How are Christians an aroma and letter? A timely and important question.
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ,
and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
2 Corinthians 2:14
Christians are an aroma to everyone they meet.
Same Aroma
When Paul wrote, he had a Roman triumphal procession in mind. This was a celebration given to a conquering General. He paraded through the streets, accompanied by much fanfare. His army, priests with incense, and the prisoners Rome would soon execute were also in this parade.
For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life (2 Corinthians 2:15-16).”
Different Life or Death Responses
In the parade, people inhaled the same incense but had differing responses. To the Romans, the fragrance tasted of victory. To the prisoners, it was the scent of defeat, even mortality. The believers’ aroma is the knowledge of Christ which God produces through us and it’s with us wherever we go. The people we meet will see Jesus within us:
Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account
for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.
1 Peter 3:15
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Along the same lines, we are a letter read by everyone we meet:
You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
2 Corinthians 3:2-3
An Approval Letter
In 2 Corinthians, Paul defends his apostleship against others claiming authority over the church. Those others bolstered the case for their authority through letters of approval. But Paul says the saints in Corinth are his letter of commendation. The Holy Spirit gave the believers at Corinth a change of heart when they believed the Gospel, and it showed in their behavior.
Glory or Profane?
For better or worse, Christians reveal Christ as they live their daily lives. Outsiders watch closely, looking for integrity or hypocrisy. God is honored when we live fruitful lives:
“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples (John 15:8).”
Believers profane His Name by disobedience, as when Israel rebelled before their deportation:
“But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went (Ezekiel 36:21).”
Have we checked our aroma lately?
How are Christians an aroma and letter? Do unbelievers get enough knowledge of Christ through us to believe?
