The Aroma of Christ

Introduction

Good evening to everyone. Good to see everyone here this evening as we have come together to study from God’s word. And certainly it has been uh I’ve been having a uh a great time spending uh with you all. You have been very kind in the things that you say and the prayers that you have been offering up. And again, I hope that in some small way I have been an encouragement to you because my endeavor is to teach God’s word and to cause you to think about the things that he has revealed so that we will ever draw closer to him and prepare ourselves to dwell in eternity uh with him uh because of his great love and mercy that he has expressed towards uh each of us.

I want to express my appreciation to the Klein family. Uh certainly appreciate Ralph and uh Vicky providing the meal this evening. I had a great time and getting to know each other and questions that were asked and uh really just enjoyed discussing them. I appreciate uh spending time yesterday evening with uh brother Ken uh as we talked about uh some things and got to know each other better as well, and uh also Greg. And it has been, again, it’s been very uh encouraging uh to me this week. And we ask that you continue to remember the meeting that we’re having, and also that you’ll keep in mind my family uh as well as the the work there in the uh Ohio area, uh especially with the Millroad Church.

Uh, I was thinking about being mean to them. They are around 20 degrees, and I thought about sending them a picture of me shivering and say, Oh, I just forgot to turn the AC off back. But I know I would get it when I got back.

But if you have your Bibles, if you will, turn to the book of 2 Corinthians, and the lesson will be taken from chapter 2 this evening. We have begun a series of thought that is taken from 2 Corinthians chapter 6. But we started out by looking at Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8 through 10, and it is there that we are told that we’re saved by grace through faith, and that we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works. And our endeavor, as the brethren here have set it as their theme, and that is to grow together. And in the lesson itself are designed to help that to be accomplished. And I’m glad and so thankful that they thought of me to come and help them in this endeavor.

And so that’s what Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8 through 10 speaks of. And there in 2 Corinthians chapter 6, verses 1 and 2, it is there that the apostle begins there in verse 1 by saying, and working together with him. And that really sets the tone of what it’s all about in this relationship of growing together. Growing together is based on our working together with God, our obedience to the gospel, and then as we are raised up out of the water to walk in this new life that God has provided for us, these good works, that we are to work with him. And as we work with him, we’re going to grow. And that’s what we have been looking at. Yesterday we talked about recognizing the time.

And the idea of recognizing the time, it is now. God has provided salvation for all of us now. And so we need to take advantage of that. Then we talked about being vessels of honor. And in being vessels of honor, when you and I take in the treasure that God has provided in his word, and it becomes a part of us, we become this vessel of honor because of the treasure that is in us in reference to God and his word. And then we talked about we are servants. We looked at the verbs of being in our English language is, are, was, were. All of those are verbs of being, which is the essence of God. And we saw that or talked a little bit about that in Exodus chapter 3 in the conversation with Moses, where God says, I am.

That’s a verb of being there. And so being is the very essence of God. And so when you and I submit to his will, we become what he wants us to be, and that is we have to recognize that we are servants as we are working with him. He is the one that lays the rules or the direction that you and I should walk or the things that we should do, and we are his servants, and we’re not above him. And that’s what those passages are teaching us as we’re looking at this concept. Here in chapter 2 of 2 Corinthians, I want you to notice what the Apostle Paul says to the brethren there at Corinth, in keeping with this essence of God or of being here.

In those verses, verses 14 through 17, the apostle says, but thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ. And manifests through us the sweet aroma, as the New American standard says, of the knowledge of Him in every place. 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 or a fragrance of death to death, to the other, an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? For we are not like many peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God. And so tonight’s lesson I titled The Aroma, or We Are the Fragrance of Christ.

