Seamus Hammond
The Bible mentions specific scents that are meaningful to God. While some are pleasing to Him, others are not. According to 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, Christians should have a distinctive aroma, a sweet scent rising to God, recognised by those on the path to salvation. This aroma is produced by our words and actions that spread the love of Jesus.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Aroma of God | Sweet |
| Citrus | |
| Flowers | |
| Frankincense | |
| Freshly-ground coffee |
What You'll Learn
The aroma of our prayers
The Bible states that God is pleased by the aroma of certain prayers. These include prayers of thanksgiving, forgiveness, intercession, praise and adoration, utter dependence, the seeking of wisdom, petitions and supplications, the seeking of peace, and salvation.
In the Old Testament, God commanded the priests of Israel to burn incense made from a blend of five exotic spices. This fragrance, along with the constant prayers of his people, was sacredly sweet to God.
God is so pleased by these prayers that he collects them in "golden bowls" in heaven.
The Aroma of Repentance
In the Bible, God commanded the people of Israel to sacrifice certain animals to atone for their sins. However, it was not the aroma of the sacrifices that pleased God, but what they represented: repentance, clean souls, and changed lives.
Over time, Israel became careless with their sacrifices, and God rebuked them for this. He wanted genuine repentance that came from humble and contrite hearts.
The Aroma of Our Witness
The apostle Paul charges Christians to spread "the fragrance of the knowledge of Jesus Christ everywhere". We are the aroma of Christ to God, and our testimonies produce a powerful fragrance that God delights in.
To those who are being saved, it is a lovely perfume of life everlasting, but to those who are perishing, it is the sour stench of death eternal.
The Aroma of Our Love
The greatest act of love was when Jesus offered up his life for the sins of his people. In being crushed, Christ's sacrifice gave off the sweetest, most sacred fragrance.
As followers of Christ, we are called to demonstrate his suffering and sacrifice through our own emotional, spiritual, and physical sufferings on behalf of others. It is in expressing Christ in this way that we become a fragrant offering to God.
The Aroma of Christ
We are the fragrance of Christ when we love him more than our reputation and are willing to risk looking foolish to please and honour him. We are also the fragrance of Christ when we imitate him and sacrifice ourselves for others.
We leave the aroma of Christ wherever we go, and through our words and actions, we make known the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Christ.
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The aroma of our repentance
The Bible mentions several aromas that are pleasing to God. One of these is the aroma of our repentance.
In the Old Testament, God commanded the priests of Israel to burn incense made from a blend of five exotic spices. This act was not just about the fragrance itself, but what it represented: the prayers of the people. Similarly, Israel was required to sacrifice certain animals to atone for their sins. Again, it was not the aroma that pleased God, but what it signified: repentance, clean souls, and changed lives.
God desires genuine repentance that arises from humble and contrite hearts. Martin Luther, in his ninety-five theses, wrote, "When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said 'Repent,' he intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance." Repentance is not peripheral to a life of worship; it lies at the heart of it, which is why God finds it especially fragrant.
When we repent, we are offering our lives in devotion to God. Like frankincense, which emits its strongest aroma when heated, our afflictions and ability to love God in hard times reveal our sweetest devotion to Him.
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The aroma of our witness
The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 that we are to spread "the fragrance of the knowledge of [Jesus Christ] everywhere". We are to be like a sweet perfume that permeates the air and leaves an aroma "redolent with life". Our witness, our testimony, and our proclamation of the gospel should be like a pleasing fragrance that attracts people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
However, it is important to recognize that not everyone will receive our witness in the same way. To those who are being saved, our message is like a lovely perfume, offering the hope of eternal life. But to those who are perishing, it can be like a sour stench, reminding them of the reality of eternal death. This reaction is not dependent on how we deliver our message, as we are instructed to speak "with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15), but rather on the condition of the heart of the hearer.
Our lives, therefore, become a sweet-smelling aroma of sacrifice. Just as the burnt offerings in the Old Testament were a "sweet savour" to God because they represented devotion rather than sin, our lives are now offered as a sacrifice of devotion to God. Christ dealt with our sin on the cross, and now we live for Him, spreading the fragrance of His knowledge and love everywhere we go.
May we always be mindful of the aroma we leave behind and strive to be a sweet fragrance that draws others to the love, hope, and salvation found only in Jesus Christ.
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The aroma of our love
May our love always be a sweet aroma, a blessing to those around us, and a delight to the nostrils of God. May it be a fragrance that draws others towards us, a beacon of light and love in a world that so often feels dark and lonely.
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The aroma of Christ
The Bible describes Christians as having a distinctive aroma—an "exquisite fragrance" that rises up to God. This aroma is a metaphor for the impact that a Christian's words and actions can have on others, spreading the love of Jesus and leaving an aroma "redolent with life".
The "aroma of Christ" is not a literal scent, but a figurative way of describing the essence or spirit of Christ-like behaviour. It is a sweet savour, like the scent of freshly baked bread or the fragrance of flowers, that spills over and draws others towards it.
To manifest Christ's aroma is to make visible or known what has been hidden or unknown. It is achieved through words and deeds that reflect Christ's love, sacrifice, and humility. It is an offering of worship, a sweet savour that spills over and draws others towards it, just as a delicious meal cooking might draw someone up to a door.
Christians are called to be the fragrance of Christ in the world, to spread his knowledge and love through their actions and words. This is a challenging task, and Christians may feel inadequate to the task. However, it is through Christ that they find the confidence to manifest his aroma, and it is through affliction and hardship that their devotion is proven and their sweetest aroma is released.
So, while there may not be a single scent associated with the aroma of God or Christ, the concept of aroma in the Bible is a powerful metaphor for the impact that Christians can have on the world, leaving a lasting impression of Christ's love and drawing others towards salvation.
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Frequently asked questions
The aroma of God is described as a sweet fragrance, like that of flowers, perfumes, and incense.
The Bible mentions specific scents that hold significance for God. In the Old Testament, God commanded the priests of Israel to burn aromatic incense made from exotic spices, symbolizing the constant prayers of his people.
The sense of smell is powerful and often evokes memories and emotions. Certain scents can remind us of specific people, places, or experiences, creating a spiritual connection.
Yes, 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 states that Christians should spread "the fragrance of the knowledge of [Jesus Christ] everywhere." This aroma represents the impact of our words and actions on others, leading them to experience the love of Jesus.
Some people have shared that the scent of freshly ground coffee or specific perfumes can evoke a sense of calmness, nostalgia, or spiritual connection. These aromas can serve as reminders of God's presence and bring comfort or inspiration.
