Aroma of Christ

II Corinthians 2: 14-17

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.

I Corinthians 1:18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

In Hebrews 4:12, the Word of God is compared to a double-edged sword. Indeed it is. The word of God carries a double-edged message. To those who abide by the Word, it is a message of redemption and blessings. To those who disregard it, it is a message of curse. The aroma of Christ is the fragrance of life to His people, but the smell of death to the unbelievers. In Deuteronomy 28, it is clearly spelled out that if you obey the Lord our God and carefully follow His commands, you will be abundantly blessed, whether you are coming in or going out. On the other hand, if you disobey Him and do not follow His commands, then all the curses will come upon you and overtake you. There is nothing gray about this.

While God is Love, He cannot tolerate those who choose to stay in sin and refuse to submit to the Lord. It is in our interest to abide in Him and follow His commands.