The Sweet Smell Of Success Or Stink Of Failure

The concept of being a pleasing aroma or a bad odor to God is explored in 2 Corinthians 2:15, which states that we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. This verse highlights the idea that believers in Christ are like a sweet fragrance to God, spreading the good news of Jesus and acting as His ambassadors in the world. However, not everyone receives this aroma in the same way. While some perceive it as a pleasing aroma, others may find it repulsive, reflecting their spiritual separation from God. This metaphor of aroma represents the impact of our faith on others and how it can lead to salvation or eternal damnation.

The pleasing aroma of Christ

The Bible, in 2 Corinthians 2:15, says, "For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing". This verse is a powerful reminder of the impact that believers can have on the world around them.

To understand the meaning of this verse, it is important to consider the context in which it was written. The apostle Paul, the author of 2 Corinthians, was facing various difficulties and disappointments while spreading the gospel in different cities. Yet, he remained thankful for God's goodness and reflected on the importance of his ministry of evangelism.

Paul compares the ministry of evangelism to triumphal military parades that were common in the Roman world at that time. In such parades, captives of war were marched through the streets, while garlands of flowers were carried and incense was burned as offerings to the gods. The aromatic perfumes filled the air, creating a pleasing and life-giving fragrance for the victors, but a smell of death for those about to be defeated and put to death.

In the same way, believers are like a fragrance spread during these victory processions. They carry the aroma of Christ with them, and this aroma has a different meaning for different groups of people. For those on the path of salvation, it is a fragrance that brings life and joy. But for those on the road to destruction, it is the smell of death, a reminder of their impending defeat.

The metaphor that Paul uses here is a powerful one, contrasting the responses of Christians and non-Christians to the gospel. Believers who preach the gospel may be seen as spreading the smell of death to those who are perishing, but to fellow Christians, they are a source of life and triumph.

The importance of this ministry of spreading the gospel is immense, and Paul acknowledges that no one is truly worthy of such a task. It is only through God's strength and competence that believers can effectively share the good news of Jesus Christ.

In conclusion, being the pleasing aroma of Christ means that believers have a profound impact on those around them. They carry the fragrance of Christ, which brings life to some and serves as a warning of impending judgment to others. It is a reminder that believers are called to be ambassadors of Christ, spreading the knowledge of Him wherever they go.

The aroma of conquest

Conquest is the act of military subjugation of an enemy by force of arms. It involves the appropriation of territory, often through violent means, and can lead to migration, cultural exchange, and the establishment of new social classes. The aroma of conquest, therefore, carries a dual meaning.

On the one hand, it can signify the sweet fragrance of victory and triumph. This is akin to the aroma of Christ, which believers are said to embody in 2 Corinthians 2:15: "For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." The scent of incense, often associated with religious ceremonies and offerings, can symbolize the spread of knowledge and the good news of Jesus.

On the other hand, the aroma of conquest can also represent the odour of death and destruction. Conquest often entails violence, plunder, and the loss of freedom for the conquered people. This darker side of conquest is akin to the aroma of death mentioned in 2 Corinthians 2:16, where believers are described as "an odour of death and demise to those who are perishing."

The dual nature of the aroma of conquest reflects the differing perspectives of the conquerors and the conquered. To the victors, the scent of victory is sweet and pleasing, while to the vanquished, it may be a bitter reminder of their defeat and loss.

Furthermore, the aroma of conquest can also symbolise the cultural exchange that occurs following a military conquest. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the Corinthian church, comprising believers from diverse backgrounds, would have been familiar with Roman triumphal processions where incense played a significant role. The aroma of incense, in this context, could signify the fusion of cultural norms and ideas, as the conquerors and conquered interact and influence each other over time.

In essence, the aroma of conquest encapsulates the complex nature of military victories. It can represent triumph and the spread of influence, but it can also carry the scent of loss, destruction, and the inevitable cultural exchanges that occur when two societies come into contact, even if it is through hostile means.

