On March 15, 2005, Philadelphia NBC News Channel 10 published an article with the following headline: “Couple Sells Candles That Smell Like Jesus.” I want to share a small snippet of what the article announced: “Now there’s a candle that lets you experience the scent of Jesus, and they’ve been selling out by the case . . . Light up the candle called ‘His Essence’ and its makers say you’ll experience the fragrance of Christ. The formula [for the candle] is all spelled out in Psalm forty-five. It’s a Messianic Psalm referring to when Christ returns and His garments will have the scent of myrrh, aloe and cassia.”(1)
I’m here to tell you that the true fragrance of Christ is not emitted from a candle; but rather, it’s to issue forth from His followers. Believers should serve as the aromatherapy of life to the world, emitting the grace-filled fragrance of life in Christ. The lost can’t receive life in Christ unless they first hear about it; therefore, those who have received life in Jesus must be willing to share that life with others. Believers must “pay it forward,” so to speak, and relay the wonderful news that leads to salvation and true life in Christ; because, as Romans 10:14 asks, “How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”
Fragrance of Life, Aroma of Death (vv. 14-17)
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
We find here the statement, “the fragrance of His knowledge” (2 Cor 2:14). The definition of “fragrance” is “the state or quality of having a pleasant odor,” “a sweet or pleasant . . . scent,” and it is “a substance, such as a perfume or cologne, designed to emit a pleasant odor.”(2) A fragrance, simply put, is a good smell.
The fragrance of His knowledge is “good smelling knowledge,” meaning that it’s very appealing. In 2 Corinthians 4:6, Paul declared that “God . . . has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” This good smelling and appealing knowledge is the news that Jesus Christ is God come to earth, in order to become the sinless and perfect sacrifice and lay down His life on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of mankind.
In Philippians 3:8, Paul said, “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” He declared that he was willing to abandon everything in this world that meant something to him, in order to “know Him and the power of His resurrection” (3:10). For Paul, his main goal in life was “knowing” Jesus, and he craved the “knowledge” of Christ.
Knowledge is defined as an “acquaintance or familiarity gained by sight, experience, or report,” and the term can also be used in an intimate manner.(3) The fragrance of the knowledge of Jesus made Paul want to know Christ more intimately; and we’re supposed to allow the fragrance of His knowledge to be diffused through us so that others will be attracted into an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.
“The fragrance of His knowledge” in verse 14, is defined as, “the fragrance of Christ” in verse 15. Since a fragrance smells good, then Jesus Christ is sweet smelling to those who believe in Him, or rather to “those who are being saved” (2:15). It’s also possible for Him to be appealing to “those who are perishing” (2:15), or rather to the lost.
In verse 16, the term “fragrance” then transitions to “aroma.” An aroma is “an odor arising from spices, plants, cooking, etc.”(4) An aroma can be good or bad depending on the source. “The fragrance of Christ” was sweet smelling and appealing to both the saved and the lost; however, we read something different about the word “aroma.”
We are informed about an “aroma of life leading to life,” and an “aroma of death leading to death” (2:16). We are not only a fragrance, but an aroma. Our presence can bring the refreshing smell of life, such as in beautiful flowers; or the gut-wrenching smell of death. An aroma is sweet smelling to the saved, but foul smelling to the lost.
When we come before the world as the “fragrance” we bring what is appealing and attractive. People see us and want what we have. The “fragrance” is the message of forgiveness and salvation in Christ. It is the Word of God seen through our life, as we become a living epistle (2 Cor 3:2-3).
The “fragrance” is the Word; however the “aroma” is the Law. When we appear before the world as the “aroma” we remind people that without a relationship with Christ, they’re destined to spiritual death and eternity in hell. We represent the Law that, by the Word, brings about conviction of sin (Rom 7:7) leading unto death (6:23).
Allow me to explain this concept further. In verse 14, Paul said, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.” In Paul’s day and time “when a Roman general won an important military victory, the Senate or Emperor honored him upon his return home with a ‘triumph.’ This was something like a . . . parade . . . The victorious general and his soldiers usually came first. Behind him came the incense-bearers. They carried censers of burning incense, which represented thanksgiving to the gods for victory. The scent of this burning incense wafted all along the street behind the incense-bearers.”(5)
“Next came the captives, usually consisting of two distinct groups: 1.) Those who had voluntarily surrendered and complied with Rome. They were to be set free after the triumph. 2.) Those who resisted and were forcibly subdued came last and in chains. They were to be executed after the triumph. You can imagine how differently these two groups of captives reacted to the incense. To the former group, it represented rescue and freedom. To the latter group, it represented defeat and imminent execution.”(6)
God is always leading us at the front of the parade of triumph, and as we follow Him praising His name and shouting His glory to the world, an aroma is being lifted up. To the one group - “those who are being saved” - it is a reminder of release, and freedom from sin and death. To the other group - “those who are perishing,” or the lost - it is a reminder that they are still held in bondage awaiting judgment, condemnation, and death.