What do we mean by that? I want to begin by helping us to identify with this concept. Now, you know, when we are around or in certain situations, and even our homes and our bodies, there is a distinct smell that we develop. If you are around garlic a lot and it gets in your clothes, and even if you eat it, I remember one time I was eating garlic. I was taking garlic pills, and it was supposed to be no odor. And I said, Yeah, I was taking these no odor garlic pills. And my wife looked at me, she says, No, they’re not. They’re not. I gave off an odor. There is this fragrance. There is the smell that we all have. I remember one uh one time one of our neighbors, uh, one of the young neighbors came over to our house, and uh my daughter has a dog.

We I said we would never get one, but you know, they say she’s uh she has me wrapped around her finger, and I keep saying uh-uh uh. But anyway, uh the he came over, and as he came into the house, he says, it smells like a kettle in here. But that’s what happens. Yeah, that’s distinct smells. And as we’re around something long enough, we begin to take on that smell. Whether we recognize that or not. That’s why sometimes I try to put on some uh cologne so that I could hide some of my smell. Uh, because sometimes it’s not pleasant, and that’s the way it is in life. And so that’s the same way it is when it comes to working with God. If we’re working with God, we’re going to give off a distinct aroma by our actions, by the things that we say.

And that’s why it’s important for us to recognize and how powerful that is. Notice with me, if you will, over in Acts chapter 4, which is very interesting, that really demonstrates this particular point. Peter and John had just healed a lame man, a beggar, uh, there in chapter 3. And they’re brought before the Sanhedrin as they have been arrested. And as they’re conversing back and forth with the Sanhedrin, notice verses 12 and 13. In verse 12, where they had responded to those there, he says, and there is salvation in no one else. For there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. Now I want you to notice verse 13. In verse 13, here is fragrance.

Here is aroma being mentioned, but in a different way. Now notice, he says, now as they observe the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. Isn’t that something? By the way that they conducted themselves, they gave off an aroma of confidence. Where was that confidence? That confidence was in the Word of God. And they gave it off. And those folks understood that. And they said, these guys have been with Jesus by the things that they said. That’s what happens when you and I are working together with God. We’re going to give off an aroma of confidence, especially when we encounter in God and his word. And as I was telling some of the folks today in regards to that, the encounters with family and friends and talking about God’s word.

1. We Give Off a Fragrance of Triumph

At one time, they thought I had been brainwashed. Yeah, they did. But what I did was I kept going back to God’s word. Why? That is where my confidence was. It was there in God’s word. And because I had that confidence. Someone has taken control. It’s not man that has taken control. It is God whom I have given myself over to. And that’s what happens. And so the apostle begins to tell us over in 2 Corinthians chapter 2, what is that fragrance? What is that confidence? What is that aroma that those who are working together with God gives off? And the first thing that we begin to look at is, we give off as we submit to God. As we allow Him to rule our lives, and we follow the Christ, we give off a fragrance of triumph.

We give off a fragrance of victory. And our victory doesn’t come from in and of ourselves, it comes from Christ who is leading us. Why should we have that kind of confidence? Why should we be led in this triumph? Because it is our Savior that died for us. It was our Savior that was raised from the dead. Our Savior conquered the formidable foe of death. Our Savior, what he did was he overcame the works of Satan. Yes, that’s what he did. And we should have that confidence. In 1 Peter chapter 5, verses 8 and 9, a passage that we are familiar with. And in that passage, we are told about an adversary. Who is that adversary? That adversary is the devil. He’s walking around like a royal lion, seeking whom he may devour.

And it becomes very intimidating. But we need not be intimidated by it. Why? Because of the one who leads us, he is leading us in victory. And that victory can be even over Satan. In fact, we can resist him firm in our faith. That’s what Peter was encouraging those brethren about. When our faith is in the Christ and we’re following the Christ, we can firmly resist our adversary. He has no power over us unless we give it to him. As we continue to submit to the Christ and follow his will, we are going to be led in triumph. We’re going to give off that fragrance of victory. Colossians chapter 2 is another passage that tells us about the work of our Lord. Colossians chapter 2, verses 13 and 14.

