The Fragrant Aroma of the Knowledge of Christ

9/13 Reading Portions: 2 Samuel 8-9; 2 Corinthians 2; Ezekiel 16; Psalms 58-59

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9/13 Reading Portions: 2 Samuel 8-9; 2 Corinthians 2; Ezekiel 16; Psalms 58-59

2 Corinthians 2:15-16

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.

STINK

The science behind fragrance as it relates to the biblical work and instructions of the apothecary are complex, far too much information for a daily devotional. Nevertheless, today’s verse presents an interesting and wonderful truth as it pertains to the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. When I was a young boy, just before my mother remarried after my father’s passing in 1963, my mom wore this perfume that I thought was just awful. In short, I thought her acrid scent stunk. She wore it when she was dating, until she married my stepfather in ’66. It turns out, my wife wore the same scent years later when I was courting the future Mrs. Cardwell in 1990. What changed? Three things. First, I was older (30 instead of 5). Second, I was seeking a godly companion. Finally, my intended was a godly woman with a different body chemistry. That brand certainly smelled different on Melissa Linzaga.

You and I are a sweet aroma to the heavenly Father because of our redeemed condition in Christ Jesus. With Christ’s righteousness imputed unto us as believers in Christ, the knowledge of Christ (2 Cor 2:14, see last year’s devotional here) is a charming and wonderful fragrance to the “nostrils” of our souls because it comes from Christ, who is very Life (John 14:6) to you and me, who have received life through Him (1 Jn 5:12). To unbelievers, however, the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ is an assault upon their spiritual olfactory receptors. Their spiritual sense of smell cannot comprehend the love of God, the atonement of Christ, the mercy of the Almighty, and the powerful beauty of Christ’s gospel. We read two and a half weeks ago:

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14

Although it must be the power of God to regenerate a reprobate soul to renewed life in Christ, understanding this helps us to become more compassionate, and even more passionate, in evangelizing the lost. Unbelievers are spiritually dead in sin, therefore they cannot feel the grip of Christ’s gospel. They are spiritually blind, so they cannot see the wonder of Christ. They are spiritually deaf, so they cannot hear the harmonious melodies of God’s sovereign providence to exalt Christ. Their noses are spiritually broken, so the knowledge of Christ stinks to them; and since the sense of smell is connected to the sense of taste, unless the Holy Spirit awakens them to their need, the natural, unsaved unbeliever cannot…

…taste and see that the LORD is good! Psalm 34:8

If we evangelize in the power of the Spirit, we will do so with understanding also. Hallelujah! What a Savior!