smells that others notice1. Ex. B.O.a. Interesting how you don’t notice your own stink until it gets unbearablec. The sweeter or more pleasant the smell, the more we are drawn to iti. Ex. Advertisers want young men to believe that if you use ACT body spray that young women will be drawn to you, uncontrollablyii. Ryan Seacrest in a commercial wants us to believe that if you have minty fresh breath, women will overlook what you are saying and just be drawn to the freshness of your breathd. Today, we will be examining thefragrance that is pleasing to God and will draw man
II. Point #1: What Smells?a. 2 Corinthians 2:14 – 14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.b. Paul often refers to himself as a servant of God in his writingsi. Here, he gives the imagery of the Roman generals who would march back into town after a great victory1. His captives would be following him2. I don’t know but I am glad to be a captive of the Lord Jesus Christa. I feel honored that he will allow me to serve Himc. Throughout the Old Testament there is one thing that is repeatedly mentioned to be a “sweet savor” or “fragrance” to Godi. Exodus 29:18 –“Then burn the entire ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire.”ii. Exodus 29:25 –“Then take them from their hands and burn them on the altar along with the burnt offering for a pleasing aroma to the LORD, an offering made to the LORD by fire.”iii. Leviticus 2:9 –“He shall take out the memorial portion from the grain offering and burn it on the altar as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.”iiii. Leviticus 3:5 –“Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.”v. What is the thing that the Lord considers to be a sweet smell? Sacrifice!vi. There are 44 references to the sacrifices that are a fragrant aroma to Godd. Why is it that God gets so much pleasure out of sacrifices?i. We must first understand the definition of a sacrifice1. Sacrifice – The forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of something or someone considered to be of greater value2. The act of sacrificing the best that one has is a clear sign of one’s obedience, love and reverence for Goda. You could not bring any old broken-down animal to be sacrificedi. It had to be the first and the beste. Not all offerings are a sweet aroma to Godi. Just to following an ordinance without faith and a right heart are actually a stench to Godii. Ex. Genesis 4:3-7 –“In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”iii. Samuel put it like this:1. 1 Samuel 15:22 –22 But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”2. The act of giving anoffering is not good enough to be a sweet aroma to Goda. It must be done in complete obedience to the way that God wants to receive itf. God is so serious about the importance of an appropriate sacrifice that He had to give us an examplei. I can imagine God saying to Himself, “I am so tired of these half-hearted, insufficient sacrifices. I am going to show them the kind of sacrifice that pleases me and will be an aroma “rush” for me.”1. God took the first and the absolute best that he had in order to be and example for us and to provide the ultimate aroma pleasure to Himselfa. He sent the first and the bestb. He sent an unblemished lambc. He sent an obedient servantd. He sent Jesus Christ!ii. Since Jesus was the most perfect and unblemished sacrifice that could be given, He became the most fragrant and lasting aroma God has ever smelled1. Ephesians 5:2 –“live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”g. We are commanded to spread the word about what Jesus did (i.e. “The GOOD NEWS!”)i. v. 14 –“…through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ.”ii. Wherever Paul went, when he told someone about the sacrificial work of Jesus he was spreading the fragranceiii. Every time we share the gospel we are spreading a sweet fragrant knowledge of the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of us
III. Point #2: Who Smells?a. 2 Corinthians 2:15 - 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.b. Ex. Smell my underarmsc. We know that the knowledge of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us is the sweet aroma, but Paul tells us that “…we are to God the aroma of Christ…”(v. 15)d. If the gospel is the story of Jesus’ sacrifice, how then are we the aroma of Christ?i. No matter how much Dove or Irish Spring you wash with, or how much Lysol or Fabreze, or Pierre Cardin that you spray, you will never smell good enough on your own to be a fragrance to Godii. Jesus Christ washed us Himself1. Ephesians 5:25-27 –25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her26 to make her holy, cleansing her (the church) by the washing with water through the word,27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.a. Jesus washed us with the sacrifice of His bloodi. In other words, he took away the reproach between us and Godiii. After washing, you are clean1. Now you put on the fragrance.a. Ex. In my youth, there were times when I was rushing that I didn’t have time to take showeri. I would just spray on some cologne1. That would only last for a while before my true aroma would come through2. What you put in you, not on you, will determine what comes out of youa. If you are going to be an aroma to God, you have to put the right stuff on the insideb. Ex. Kappa Apple, smell coming out of my pores3. The reason why some people struggle to put love into action is because they have not accepted the love of God on the inside of themiiii. God started the cleansing process by washing us or making us holy through the sacrificial blood of Jesusv. The only way that we can “be” the aroma of Christ is that we must spent time digesting the knowledge of Christ, which is His word(continuously)e. Quick test of what aroma is coming from youi. Those who smell like Christ, act like Christii. Those who smell like the world, act like the worldf. We act like Christ when we love like Christ, and when we sacrifice like Christi. Though we are not called to physically die, we are called to die to self1. Romans 12:1 –“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”ii. How can we sacrifice?1. Remember the definition: The forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of something or someone considered to be of greater value2. The giving of my time, talent, tithes, and resourcesa. If it is not a stretch, it is not a sacrificei. It’s a sacrifice to give up that extra sleep to spend time with Godii. It’s a sacrifice to see someone in need and help them even though you are struggling (or it will put you out)1. Ex. CJ asking me to help push a car at 10:00 at nightiii. It’s a sacrifice to forsake some friends that are fun but are a bad influenceiiii. It’s a sacrifice to live holy though it goes against society’s norms (and you will be talked about)g. Would anyone ever accuse you of smelling like Christ?
IIII. Point #3: Impact of smellsa. 2 Corinthians 2:16 - 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?b. What is the impact of you having the fragrance of Christ on your life?i. Answer: “It depends!”1. It depends on situation of the people that you are aroundc. Triumphant Procession (v. 14a)i. In biblical times, when a king went out to battle and they were victorious, they would bring back the spoils from the enemy and also enemy captivesii. There would be a triumphant parade into their home city and the people would burn incense1. To the victors, that incense was a symbol of their victory over their enemy2. To the captives it was a sign that death was imminentiii. V. 14(KJV)–“…thanksbe unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ…”1. If you are in Christ, victory is a givend. We (those that spread the gospel and bask in the aroma) smell like Christ to both the saved and the unsaved(v. 15) i. Both smell the same thing!ii. When the gospel is heard1. To the saved, it challenges them to examine themselves, but it also encourages them that they will be with Christ in eternity2. To the unsaved, it is a realization of eternal death and torment in hella. It should compel them to give their lives to ChristV. Conclusiona. You have a choice todayi. You can hear the good news that Jesus was obedient and sacrificed Himself for our sins and reject it and spend eternity in tormentii. Or, you can receive the good news and rejoice that you have victory in the here and now, even though it may not feel like it1. You can also be assured of eternal joy and peace with Christ in heavenb. If you have accepted the victory of the good news, are you showing the agape love that was shown to us,spreading it, and allowing others to bask in the fragrance?i. When you go around others, do they smell the fragrance of Christ and his sacrifice through my love?ii. We are generally not a good judge our own scent1. Every once and a while we need to ask someone close to you, “Ignore my B.O. or my halitosis for a moment and tell me, do I smell like Christ?”a. In other words, “Do you see evidence of Jesus in my life?”2. You may be surprise at the answer4/8/18 – GSC North 1

"What's That Fragrance" PASTOR CARLTON McCULLOUGH

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