In Christ Speak Like Who You Are II Corinthians 2:12-17 Abe Stratton, Pastor Sunday Evening, February 22, 2015 Introduction We talked the last two weeks about what it means to be in Christ, and we discussed United to Him Identified by Him Participating with Him Incorporated with Him (connected to Him through His body) The natural result from our union with Him is our WORSHIP. But we also noted that we GROW because we are in Christ. God s design initiates are our growth. Jesus life in us fuels our growth. Other members mature our growth. Tonight we re going to conclude our brief series by considering that our union with Christ compels us to ADVANCE. 2 Cor. 2:12-17 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. 14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance [ὀσμή] of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma [εὐωδία] of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance [ὀσμή] from death to death, to the other a fragrance [ὀσμή] from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. I. God is sovereign over Gospel opportunities (vv. 12-14). A. Our intent may be to share the Gospel. Paul came with the intention of sharing the Gospel. B. We may have an opportunity to share the Gospel. There was an open door for him to do so. C. But circumstances may deter us from sharing it. For whatever reason Titus was not at the rendezvous point; he wasn t where Paul had planned to meet him. In the ancient world this could have meant sickness, delay in mode of travel, even robbery/death at the hands of bandits. As a result, Paul was so anxious about Titus that he moved on from Troas, apparently before taking advantage of the open door. It s easy for me to view evangelistic opportunities as the highest priorities; family and all other commitments have to move aside for an open Gospel door. So we could ask Paul, How could you do this? Where s your evangelistic zeal, Paul? Not only is that an unfair assumption and question, but it also reveals a man-centered and even self-centered thought process to evangelism. If I don t get them saved, then they won t get saved. Example: When it seemed like God was moving us out of our first neighborhood here in Taylors to our current one, it was easy for me to think, God, why are you doing this? There are people here with whom I have relationships who still aren t saved. D. God is sovereign over circumstances. 1
God is a lot bigger than my time table or my agenda. He is sovereign over circumstances surrounding Gospel opportunities, and Paul took consolation and hope in this truth. God still leads and uses His people even when it s not in the way we thought. Transition: Paul says, But thanks be to God Even in the midst of a lost evangelistic opportunity, Paul says that God s Gospel and Kingdom plans are not thwarted. II. God is victorious in His Gospel work (v. 14). A. God always leads us in triumphal procession through Christ. Illustration: Imagine a grand military procession into a large city. A war hero is coming home and bringing his troops, his prisoners, and a throng of celebrants with him. Musicians are playing loud triumphant music; soldiers are marching; incense and sweet perfume are wafting from the procession. The onlookers cheers are thunderous as the war hero moves slowly by. 1. God has vanquished and shamed His foes through Christ. Colossians 2:15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. The imagery here is of a warrior who has defeated another warrior and as a sign of his power and of the fallen one s disgrace, the conqueror strips the defeated one of his armor and regalia. Now all can see his shame and defeat, and the conqueror stands unrivalled. Illustration: Achilles humiliating the body of Hector Illustration: When Emmanuel had taken [Diabolus] and bound him in chains, he led him into the marketplace, and there, before Mansoul, stripped him of his armour in which he boasted so much before. This now was one of the acts of triumph of Emmanuel over his enemy; and all the while that the giant was stripping, the trumpets of the golden Prince did sound amain; the captains also shouted, and the soldiers did sing for joy. Then was Mansoul called upon to behold the beginning of Emmanuel's triumph over him in whom they so much had trusted, and of whom they so much had boasted in the days when he flattered them. Thus having made Diabolus naked in the eyes of Mansoul, and before the commanders of the Prince, in the next place, he commands that Diabolus should be bound with chains to his chariot wheels. Then leaving some of his forces as a guard for the castle-gates he did ride in triumph over him quite through the town of Mansoul, and so out at and before the gate called Eye-gate, to the plain where his camp did lie (The Holy War, John Bunyan). God conquered all of His enemies at the Cross through Jesus, and now those enemies trudge in disgrace and defeat in the train of the Conqueror! 2. God has conquered rebels through Christ. Who always leads us as captives in Christ s triumphal procession (NIV) Who always puts us on display in Christ (HCSB) a. Those who were once rebels have been made captives of grace! b. God has united rebels to His Son. (1) Now we are united to Christ inseparably. (2) Now we participate with Christ in His victory. Those who were opposed to the King, those who had gone astray, have been conquered and drawn back to Him. But we do not walk in disgrace or defeat; we walk as testimonies to His kindness and mercy. B. God makes known through us the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ. 2