I wish to emphasize that we are only the “aroma of death” to those who refuse “the fragrance of his knowledge” that leads to eternal life. If we’re setting a good example in our life of the love of Jesus Christ, and sharing a message of repentance, forgiveness and grace, then we are being diffused in the world as a beautiful and sweet smelling “fragrance.”
Believers Are Ministers of Life
Keep in mind that “we are the aroma of . . . life leading to life” (2 Cor 2:16). We are a minister of life; and as a minister of life we become a life giver, as Christ works through us to diffuse life into the world. We must emit the refreshing smell of life at all times. If people smell death, let it be because the life that we preach reminds them that there is death to pay if they refuse salvation in Christ.
In reference to this special ministry, Paul asked in verse 16, “And who is sufficient for these things?” He answered this question over in 2 Corinthians 3:4-6, declaring this: “And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter [or the Law] but of the Spirit; for the letter [or the Law] kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
So, who is sufficient to become as the fragrance of Christ and to become a minister of life? No one really, for Paul explicitly said, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves” (2 Cor 3:5). We are insufficient by ourselves. Paul continued to say over in 2 Corinthians 3:5-6, “Our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers.” Our power comes straight from God by means of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
In 1 Thessalonians 1:5, Paul said, “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit,” and in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, he said, “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
We need to realize that being a minister of life is not something we do in our own strength. When we come to realize that we’re not independent, then we can become totally dependent on God; and whenever we’re dependent on the Lord, He is able to work through us in a mighty way!
Believers Are Ministers of the Word
In verse 17, Paul shared this: “For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.” When Paul spoke of “the word of God” he was referring to the “Word of Life,” or the Scripture. Paul shared the truth of the Scripture; but as for these others, if they were using the Word for dishonest gain then they could have been perverting the Scripture. When Paul preached the Word it was “the pure milk of the word” (1 Pt 2:2), leading to spiritual sustenance and life; and it was the untainted message of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone.
“The fragrance of his knowledge,” mentioned in verse 14, is based on the Word, for it is by the Word of God that a person learns the “knowledge” leading unto life. Because Paul and his companions spoke in sincerity from God, they were speaking with pure motives. They genuinely cared for people and were not driven by a desire for personal gain. They did not tickle people’s ears and tell them what they wanted to hear for money or recognition.
Allow me share the difference between religion and relationship. In “religion,” the religious leaders will uphold man’s traditions and what makes the community comfortable, even if it goes against the Word; and the leaders will do this to maintain their status. In a “relationship” of life with Jesus Christ, ministers of the Word won’t hold back the hard truths of the gospel, for they’re not concerned about maintaining their own life in this world. They’re focused on others, in helping them find everlasting life in Jesus.
Paul and his companions were so honest and sincere about what they believed that they were willing to die for their faith, so that others might live. In 2 Corinthians 4:11-12, Paul declared, “For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.”
In order to become a successful minister of life we must make sure that our heart is pure before God. We must be full of life ourselves from where we have been abiding in Jesus; and the fragrance of life that we diffuse will be the overflow of our own love relationship with Jesus Christ.
Time of Reflection
If you’re a believer, having a personal relationship with Jesus, are you allowing yourself to be used by the Lord to diffuse the fragrance of Christ and the fragrance of His knowledge? Are you emitting the fragrance of life to those who are being saved as you share the message of grace? Are you also preaching the Law which brings about conviction of sin, and which becomes the aroma of death to those who resist the gospel and are perishing?
If you have not yet received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, have you ever caught a whiff of the fragrance of His knowledge? The knowledge of salvation through Christ leads to life! In 2 Peter 1:3, Peter said that “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” Please realize that the knowledge of Him who is calling you will lead you to all things that pertain to righteousness and life.
The knowledge of Jesus is simply knowing the truth about how Jesus died for you on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23), but Jesus stepped in and took your place in death, in order that “the gift of God” might be “eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (6:23). Jesus not only died, but He rose from the grave proving that He was victorious over death and sin.
In Romans 6:4, Paul said “that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Because Jesus rose from the grave, you too will one day rise victorious over sin and death, and enter into eternal life in heaven (6:8-9). If you will believe the knowledge that arises from the fragrance of Christ, repent of your sins and confess your faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, then you will receive the forgiveness of sins and eternal life (10:9-10).
NOTES
(1) “Couple Sells Candles That Smell Like Jesus,” posted March 15, 2005, www.nbc10.com/news/ 4287825/detail.html (Accessed July 2007).
(2) “Fragrance,” American Heritage Dictionary: www.dictionary.reference.com/browse/fragrance (Accessed July 2007).
(3) “Knowledge,” Dictionary.com Unabridged: www.dictionary.reference.com/browse/knowledge (Accessed July 2007).
(4) “Aroma,” Dictionary.com Unabridged: www.dictionary.reference.com/browse/aroma (Accessed July 2007).
(5) Gary DeLashmutt, “God’s Triumph in Christ,” www.xenos.org/ct_outln/2cor3-5.htm (Accessed July 2007).
(6) Ibid.
