The Sweetest Aroma To God: Pleasing Fragrance Or Sacrifice?

The idea of a sweet aroma to God is a recurring theme in the Bible. In the Old Testament, God commands the burning of aromatic incense and sacrifices, which represent the constant prayers of his people and their repentance. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul writes that Christians are to be the fragrance of Christ to God, a sweet aroma that brings life to those who are saved and death to those who are perishing. This aroma is manifested through our words and deeds, reflecting Christ's sacrifice and spreading the knowledge of God. The concept underscores the importance of living a Christ-like life, pleasing to God, and impacting others with the fragrance of our actions and faith.

The aroma of our prayers

In the Bible, certain scents hold specific meanings for God. While some delight Him, others cause Him to recoil. The aroma of our prayers is one such fragrance that has a profound significance for God.

In the Old Testament, God commanded the priests of Israel to burn aromatic incense—a blend of five exotic spices—on the golden altar inside the Holy of Holies. This act symbolised the constant prayers of God's people, rising up to Him like a sweet-smelling aroma. The incense was so sacred to God that any deviation from His explicit instructions was met with severe consequences.

The Bible also outlines specific types of prayers that are especially pleasing to God:

• Prayers of Thanksgiving (1 Timothy 2:1)
• Prayers for Forgiveness (1 John 1:9)
• Prayers of Intercession (1 Timothy 2:1)
• Prayers of Praise and Adoration (Psalm 148:1–14)
• Prayers of Utter Dependence (Matthew 7:7)
• Prayers Seeking Wisdom (James 1:5)
• Petitions and Supplications (1 Timothy 2:1; Philippians 4:6)
• Prayers Seeking Peace (Philippians 4:6–7)
• Prayers for Salvation (Romans 10:9–10)

These prayers are so precious to God that He collects them in "golden bowls" in heaven (Revelation 5:8), savouring their aroma eternally.

The concept of prayer as a sweet aroma to God is further reinforced by the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians. He describes Christians as spreading "the fragrance of the knowledge of [Jesus Christ] everywhere". We, as believers, are the aroma of Christ to God, offering our prayers and devotion like a sweet fragrance.

To those who are being saved, our prayers are like a soothing perfume, drawing them closer to God. However, to those who are perishing, our prayers may carry a different scent, one that exposes their sin and turns them away. Nonetheless, our prayers always carry a powerful fragrance that delights God and impacts those around us.

The sweet aroma of our prayers is a testament to our devotion to God. Just as frankincense releases its strongest aroma when heated, our faith is refined and our prayers become even more fragrant when we endure trials and afflictions.

May we always be mindful of the impact of our prayers and strive to offer them as a sweet-smelling aroma to God, pleasing Him and bringing glory to His name.

The aroma of our repentance

In the Bible, certain scents are said to hold specific meanings for God. While some delight Him, others cause Him to recoil. The aroma of our repentance is one such fragrance that God finds pleasing.

In the Old Testament, Israel was commanded to sacrifice certain animals to atone for their sins. However, it wasn't the scent of the sacrifices that pleased God, but what it represented: repentance, clean souls, and changed lives. If performed properly, these sacrifices were described as "a pleasing aroma to the Lord" (Numbers 15:3).

Over time, Israel became careless with their sacrifices, and God rebuked them for their insincerity. He made it clear that He did not desire vain offerings or insincere confessions, but genuine repentance that came from humble and contrite hearts (Psalm 51:17).

Martin Luther, in his famous Ninety-Five Theses, wrote, "When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said 'Repent,' he intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance." This highlights that repentance is not a peripheral act but is at the very heart of a life of worship. It is this sincere and heartfelt repentance that God finds especially fragrant and pleasing.

The book of Leviticus provides further insight into the concept of repentance as a sweet aroma to God. The burnt offerings and sacrifices described in Leviticus were not about appeasing an angry God but pointed to Jesus, the Lamb of God, who was sacrificed for the sins of humanity. As individuals bowed in humility and worship, their sacrifices, symbolizing repentance and a desire for a right relationship with God, became a sweet-smelling aroma to Him.