The aroma of death and demise

The Bible, in 2 Corinthians 2:15, says:

> "For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."

The following verse, 2 Corinthians 2:16, describes believers as either "an odor of death and demise" to those who are perishing or "a fragrance that brings life" to those who are being saved.

The "aroma of death and demise" can be further understood through the context of triumphal processions and military parades in Roman culture. Incense was offered up by the victorious Roman army, and while it would have been a pleasing aroma to those on the winning side, it would have been a stark reminder of death and defeat for the prisoners of war.

In a spiritual sense, the aroma of death and demise represents the consequences of rejecting Christ and the gospel. It signifies the spiritual death and separation from God that results from unbelief. This idea is further reinforced by the contrast drawn between the two groups: those who are perishing and those who are being saved.

In conclusion, the aroma of death and demise is a powerful biblical concept that illustrates the impact and perception of the Christian message. While believers are a pleasing aroma to God, they may be seen as an offensive odor to those who are perishing. This imagery highlights the seriousness of the gospel and the need for individuals to choose life by accepting Christ's sacrifice and salvation.

The aroma of life

> "For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."

This verse suggests that believers in Christ are like a pleasing aroma to God, and they spread this fragrance by sharing the gospel and being Christ's representatives on Earth. The act of sharing the good news of Jesus is compared to offering a sweet-smelling incense to God.

The idea of a pleasing aroma is also mentioned in the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Leviticus. On sixteen occasions, an "aroma" is described as something pleasing to the Lord. For example, Leviticus 1:9 says:

> "The priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord."

The importance of the aroma of a sacrifice is not just in the smell itself but in what it represents—the substitutionary atonement for sin. The first mention of God smelling the aroma of a burnt offering is found in Genesis 8:21, where Noah offered a sacrifice after leaving the ark, which pleased God.

In the New Testament, Jesus is described as the final sacrifice for sin and the ultimate pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:2 says:

> "Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Jesus' sacrifice on the cross pleased the Father, and through His death, believers can come before God.

The aroma of redemption

> "For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." (2 Corinthians 2:15)

This pleasing aroma is not just about a nice scent, but it represents something much deeper and more profound. It symbolizes the redemption that is found in Jesus Christ and the spread of the good news of salvation to a lost world.

In the Old Testament, the book of Leviticus mentions "aroma" several times as something pleasing to the Lord. Specifically, the aroma of burnt offerings and sacrifices was important. For example, in Leviticus 1:9, it says:

> "The priest shall burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the Lord." (Leviticus 1:9)

The pleasing aroma was not just about the smell, but what it represented—the substitutionary atonement for sin. God was pleased with the sacrifice, and it led to His promise to never again destroy every living creature with a flood (Genesis 8:21). The aroma of the sacrifices foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who would be the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

In the New Testament, Jesus is described as the final sacrifice for sin, the ultimate propitiation: "Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:2). Jesus' death on the cross and His atonement for our sins pleased the Father (Isaiah 53:10). Through His sacrifice, believers have been redeemed and can now come before God.

As followers of Christ, we are called to be His ambassadors and spread the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere (2 Corinthians 5:20). We are to be the pleasing aroma of Christ in a world that desperately needs to experience His redeeming love. Just as a delightful scent draws people in, so should our lives be a sweet fragrance that attracts others to the saving knowledge of Jesus.

However, it is important to recognize that not everyone will receive this aroma in the same way. To those who are perishing, we may be "an odor of death and demise" (2 Corinthians 2:16), but to those who are being saved, we are "a fragrance that brings life" (2 Corinthians 2:16). Our purpose is to faithfully spread the aroma of Christ, knowing that God's opinion of us is greater than man's.

In conclusion, the aroma of redemption is a powerful reminder of God's grace and our calling to share the good news of Jesus with a lost and dying world. May our lives be a sweet fragrance that draws others to the Savior, and may we faithfully represent Christ as His ambassadors of reconciliation.

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