Two Different Perspectives

“For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life.  And who is sufficient for these things?”  II Corinthians 2:15-16

When men and women are born again in Christ, they have a new life.  The old ways are abandoned, and the new life is that which is to represent Christ and His gospel to others and to show others the joy and confidence they have in the forgiveness of their sins.  The godly way that they present themselves to the lost world is a pleasant aroma to God.  It makes Him joyous that His Son’s sacrifice on the cross did not go without results for those who repent and receive Christ as Lord and Savior.  The pleasant aroma and satisfaction that God receives by all those who follow Christ are not diminished by those who reject Him.  God is much greater than humans.  While it hurts Him to see so many folks rejecting His Son and the gospel message, He doesn’t allow that disappointment to influence His joy over the ones who do honor Him by believing in His Son.  We are not like that.  We can hear nine items of good news and then one item of bad news, and the hurt felt over that one bad one diminishes the joy over the nine good ones.  That shows how weak that humans are.  Because God has offered forgiveness to all of us folks who are weakened by sin and pride, He has done everything that made it possible for man’s salvation.

The Apostle Paul then turns his attention to the effects of a true, born again, and committed Christian on those who are lost in their sin.  When an unbeliever is in the presence of a believer, sometimes the unbeliever comes under a veil of conviction which makes them feel uneasy.  That is the working of the Holy Spirit.  People don’t like that gnawing, tugging feeling of conviction nor do they desire to think about their own demise.  But death is certain: 100 percent certain.  That’s why Paul called it a fragrance of death to the one who is rejecting Christ, the only way of forgiveness and salvation.  That is also one reason why it is so difficult to get our lost friends and relatives to come to church.  They know from past experience that they will feel uncomfortable.  If only they knew how much relief and joy there is in surrendering to Christ and giving Him one’s life.  Perhaps we believers need to hone our skills at presenting the Christlike life to our friends, neighbors, kin folks, and co-workers.

It is different for the believer in that he or she is welcome among other believers because they all have a common denominator, which is really far from common, and that is their faith in Christ.  They all know what it means to be forgiven and made right before God.  They all have the same Holy Spirit residing within their souls.  They share a love for one another that the world knows nothing about.  They may not all agree on some points of doctrine, some ways of doing things, the color of the carpet in the church, or whether grape juice or wine should be served for the Lord’s Supper remembrance, but truly born again believers will agree that Christ is the only way of salvation.  That is not up for discussion.

Paul then asked who could be smart enough, conscientious enough, and brave enough to bring the gospel of Christ to the lost knowing that only some will accept and many others will reject the gospel.  It is a great challenge to stand before people, some receptive, some hostile, and tell it like it is.  It is only by the power of God that men and women are able to proclaim the word of God across a land that is no longer interested in what God has to say.  The rejection and indifference of those who choose to go that route does not diminish the power of the gospel.  On the contrary, it actually makes the gospel an even greater force among the world’s inhabitants.  The gap between believers and unbelievers is widening on a daily basis.  The pages of the word of God are being proven true as we see Satan’s affect on a sin-cursed world.  God’s word has never been more relevant that it is today.