Now, one of the things about the Colossian letter that I like and love pointing out, it helps us to identify with the fact that no matter what our circumstances are, we can glorify, we can serve the Christ. You see, Colossae was located by some wealthy cities. Laodicea, Areopolis. And those brethren, well, they got more than we have. I don’t know. We probably can’t. Uh-uh. The apostle is writing to let those brethren know it’s not about what you can’t do, it’s what you can do because of the Christ. You can glorify him. You don’t need much. All you need is to dedicate or give yourselves over to him. And yes, you will be the shining light in the area. But the work of Christ, as Paul writes about him, notice verse 13.

He says, When you were dead in your transgressions and uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive together with him, having forgiven us of all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt, consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us, and he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Christ dying in our place. Christ taking away the certificate of debt that we owe. He is paying it for us. And then verse 15. When he had disarmed the rulers and authorities, he made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through him. How about that? Great picture. A great picture of someone dying for us and yet being raised from the dead. In Genesis chapter 3 and verse 15, that’s where we encounter really this promise of hope that God gives in his discussion with Adam and Eve there.

Remember, he talks about the seed of woman that was going to come. And what the serpent was going to do was bruise his heel. That’s it right there, putting death. But what was going to happen is the seed of woman was going to crush the head of the serpent. How did he do that? By being raised from the dead.

The Hebrew writer brings that all together for us. To paint that picture to the Hebrew Christians who were thinking about going back to the old ways, to the old law. They were facing pressure by their family, their fellow countrymen. And they were this is too much. They’re going to let go of the confidence. They were going to let go of the hope in Christ Jesus. And the Hebrew writer said, don’t do that. We have a better covenant. We’re under better promise. We have a better high priest. Stay with him. And so in chapter 4 or chapter 2, there, verses 14 through and 15, I want you to notice what is pointed out there. Chapter 2, verses 14 and 15. Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise also partook of the same.

That through death he might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is the devil. And might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. In Christ Jesus, we are set free. And we are led in triumph. That’s what Paul is bringing to the attention of the Corinthians. Because in the first letter, remember in that first letter, there in chapter 6, he gives a list of the type of sins that they had been engaged in. And he says, such were some of you, but you’ve been washed. You’ve been released from that. And because you’ve been released from that, Satan doesn’t have power over you. You’re free. You belong to God. And you’re being led in triumph. And that point comes out there in the second letter.

And so the fragrance that you and I give off as we’re following the Christ, we’re giving off the fragrance of victory. And boy, does it smell good. Yes. It covers up this bad odor that sometimes I give off. Or that I had been giving. That took care of it. And now I give off the fragrance of victory because of the Christ leading me. And with me following him wherever he goes. And that’s what the apostles and those who were going about teaching the word of God. That’s what they were doing. They were teaching a message of setting people free and giving them victory through Christ Jesus. Alright, what else? Well, let’s look at something else along the line here. Let’s go back to 2 Corinthians chapter 2.

2. The Sweet Aroma of the Knowledge of Him

But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ. And manifest through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of him in every place. As we’re learning, and as we’re growing in the knowledge of God, we give off this aroma of him. We give off that kind of fragrance. And it’s characterized or described as in the New American Standard here, as a sweet aroma. And in that sweet aroma, and you could just picture or the image is painted in your mind of this of the like the meal this evening. And it’s smelling. Ooh, that smells so good. Wow. Yeah. But on a higher plane, here is God. There’s this knowledge. That knowledge of Christ. It smells good. It’s a sweet aroma. And that is the picture that’s being painted in our minds so that we will continue to have the confidence and that we will follow him.

I want you to notice what that knowledge does concerning Christ. Earlier in chapter, or later on, excuse me, in chapter 5 of that. Well, I’ll tell you what, let me do Colossians 3 first, and then we’ll get to there. I want you to notice a contrast or a point that’s made here. I think it’s a very important point in the whole process of being the aroma of Christ. Chapter 3, verses 9 through, or excuse me. Yeah, chapter 3, I think it is. Yeah. Chapter 3, verse 9. Here he talks about the new self. That new self is renewed after Christ. So he says, do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices. And have put on the new self who is being renewed to a what?

