Katrina Rosales
The Bible mentions several fragrant offerings that are pleasing to God. In the Old Testament, Israel's worship of God included various offerings, typically involving the sacrifice of a spotless animal, as described in Leviticus 1: And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Similarly, in Philippians 4:14-23, Paul uses the imagery of a pleasing aroma to describe the partnership between the Philippian church and God, emphasizing the importance of worship and sacrificial giving. The ultimate sacrifice that pleased God was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, as stated in Ephesians 5:2: Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sacrifice | A spotless male animal from the herd, usually a lamb, that is sacrificed and burned upon the altar at the temple |
| Jesus Christ as the final sacrifice | |
| The way we live our lives | |
| Incense |
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What You'll Learn
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ as the ultimate sacrifice
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ is a central aspect of Christian theology, underpinning a variety of theological interpretations of salvation and atonement. This singular event, which occurred in 1st-century Judea, most likely in AD 30 or AD 33, is described in the four canonical gospels and referred to in the New Testament epistles. The gospels provide detailed accounts of Jesus's arrest, trial, and crucifixion, with Mark and John noting that Jesus was crucified between two rebels or thieves.
In Christian theology, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is regarded as the ultimate sacrifice to God. This interpretation is built upon the salvific theme found in the Gospel of John, where John the Baptist proclaims Jesus as "The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" (John 1:29). This idea of Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb of God is further elaborated on by Karl Rahner, who draws an analogy between the blood of the Lamb shed at the crucifixion and the cleansing nature of baptismal water.
The crucifixion is also interpreted as a pre-eternally determined event by the Father, as argued by Sergei Bulgakov in Eastern Christianity. This interpretation holds that the crucifixion was planned before the creation of the world to redeem humanity from the fall of Adam. In this view, the crucifixion is seen as an act of perfect obedience and a sacrifice of love that pleased God.
Paul's writings, particularly in Galatians 6:12, emphasize the connection between the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, with the term "the cross of Christ" signifying the message of salvation through sacrifice. Additionally, Paul uses the imagery of a "pleasing aroma" or "sweet aroma" to describe the sacrificial nature of Jesus's crucifixion and the worshipful lives of those who follow him. This idea of a fragrant offering is also mentioned in Leviticus 1, where the burnt offering is described as "a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord."
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ, therefore, serves as the ultimate sacrifice, fulfilling God's plan for the salvation of humanity and providing a model for worship and obedience. Through his sacrifice, Jesus took away the sins of the world, making it possible for believers to become children of God instead of His enemies.
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The aroma of spring
In the Bible, Paul describes the aroma of spring as a "sweet aroma of an acceptable sacrifice" in Philippians 4:14-23. He compares the way we live our lives before God to this pleasing fragrance. Just as the aroma of spring uplifts our spirits, our worship and dedication to God should be a sweet-smelling offering that pleases Him.
In the Old Testament, Israel's worship often involved sacrifices of spotless animals burned upon the altar as offerings to God. One such sacrifice, described in Leviticus 1, states: "If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish... And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord" (Leviticus 1:3,9).
As we breathe in the sweet scents of spring, let us also remember the spiritual significance of this season. May it be a time of renewal, where we dedicate ourselves anew to God, offering our lives as a living sacrifice, pleasing to Him.
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The Lamb of God
The Bible refers to Jesus Christ as the "Lamb of God". This name was first used by John the Baptist, Jesus's cousin, when he introduced Jesus to a crowd in the desert. The Gospel of John quotes John the Baptist as saying, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world".
The idea of Jesus as the "Lamb of God" is rooted in the concept of sacrifice. In the Old Testament, the Jews were instructed to make sacrifices to atone for their sins. These sacrifices typically involved the offering of a spotless animal, such as a lamb, that would be burned upon an altar in the temple. The book of Leviticus describes one such sacrifice: "If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish... And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord". The book of Hebrews describes the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as the "ultimate and final sacrifice to God".
Jesus is referred to as the "Lamb of God" because, like the sacrificial lamb, he was without blemish or defect. He lived a perfect and unblemished life and then sacrificed himself on the cross to atone for the sins of humanity. The Bible states that it is through his death and subsequent resurrection that believers can now have eternal life.
