The Smell of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 2:14-16a)

2 Corinthians 2:14-16a – But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.
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The gospel has two distinct odors. Paul makes it clear in his imagery from 2 Corinthians 2 that there are two different possible responses to the gospel, and two distinct “fragrances” of Christ, depending on how your heart responds to the gospel. To the one who is being saved by God, the fragrance of the gospel is sweet; but to one who is perishing, the fragrance is unbearable.

Why is the fragrance of the gospel unbearable for the lost? It strikes at the very heart of the lost person with offense. Most in our world do not want to admit that they are a sinner, nor that they are accountable to God for that sin. Many want to excuse their sin, claiming that all do it, so why should they personally be judged for it. Neither can they stomach the idea of being saved by God without them doing something to earn it. The picture of Christ on the cross is one, in their minds, of unnecessary suffering, cruelty, and offensiveness, or even worse, of irrelevance.

To the person who is being saved, however, the fragrance of the gospel is sweet, sweeter than anything else in the whole world. To the one who recognizes himself as a guilty sinner without excuse in danger of facing the wrath of Almighty God, the idea that God would make for him an escape is sweet smelling news indeed. The true believer sees himself as a sinner, and does not pretend otherwise. The true believer recognizes that he or she can do not a single thing to make himself or herself better before God; but they do not use this truth to excuse further sin. Instead, the true believer feels great pain for and disgust over his or her sin, and looks to God, in faith, seeking a remedy. When the true believer sees Christ on the cross in his or her mind’s eye, they see the place where God’s righteous wrath and his overwhelming love meet. They see Jesus, the Son of God, bearing the burden of their sin. They see God demonstrating his love for them. They see hope of forgiveness, of grace, of eternal life where before there was only an expectation of judgment. They see beauty, and smell the sweet aroma of grace.

How does the gospel smell to you? When you picture Christ on the cross in your mind, what do you feel? Do you love the gospel? Do you cling to Jesus as your only hope of being right before God? Do you see the beauty and smell the pleasant aroma of grace? Or, does it bother you, disgust you, frustrate you, and turn your stomach? If the gospel does not smell sweet to you, you should fear, because the Bible says that the fragrance is one from death to death. But if, when you hear the gospel, it is a sweet aroma, than rejoice, as you smell the true scent of redemption.

Dear Lord, I pray that you will help me to see and know even more of the beauty of the gospel. I pray that you will apply to my heart the sacrifice of Jesus. I pray that you will draw to my mind the beauty of all that you have done. I thank you for Jesus, for making a way for me to be forgiven; and I place all my trust for all my eternal future in Christ and Christ alone. Lord, help me to spread abroad the fragrance of the gospel, even as I recognize that not all will sense it as sweet. Grant that I would share the gospel with many who will sense it as the fragrance of life, and who will turn to Jesus for grace. Let me do this, not because I am special, but because you are glorious.