True knowledge. According to the image of the one who created him. A renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian Scythians, slave and freeman, but Christ is all and in all. That’s that knowledge. There’s a sweet knowledge that causes us to be renewed after the image of God. Where have we heard that word image before? Back there in Genesis chapter 2. When God breathed into man the breath of life. Man becomes a living being. In chapter 1, it spoke there that God created male and female after his image and likeness. Sin entered into the picture where God had created us here, and because of sin, we went down there. And because of the Christ and what he’s done, and our obedience to the Christ, where we are down here, now we’re raised back to where we were supposed to be in the first place.

God is bringing us to a higher consciousness through the knowledge of the Christ. I’ll tell you something, brethren. And my friend who have not obeyed the gospel of Christ. That higher consciousness. And you continue to learn and you apply God’s will in your life, you’re going to give off that aroma. I remember I was around Christians who were about my age at that time in my early 20s. I kind of look like I’m still am in my early 20s. But anyway. In my early 20s. But you know what was impressive about that? Is I heard these individuals discussing biblical things. I thought I had no, I thought I knew a lot. But listening to them and the way that they discussed those things, the way that they talked about them, I became intimidated by it.

I was a new Christian. And it wasn’t their fault. What they were doing is they were giving off the image or the fragrance of the knowledge that they had learned and picked up from studying the word of God. And I knew that I got my work cut out for me. I need to learn too. And it caused me to dig deeper into God’s word. You see, that’s the impact of the knowledge of God. And there are folks who have not heard or don’t know about these things. And as you talk about them, I want you to understand you’re talking a language they don’t quite understand yet. And we have to be aware and let them know that they can understand it. But they need to apply themselves.

And when they apply themselves, they’ll be giving off the sweet knowledge of Christ. And that’s important. And that’s why I wanted to remind us of these things. God’s knowledge or the knowledge of God and the things that He’s revealed in His Word gives off this sweet aroma. And there are people out there searching. They’re searching, they’re looking. And by you and I conducting ourselves and giving off this fragrance, don’t be surprised when they come up and they ask you about it. In fact, expect it. Expect it. And don’t shy away from pointing them to where the answers are.

When they listen to you talk about these things, and they they can see, wow, my life is messed up. How do I get it straightened out? And they come up and they ask you, how can I straighten my life out? Expect that. Expect it. And be prepared to help them. Because it’s going to change their lives. They’re going to be brought to a higher consciousness. And there is nothing sweeter than seeing individuals learn and grow in leaps and bounds. And I always tell folks, I don’t care if you learn more than I know. Because what you learn helps me to grow. And as I sit down and I listen to those preach God’s word, I say, I’m like a kid in a candy store. I’m gobbling it up.

Why? Because it is knowledge about my creator. It’s knowledge about the one who is leading me in victory. It’s about that sweet knowledge that causes me to know him better. That’s why. So we are. We give off the sweet knowledge of him. The impact of that knowledge changes lives. Now let’s go to 2 Corinthians chapter 5. In 2 Corinthians chapter 5. I want you to notice how this is pointed out. As Paul talks about them, if it’s besides or it’s because of God is the one that’s leading us. God is the one that has brought us to this higher consciousness. It is God that has revealed himself to us, and we know, and He has uh He then turns and causes us to go out and share this with others.

Notice verse 14. He says, For the love of Christ controls us. Having concluded this, that the one died for all, therefore all died. And he died for all, so that they who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and rose again on their behalf. I want you to notice verses 16 and 17. It’s going to be a change that takes place. He says, Therefore, from now on, we recognize no one according to the flesh. That’s the outer appearance. That’s the outer looking of individuals. We don’t recognize them that way anymore. The way that we recognize them is we see them as souls needing the saving grace of the gospel. It changed their viewpoint of people. And he goes on to say, and yet now we know him in this way no longer.