The imagery of a "pleasing aroma" is used in the Bible to describe the act of worship and the advancement of the gospel. Paul uses this imagery in his letter to the Philippians, describing the way we live our lives before God as giving off a particular smell—the sweet aroma of an acceptable sacrifice. This idea of a fragrant offering is also mentioned in a prayer of thanksgiving: "May he use his people to make his name great among our neighbours and the nations, as a fragrant offering to God".
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Worship and service
Worship
Worship is both an attitude and an act, and it involves adoring, idolizing, and revering God. Jesus said that we should worship in Spirit and truth, and this means worshipping according to what God has revealed about Himself in Scripture. True worship abides within the doctrine of Christ and can be offered with or without a Book of Confessions or other manmade books of instruction.
The first-century church engaged in several devotional acts in their worship services, including:
- Communion supper (Acts 20:7)
- Prayer (1 Corinthians 14:15-16)
- Songs of praise to God (Ephesians 5:19)
- Collection of offerings (1 Corinthians 16:2)
- Reading of Scriptures (Colossians 4:16)
- Proclamation of the Word of God (Acts 20:7)
Prayer is an essential element of worship, and it should be directed only to God and in harmony with His will. Corporate prayer is particularly important as it creates unity among believers. Singing is also a form of worship, and the apostle Paul encourages us to "speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" (Ephesians 5:19-20).
Service
Service to God involves living our lives in a way that is pleasing to Him and making sacrifices. In the Old Testament, Israel's worship included sacrifices of spotless animals that were burned upon the altar (Leviticus 1). However, through Jesus, God's people are called to worship Him, not with sacrifices, but with the way we live our whole lives (Romans 12:1-2).
Paul describes the way we live our lives before God as giving off a "sweet aroma" of an acceptable sacrifice (Philippians 4:14-23). Gospel partnership is a form of worship, and this includes genuine concern for one another and sacrificial giving to the cause of the gospel (Philippians 4:10-20).
As Christians, we are called to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2). This involves obeying God and heeding His word, which is more important than burnt offerings or sacrifices (1 Samuel 15:22).
In summary, worship and service to God involve a combination of devotional acts, prayer, praise, sacrifice, and living our lives in a way that aligns with His will as revealed in Scripture.
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Gospel partnership
The Bible has many references to fragrances and aromas that are pleasing to God. For instance, in Leviticus 1, God describes a burnt offering as "a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord". This offering is described as a male from the herd, without blemish, and brought to the entrance of the tent of meeting.
In the New Testament, Paul describes the way we live our lives before God as giving off a particular smell—the "sweet aroma of an acceptable sacrifice". This is in reference to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Paul also uses the imagery of a "pleasing aroma" to describe the partnership between himself and the Philippian church in the advance of the gospel. Gospel partnership is, therefore, a matter of worship, and Paul's relationship with the Philippians involved financial gifts, prayer, and standing firm in living out the gospel together.
The word 'partnership' in the Bible is derived from the Greek word 'koinonia', which means "to share or to participate in" and signifies a deep relationship of mutual love and support. This partnership with other believers is a gift from God, helping to meet our daily needs, propel us forward, and assure us of His presence in the gospel work He has called us to.
Through Jesus, we have a shared work and common goal to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. As we commit to ongoing partnership with other believers, God uses those relationships to deepen our faith and reveal more of Himself to us.
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Frequently asked questions
According to the Bible, God takes pleasure in certain fragrances, but it is not the scent itself that pleases him, rather what it represents. In the Old Testament, God commanded the priests of Israel to burn aromatic incense—made from a blend of five exotic spices—on the golden altar inside the Holy of Holies. The incense symbolised the constant prayers of his people. Similarly, Israel was required to sacrifice certain animals to atone for their sins, which represented repentance, clean souls, and changed lives.
Biblical fragrances were made from natural products, including essential oils gathered from flowers, spices, and fruits. In Egypt's Golden Age, perfume was considered sacred and was used in worship, embalming, and burial rituals. It also symbolised status and royalty.
In Second Corinthians 2:15, our lives are compared to a sweet savour (or perfume) unto the Lord. The fragrance of it gives testimony to those around us, both saved and unsaved. In Ephesians 5:2, Jesus' sacrifice is described as a "fragrant offering and sacrifice to God".
