“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.  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. Who is sufficient for these things?” – 2 Cor 2:14-16

The Apostle Paul, in this short passage, tells the Christians at Corinth that they are “the aroma of Christ” to the people around them. Those people are divided into two groups, with the “aroma of Christ” smelling quite differently to each group.

To those who are being saved, that is to those in whom God has done a work of regeneration through the Holy Spirit, the aroma of Christ is a fragrance ‘”from life to life”, from salvation to glorification.

To those who are perishing, that is to those who remain in their unbelief and rejection of Christ, the aroma of Christ is a fragrance “from death to death”, from being dead in sin as they breathe here on earth, to eternal judgment when they die.

It seems easy to understand why the aroma of Christ is a sweet fragrance of life to other Christians, but why does the life of a Christian carry the stench of death to unbelievers? One answer to that can be found in Romans 1:

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.” vv 18-19

Paul then tells us that because of such knowledge, men are ‘without excuse’ before the judgment seat of God. He describes how men are given over to all sorts of sin and degradation because they suppress the truth that they already know. He completes this dire scenario with these words:

“Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” – v 32

Paul is telling the Christians at Corinth, and us today, that the reason that the life of a Christian carries with it the stench of death to unbelievers because they not only know God exists, they know their sin and they know they deserve God’s death sentence! Is it any wonder that the aroma of Christ stinks of death to those who are perishing? I think not.

One question comes to mind in this. Why is it that we have so many churches and so many Christians try to ‘attract’ people to Christ by making Him smell ‘sweet’ promises of a better life here and now, instead of letting the aroma of Christ smell to them like it ought, and in fact needs to smell to them, if they are to come to repentance and faith?

WHY?