We have a deeper knowledge of him. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature, a new creation. The old things passed away, and behold, new things have come. And he says, now all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the service, this ministry of preaching about reconciliation. And when you put that all together, it then causes us to drive, and it drives us to give off this fragrance of the sweet aroma. That’s what it does. It causes us to learn. And why are we learning? We are learning so that we also can serve the Lord by reaching out and proclaiming him to others. Being an example, encouraging them so that they can be led in triumph by the Lord.

So it’s important for us to recognize that we give this fragrance or aroma off of the sweet knowledge of him. In Acts chapter 7, verses 8 through 15, you remember Stephen. And as he’s battling against those who are in opposition to the truth, they could not cope with the wisdom that Stephen was conveying. They couldn’t cope with it. In fact, it tells when they looked at him, they looked at someone, he looked like an angel. Stephen was giving off this fragrance before them. And those who heard this, they some didn’t like it. A lot of them didn’t like it. That begins to lead us into another point later on in our discussion this evening. They didn’t like that. But the fact is, they could not cope with the wisdom that Stephen was conveying concerning God and his will and the salvation of man.

3. A Fragrance of Christ to God

That’s a great example of the sweet aroma. The sweet fragrance. Alright, let’s go back to 2 Corinthians chapter 2. The apostle goes on, and he says, for we are, in verse 15, a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. In this statement here, the fragrance and aroma that we would give off as we are being led in triumph, as we fill ourselves with this sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Him, we also are an aroma of Christ to God. That’s the most important right there. That’s what’s most important. It is because of God and His Christ. And it’s the whole purpose of God and the sending of His Christ. So that we would be this sweet or fragrance of Him.

When God looks at us because we’re in Christ, He sees that. And when we give off this odor, you remember, outside of Christ, the odor that we’re giving off is a stench before God. But when we are in Christ, we are cleansed. We become these vessels of honor because we’re filled with the knowledge, this treasure that God has provided. And we become to God a fragrance, a pleasing fragrance. It reminds me of what is said over in the book of Ezekiel. In the book of Ezekiel, chapter 20, Israel, as a what they had done is God had given them the law. And those laws were to be obeyed by them. They were to recognize God as God. But they failed in being obedient to God. And therefore God punished them for that.

They had become a stench to him. They were no longer obeying the law that was given to them. They were no longer the sacrifices that they were making. They were making sacrifices just to make, well, I’ll just throw a lamb on the altar there and sacrifice that. And then after I do that, then I’m going to go ahead and do whatever I want to do. That was their mentality. And God says, no, you’re not going to get away with that. And so they were judged. And then God says, What’s going to happen is they’re going to be restored. And when they are restored to doing and being obedient, remembering what he had given to them in the law, he says, they’re going to become an aroma.

A sacrifice. Fragrance to him. That is what God accepts. God accepts as a sweet aroma our obedience. And Israel’s going to do that. That’s how you and I become a sweet fragrance. That is how you and I are pleasing to God by our obedience to his will. Yeah, that was under the old covenant. But in the new covenant is in Christ Jesus. That’s how we please God today in Christ. And so we become this fragrance to God. And then what he goes on to tell us in this whole picture here, among those who are being saved. And among those who are perishing.

And in the case with the apostles, as they’re going around preaching, they were giving off an aroma. Those who saw and those who obeyed, yes, they wanted to be a part of it. And that’s what they did. They obeyed and they became a part. And those who rejected, they ended up, they are the ones who were perishing. So this fragrance, this aroma doesn’t depend on whether a person, in reference to be pleasing to the Lord that I would give off. It doesn’t depend on whether one accepts or rejects. It’s about God. My fragrance, my life, living for him. And they’re going to be those who also recognize that. And we’re going to join in together and live. And so here you have this picture being painted for us and pointed out to us to help us to understand it is all about Him.

