You Smell

“For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16).

You smell.

Either an aroma of Christ that brings life, or a stench of death to those who are perishing.

Your smell is either an aroma of Christ or your smell is the stink of death.

There are two main ways we can stink and give off the stench of death.

• When what we profess to believe and how we practice our faith are inconsistent, we stink.
  • Instead of drawing people to the reality of Christ, we repel others from Christ because our lives bear little resemblance to Jesus.
  • You don’t have to say a word; our lives are the proof.
  • When what we believe and how we live are inconsistent, we stink.
• The second way that we can stink is when we compromise, water down, and present a Jesus of our imaginings instead of presenting the Jesus of scripture.
  • The Jesus of our imaginings is all about mercy, grace, and love. That is fine. That who Jesus is. But he is also a God of holiness, righteousness, and justice.
  • When we omit God’s call to holiness, righteousness, and justice because such a God is less palatable to our friends, we bear false witness. We stink. Such a Christ cannot save.
  • A compromised, watered-down presentation may win you friends, but it will not lead people to Jesus. Such a compromised, watered-down presentation of Christ is a lie. And it stinks.

There are two main ways we become the aroma of Christ.

• When our confession and profession is consistent with our practice and life, we give off the aroma of Christ.
  • It’s not that we live perfect lives. That’s impossible. But people can see a difference, they can smell a difference. Christ is present because he is present in us.
  • Others can smell the difference between those who make life about God’s glory and the care of God’s people. Such a life smells so different because our world is all about individual and self-care. When people come in contact with someone who genuinely cares and loves God and others, they cannot help but smell the difference.
• When the Christ we present to others is the Christ of scripture.
  • It’s not our job to make Jesus more presentable. It’s our job to faithfully present Jesus to others. It’s up to God and the Holy Spirit to convert. We are not responsible for converting others. We are responsible for faithfully presenting Christ.

You smell, Little Church and Lakewoodgrace. Let’s make sure we smell like the aroma of Christ.