The Aroma of Christ

Does the way I live actually make anyone want to know Jesus?

Norma Hart noticed a coworker named Dora who did not join in the gossip at the office, and Dora's quiet difference eventually led Norma to faith and to decades of service in another country. The sermon holds up that ordinary faithfulness in an ordinary workplace as the way one life can travel farther than anyone planned.

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place. For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God in those who are being saved and in those who perish: to the one a stench from death to death, to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

2 Corinthians 2:14–16

Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

In the same way, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, so that, even if any don’t obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word, seeing your pure behavior in fear.

1 Peter 3:1–2

Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters and to be well-pleasing in all things, not contradicting, not stealing, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things.

Titus 2:9–10

…having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good works and glorify God in the day of visitation.

1 Peter 2:12

What is the difference between being salt and light and being the aroma of Christ?

Jesus asked his followers to be salt and light, but here Paul reaches for the smell of flowers in a victory parade. Salt and light announce themselves; an aroma does its work before a person decides to pay attention, which is the kind of influence the sermon describes.

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place. For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God in those who are being saved and in those who perish:

2 Corinthians 2:14–15

“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. “You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:13–16

Your oils have a pleasing fragrance. Your name is oil poured out, therefore the virgins love you.

Song of Solomon 1:3

But I have all things and abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God.

Philippians 4:18

If people are perishing without Christ, how can I just carry on with my week?

The sermon does not soften Paul's line that the same fragrance is life to some and death to others, and then it tells the story of a server with a cross tattooed on her arm who treated him badly. Both the stakes and the failure sit in the same room, and so does the believer who has to go back out into the week.

For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God in those who are being saved and in those who perish: to the one a stench from death to death, to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

2 Corinthians 2:15–16

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel. Therefore hear the word from my mouth, and warn them from me. When I tell the wicked, ‘You will surely die;’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity; but I will require his blood at your hand. Yet if you warn the wicked, and he doesn’t turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.”

Ezekiel 3:17–19

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher? And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they didn’t all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:14–17

Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!”

Mark 9:24

What is my identity in Christ worth if I keep having weeks where I fail?

The sermon turns on the idea that you and I are the aroma of Christ, not that we try to be. A woman snapping at a server fails the aroma test, and Paul still calls himself part of the procession and tells the Corinthians the Spirit keeps changing them into the same image.

But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:1

…being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6

…for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.

Ephesians 2:8–10

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

What does a life shaped by the Spirit actually look like in ordinary places?

The sermon walks through Jesus and names love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness as what people actually encountered when they stood near him. It then sends the listener into a gym, a school, and a home and asks whether any of that is coming off them.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22–23

Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.

Colossians 3:12–14

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:34–35

Do all things without complaining and arguing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without defect in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world,…

Philippians 2:14–15