Ephesians chapter 5, verses 1 through 5 is another passage that helps us to see that as well. In Ephesians chapter 5, verses 1 through 5, I want you to notice what he points out. He says, Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ also loved, and you gave him and gave himself up for us an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Verse 3. But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you as is proper among saints. Why? Because those things give off a stench before God. That’s why. We become unacceptable to Him. And then He says in verse 4, there must be no filthiness and silly talk or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather a giving thanks.

For this you know with certainty that no immoral or impure person or covetous man who is an idolater has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Why? It stinks.

Now I know, as I said, houses have distinct smells. It would be like you clean up your house, and then you bring in a skunk. And let it wander all around. That is how these things are to God. That’s why there’s no inheritance in the kingdom of heaven. It stinks that bad. But when we put on Christ, we are this fragrance to God. We give off the aroma of Christ, the one who obeyed his father. The one who did God’s bidding, the one where there was no guile, no deceit. And you can see how he would be giving off this pleasing aroma. So when you and I are in Christ, we give off this fragrance to God. That’s what’s important. That is what pleases God. That is what God wants us to do.

4. An Aroma From Death to Death, Life to Life

And then he goes on and he says, over in verse, let’s go back to 2 Corinthians 2, verse. He says, to the one an aroma from death to death, and to the other an aroma from life to life. And he says, and who is adequate for these things? Well, I believe here, what he points out is we this aroma that we give off, death to death, life to life. The point is we give off an aroma. Those who are spiritually dead, that continue to reject those things, what is going to happen to them is eternal death. And those who accept those things, they’re the ones who are going to have the spiritual relationship with God. They’re going to have life. And then when they leave this life, they’re going to live forever with God, eternal life.

That’s that kind of fragrance we give off. But if we reject, we give off this fragrance of death. But we accept, we give off this fragrance of life. And those who reject, again, even around us, we’re giving off that. They recognize I’m dead. Yes, you are, when you’re outside of Christ. That’s just the way it is. There’s no changing of that. That’s the way God has ordered things. That’s his will in the whole process. And we do well to follow that will. Notice with me over in John chapter 9. Jesus uses this illustration here with the blind man.

As he’s healed the blind man, and now the blind man sees. He’s been kicked out. And I want you to notice verses, when you look, drop down to verse 35. And it says, when Jesus comes back in touch with the man, he had heard that they had put him out. And finding him, he said, Do you believe in the Son of Man? And he answered, Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him? And Jesus said to him, You have both see, you both have seen him, and he is the one who is talking with you. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. And Jesus says, For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and those who do not who do see may be may become blind.

And those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and they said to him, We are not blind too, are we? And Jesus says to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin. But since you say, we see, your sins remain.

5. The Fragrance of God’s Sincerity

And the only one that can cause us to see is the Lord. And if we don’t do that, we’re going to remain that way. Death to death. Life to life. What fragrance are we? And then finally, let’s go back to 2 Corinthians chapter 2. For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God. We give off this fragrance of the aroma of God’s sincerity. That’s what we do. In other words, these things are real. They’re not made up, it is real. See, we have our own biases. God is not a respective person. The Bible reveals the sins, the weaknesses of those whom we might call heroes. They’re shown.

They’re exposed. And we learn from that. And what that tells us in reference to all of these things, that we need to make sure that we are following his will. That will which is God approved. That is what the apostles were teaching, and this is what you and I are to teach as we fill ourselves up with his knowledge and spread this aroma or this fragrance around, we are spreading the sincerity of God when we do it his way. The apostle said this over in 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 as he was dealing with the Thessalonian brethren and pointing out to them of what this is all about. It’s about serving, it’s about doing his will, it’s about the proclamation of his word. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, verses 3 and 5 through 5.

I want you to notice what Paul says.