When we, as believers, offer our lives as living sacrifices, we too become a sweet aroma to God. This act of repentance, surrendering our lives to Jesus and allowing Him to dwell within us, causes His aroma to spill over into the atmosphere around us. It is this fragrance of Christ that delights the heart of God and draws others to experience His love and grace.

In conclusion, the aroma of our repentance is not just about the act of sacrifice or confession, but it is the sincere turning away from sin and turning towards God. It is a reflection of our hearts' desire to be conformed to the image of Christ. This act of humble obedience releases a sweet fragrance that rises as a pleasing offering to our Heavenly Father.

The aroma of our witness

In 2 Corinthians 2:14–16, the apostle Paul charges Christians to spread "the fragrance of the knowledge of [Jesus Christ] everywhere". We are called to be witnesses of the knowledge that Jesus died to bring us to God forever, for our greatest joy. Our testimonies produce a powerful fragrance that God delights in, for truth always smells good to God.

Our lives are the sweet-smelling aroma of sacrifice. Paul's terminology takes us back to the offerings in the Old Testament. The burnt, meal, and peace offerings were a "sweet savour" (aroma) to God because they represented not sin but devotion to God. It was only after the sin and trespass offerings had been given that one offered the sweet savour offerings. Sin had to be dealt with first; this is why our lives are the "sweet savour" offerings—Christ dealt with our sin on the cross. Now we simply offer our lives in devotion to God.

We are the fragrance of Christ when we love Him more than our own reputation. We 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 in love. We live our lives on behalf of others, not ourselves.

We are called to be the aroma of Christ to the world. This is a daunting task, and we may feel inadequate to the challenge. But we are not called to be adequate in ourselves; our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant.

The aroma of our love

When we love, we are like Christ, and we become a sweet savour to God. Our love is a reflection of Christ's love for us, and it is in loving that we become like Him. As Christ loved us and gave Himself for us, so we are called to love and sacrifice for others. In doing so, we become a sweet fragrance to God, and we manifest the sweet aroma of Christ.

But our love is also a sacrifice. It is not always easy to love, and sometimes it requires us to lay down our lives for others, just as Christ laid down His life for us. When we love through hardship and affliction, our devotion to God is revealed. Like frankincense, which gives off its strongest aroma when heated, our love gives off its sweetest fragrance when tested by the fire of adversity.

The aroma of Christ

The Bible describes Christians as a sweet fragrance to God, using the imagery of incense and sweet-smelling offerings. This concept is found in both the Old and New Testaments, with specific references to the aroma of Christ in 2 Corinthians 2:14-17.

The Old Testament sacrificial system, which included burnt offerings and incense, is a key part of understanding the aroma of Christ. These offerings were often described as having a “sweet aroma” or “savour” to the Lord. For example, Leviticus 1:9, 13, and 17 describe burnt offerings as a "sweet aroma to the Lord." This imagery reflects the idea that these offerings were pleasing to God, not because of the smell itself, but because of what they represented: devotion, worship, and repentance.

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul builds on this idea, stating that Christians are "a fragrance of Christ to God" (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). This fragrance, or aroma, is described as being manifested through our lives, as we spread the knowledge of Christ. It is interesting to note that Paul uses the same Greek word, "osmē," for aroma, which simply means a smell or odor.

The Impact of the Aroma

The impact of this aroma is twofold. For those who are being saved, it is an aroma of life, drawing them towards Christ. However, for those who reject Christ, it becomes an aroma of death, exposing their sin and causing them to turn away. This is reflected in Paul's statement that we are "a fragrance from death to death, and to the other a fragrance from life to life" (2 Corinthians 2:16).

Manifesting the Aroma of Christ

So how can we manifest the aroma of Christ in our daily lives? It involves imitating Christ and sacrificing ourselves for others in love. It is living a life of devotion to God and allowing Christ to be visible in us. Additionally, it is about using our resources to meet the needs of others and being willing to risk our reputation to honor Him.

The Privilege and Challenge

Manifesting the aroma of Christ is both a privilege and a challenge. It is a privilege to be used by God to spread the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ. At the same time, it is a challenge because we recognize our inadequacy and unworthiness for such a task. However, as Paul reminds us, our confidence is not in ourselves but in God, who has called us and will equip us for this ministry.

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