Message from 2 Corinthians 2:12-17

What happens when God’s people proclaim the gospel? Because God stands behind them, they can be confident that some will repent and believe, and others will reject the message. Paul writes and reassures the Corinthians that whenever they speak the gospel, they are victors. Their words and their lives are the aroma of Christ leading others to the knowledge of God.

It is God who stands behind his people and speaks through his people when they proclaim the gospel. Christians can be confident, because God’s sufficiency overcomes our hesitancy. The results of that proclamation are always mixed. Some people will receive the message Christ as the fragrance of new life. Others will be confronted with the knowledge of Christ and to them, it will smell like death.

The gospel message is not something that we are selling, in order to get people to “buy more.” Instead, we speak what God has given us to speak, with all sincerity. It is tempting to make the message of Christ more appealing, more inclusive, and water it down in order to obtain more followers, but Jesus told his followers to take the narrow road. Broad is the road that leads to destruction; narrow is the road that leads to life.

We speak what God has given us to speak- the message of humanity lost in sin, unable to save themselves, in need of the only Savior, Jesus Christ. Rejection of Him will lead to everlasting torment, but surrendering to Him secures everlasting life for all those who repent and believe. These truths will give an aroma of life to some, and and aroma of death to others. Now is the day of salvation. Do not harden your heart if you hear His voice. Trust Jesus as your only hope of salvation and life.