God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. But we prove to be gentle among you as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.

It is sincere. It’s about God. If you want to have true sincerity, you teach what God reveals. You follow what God has said. You do things the way that God has instructed. That’s true sincerity. It will be God approved. In fact, the miracles that the Hebrew writer speaks of over in Hebrews chapter 2, it should be chapter 2, verses 1 through 4. That’s what the Hebrew writer speaks of there in those passages. In those passages, he’s referring to the miracles that were being done. Those things were God approved of what they were doing and what they were teaching. That’s what those miracles were doing. Those signs and wonders were proving to them that they need to pay closer attention to those things. The sincerity of God.

Transgression and disobedience received a just penalty. How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard. God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to his own will. It must be God approved. And when it’s God approved, it is God sincerity. I cannot stand here and teach you my feelings. I cannot stand here and teach you Albert Dixon’s way. Can’t. I have to teach you God’s way. It’s his word. It is he who will save us, not me. We are servants. We are the fragrance of Christ. And we give off the true knowledge of Him.

Conclusion

If you will, pray with me. Our merciful God and Father, thank you for the opportunity to be able to study your word and to see who we are when we follow your will. That we have these things that you have blessed us with. And all we need to do is humbly submit to you. Help us, Lord, to always be pleasing in your sight. Help us to let Christ lead us. That we will follow Him wherever we go, giving off a sweet aroma that you are pleased with. Be with us all and help us to recognize when we fall, to get up, to make things right with you and continue to be led in victory because of the hope found in Christ Jesus our Lord. We pray your blessings upon each of us as we strive to please you.

In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. If you have not obeyed the gospel of Christ, all things are ready. Everything is prepared for you to put Christ on so that you can become a fragrance of Christ to God and pleasing to him. And as you are pleasing to him, understand we have the hope of heaven. Heaven is ours. And we can smile, we can rejoice over the fact that we serve a God who has been merciful to us, who forgives us of our sins as we submit to his gospel. God did that for you and me. Isn’t he awesome? Why would you serve anyone else? Why would you serve Satan? Why will you leave yourself captive to him? Because afterwards, you’re going to end up in the lake of fire.

You’re going to end up in the fires of hell with him. That was the hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. Why do you want to go there? Go and be with God so that we can rejoice throughout eternity. And enjoy being with him. That’s what I call uninhibited fellowship. So how do you do this? How do you get rid of your sins? How do you get rid of that stench? By putting your faith in Jesus. Believing who he is. He is the Son of God. He is the Messiah. Believing what he did, he died for you and me and was raised from the dead. And that declared him to be the Son of God. Romans chapter 1 and verse 4. And then we repent of our sins.

Sin destroys. It destroys relationships. It destroyed the relationship that we had with God. Yeah, that’s what it is. We got to turn away from that. And we turn to God. And then we confess him as Lord. Romans chapter 10, verses 9 and 10. That he is now our ruler, he’s our master. We’re going to submit to him. And then we are bare with him in baptism. No wonder baptism is called where we are cleansed. We are washed by the blood of Christ. We’ve gotten rid of the stench of sin. The blood of Christ did that when we are immersed in baptism. And we’re raised up out of the water. Now we are new creation. Don’t those new babies smell good? That’s what we are that in Christ Jesus.

Because of him. And we give off this aroma as we continue to walk in this new life, allowing the love of God to control us. And so, my friend, if you haven’t done that, I encourage you to do so before it’s everlasting too late. And if you have started on the journey, but you have fallen by the wayside, we’re here to encourage you to get back on the path. Ask for God to forgive you. And his blood will cleanse you. It’ll get rid of the stench that you gathered while you were off the path. But when you get back on that path and continue to walk, we’re here to pray with you. We’re here to help. That’s what family is all about. The family of God.

Want you to be a part of it through Christ Jesus? So if you’re subject to the invitation, we encourage you to come. Make it known as we stand and sing the song that was indicated.