We are like the incense which wafted through the air in the passing of the homecoming hero. Our presence in His train of captives points to His power, His glory, His kindness, and His grace. So our very existence is now intended to spread the knowledge of Christ to all those who observe us. As they see us they know that there is a glorious and mighty Lord whom we serve; there is a kind and merciful Savior by whom we ve been transformed. The words which Paul uses in this verse (14) reveal the scope of God s victory through Christ ALWAYS and EVERYWHERE. God always does His work; He is spreading it wherever He pleases; and no one can stop Him! III. God has made captives the aroma of Christ (14-16). A. We are the aroma of Christ. 1. WE are the aroma of Christ. God has chosen to use us the rebels whom He has conquered and drawn back to Himself. He has not shamed us as He disgraced the spiritual rulers; instead He has captured and captivated and chosen to use us. 2. We are the AROMA of Christ. We are the pleasing smell or fragrance. The word is used of sacrifices which God found to be very pleasing. 3. We are the aroma of CHRIST. We are the pleasing smell of Jesus, not of ourselves. Our lives smell of Him and draw attention to Him, not to ourselves. Our purpose is now to spread truth of Jesus wherever we go. B. We are the aroma of Christ TO God. We are the pleasing smell of Christ s sacrifice. God loves what Jesus has done, and we are the testimony of that. It is as if we are the smoke of Jesus sacrifice for the sins of mankind, and as our lives rise up before the view of God, He sees and breathes in the smell and is reminded of His precious, one-of-a-kind Son who made all of this possible. God is the primary audience of our lives. Our fragrance is wafting up to Him, but as it does so C. We are the aroma of Christ among all people. 1. Among the ones perishing, we are the fragrance from death into death. As the smell of our lives wafts up to God, it passes before the eyes of those who have not yet believed. They see us as captives of grace captives of the great King, and they are reminded that they will face Him. They cannot escape Him. This conquering Savior rescues, but He also rules. And everyone will face Him. Those who are pursuing their own way to death are reminded by our lives that they will continue into death if they continue to oppose this King. 2. Among the ones being rescued, we are the fragrance from life into life. It is easy in a passage like this to focus only on the unbelievers, but we are also the fragrance and the aroma of Jesus for all of the brothers and sisters around us. As the smell of our lives wafts up to God, those around us see it and are reminded of Jesus power and love, His conquest and His grace. They are reminded that they too have found hope and rescue in this matchless King! He has given them life, and He will ever give them life. Last week I mentioned that I was struck by how organic our fruit-bearing is when we are connected to Jesus as the life-giving Vine. When we choose to camp out in Him and allow His words to camp out in us, we can t help but bear fruit. It just happens. I m struck here by the fact of how natural it is for us to be the fragrance of Christ. God doesn t say that we should try to be the aroma of Christ to the believing and the unbelieving. He just says that we are! 3
The truth is that if a person has indeed been united to Jesus and they are truly in Christ, then they will bear the scent of Jesus ALWAYS and EVERYWHERE. It doesn t matter if they are at Sunday worship or work or a family gathering or at a ball game or at someone s deathbed, the aroma of Jesus will be wafting through them and from them. Transition: This is a glorious privilege and yet a weighty responsibility, and Paul recognizes that when he asks, Who is sufficient for these things? or Who is competent or qualified for this? IV. God enables us to speak in Christ (17). A. We are speaking. 1. We must open our mouths and talk. 2. That will look and sound different in many different scenarios and circumstances. B. We speak the message of God. 1. We speak the Word of God, not our own message. 2. We speak for the glory of God and the good of others, not our own advancement. So speaking in Christ means that we give the Good News about Him. There is no other message that will do, and any attempts by us to alter or improve on the message (as these peddlers of God s Word did) are foolish and bound for failure. C. We speak with the authority of God. As from God hence the idea of commissioned or sent The great God of the universe who is unstoppably doing His Kingdom work and who is victorious in His Gospel work has sent us out as His representatives as the aroma, but also as ambassadors. So speaking in Christ means that we go under His rule and with His authority. D. We speak in the presence of God. The word actually means before, in the sight of. 1. It can be used for a location being in front of a building or place. 2. It can also be used for a sphere in the presence of someone, under their watch or close observation. Speaking in Christ means that remember the presence of God. He is always with us; He is watching over us. I don t think this should be primarily a fear-inducing thought. This should be a fearrepelling thought. God has sent me. He has given me His message. And He is with me right here, right now. I can speak His truth because I am living right here before Him. With this type of thinking, God becomes great in our eyes, and people shrink. His presence with me sweeps away my fear and trepidation and hesitation. I can speak in Christ. Conclusion God is sovereign over Gospel opportunities. Even this week He has prepared good works for us to step into (as we talked about last week). God is victorious in His Gospel work. He has triumphed over His enemies. He has captivated rebels. God has made His captives the aroma of Christ. We are the pleasing fragrance of Christ s sacrifice to God. As we waft through the lives of believers and unbelievers, we point them back to the ruling and gracious King. God enables us to speak in Christ. 4
We have His message. We have His authority. We are in His presence. So let us ADVANCE this week. Let us speak like who we are this week! 5