2 Corinthians 2:12-3:6 Pastor Nathan P. Kassulke
Easter 3 April 15, 2018 “Thanks Be to God for Gospel Ministry”
Have you ever found a smell that you thought was wonderful, but someone else just couldn’t stand? Of course, it could be the exact opposite, too, that you smell something that doesn’t at all appeal to you, but someone else thinks it smells wonderful. Probably the most obvious example for myself is that of coffee. I am not a coffee drinker, and I know any number of people who join me in not drinking coffee, but say, I love the smell—I just don’t like the taste. Meanwhile, I smell coffee brewing and think, “Is there a window I could open?” It just doesn’t appeal to me. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that there are some aromas like that: some people like them, others don’t. After all, the same could be said about music, about foods, about paintings and other artwork: what one person like may not be someone else’s preference, and what someone really doesn’t like may be loved by others. We all have different tastes and different preferences. It makes our lives more interesting and gives us opportunities to talk about those differences as well as what we have in common. In our sermon text today, the Apostle Paul describes a scent that some love and others hate. Only this is not a matter of personal preference, it is a deeper reaction and response. The scent is a figurative description of Gospel messengers and the message that they bring. To some, whom God has blessed to believe that message, it is a sweet smell that they could never tire of. But to others, who sinfully reject the message, it is a stench like death. Paul clearly indicates which side he is on, and which side he expects his Corinthian friends to be on as well when he says, “Thanks be to God.” Thanks be to God who sends out messengers of the Gospel, and thanks be to God for the results of changed hearts and lives through that message. We, too, join today in saying, “Thanks be to God for Gospel ministry, for both sincere preachers and changed hearts.” Paul most likely wrote the letter that we call 2 Corinthians during his Third Missionary Journey. What we know for certain is that he wrote the letter in response to a report he had heard following his previous letter, 1 Corinthians. What is also clear is that Paul had intended to visit the Christians in the city of Corinth soon after the writing of that letter, but his plans had changed, and he had been delayed. In 2 Corinthians, Paul explains his actions and reasons to the Corinthians. That is why he starts this section talking about his visit to Troas. There he had the opportunity that he always looked for, an open door to preach the Gospel. But he wasn’t at peace. He was struggling because he was expecting to find Titus. He was expecting to get from him an update and to hear about what was going on in Corinth. So Paul’s journey continued. He went on to Macedonia. And even though he doesn’t mention it until later, he finally did meet up with Titus. And Paul, concerned as he was that whole time with the preaching of the Gospel and the work of the Gospel in the lives of people, turns his attention to writing about that ministry. As he reflects on what got him to that point, he gives thanks to God that the Gospel ministry goes on in spite of hardships and changed plans and earthly concerns. And for that he thanks God. “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.” Paul, reflecting on God accomplishing his good purpose through the work of Gospel ministers pictures himself and fellow preachers as part of Christ’s victory parade. Just like Roman conquerors would parade their captives through the streets in victory marches, so God’s victory parade marches on, and he employs his people to be a part of that victory. And they go with that scent, that aroma of Christ. The beauty of the Gospel and the work that his people do in sharing that message is a pleasing aroma to God. As he was with burnt offerings of his faithful people, God is pleased with this aroma. He is pleased as his Word and his message are shared with those who need to hear it. That message is to God a pleasing aroma no matter what it seems like to others. We’ve already mentioned about how it is received. For some, it is indeed a pleasant aroma, a smell of life itself. Just saying that I cannot help but think of some cool evenings in my backyard recently. I have an orange tree that put out an incredible array of blossoms
this spring, and for several days, the whole yard was filled with a sweet fragrance. I even caught myself wondering if that might be what heaven itself smells like. That’s the way we ought to feel about hearing the good news, the Gospel. About hearing that Jesus our Savior died to take away our sins and that he rose from the dead to bring us salvation! We ought to just savor and breathe in that message as much and as often as we can. It is the scent of life. But not to everyone. To some, that same message is the stench of death. To those who reject the free grace of God, the message has to be death. It is not a different message. It is not a different grace of God. But for those who reject the message, the result is terribly different. It is the death that their sins deserve, the death that all sins deserve. That’s why Paul as he ponders this has to wonder, “who is equal to such a task?” Of course, no one is equal to such a task. Not on their own. Paul was a sinner who was painfully aware of his sinfulness. The Corinthians to whom he wrote were sinners, and that was borne out in their relationships and in their lives and even in their congregation. We, too, who read these words today are sinners who ought to be keenly aware that we are sinners with nothing of value to offer to a righteous God. But thanks be to God. He sent his Son to die and rise. He accomplished our forgiveness and our salvation. And he sent out messengers to proclaim that good news. He makes messenger competent in Christ and equips them with the powerful message of Christ- the message that gives life, the message that is life. Thanks be to God for sincere preachers of that precious message! And thank God for the results that it brings! Paul’s message about Gospel ministry turns to a comparison between him and his fellow missionaries and others whom the Corinthians had met, who had different aims. These others had aims for making themselves wealthy, so they were changing the message to suit those purposes. Their claim was that they came highly recommended. They had letters of recommendation that could prove how valuable they were as preachers. On the other hand, they would suggest that Paul didn’t have such credentials. He hadn’t even come to the Corinthians when he said he would. He had no right to send them strongly worded letters or to bother them further. That’s what they were saying. But Paul didn’t need the credentials they were looking for. He did have a right and a responsibility to the Corinthians. He had been sent by God to do the work. And the proof was found in the way that God had blessed his work. Paul didn’t need letters of recommendation because the Corinthians themselves were Paul’s letters of recommendation. They knew what an impact the pure Gospel message had made in their lives. They knew how the Holy Spirit had changed their hearts and made them alive. Why would they stop listening to a message and a messenger that had so profoundly impacted them and others? Thanks be to God for all the changed hearts that the Gospel ministry has produced! That is why you and I are here today. God has sent out messengers with the message of his love for lost and sinful people. That is what you were. That is what I was. Jesus died for you and rose again. You now have life with him. You have a reason to rejoice, a reason to thank God. In spite of all challenges, in the face of any difficulties, you have reason to say, “Thanks be to God for Gospel ministry!” Breathe deeply and savor the amazing fragrance of that good news today. Cherish the perfume of life that has given you life. Read, study, meditate. Rejoice in your living Savior. And share him with others. The text that we have been considering today focuses on called workers, those sent by God with his message. But all Christians have a part in God’s plan for the spread of his Word. You, too, can be the sweet smell and pleasing aroma of Christ. You can tell others. You can pray for others. You can invite others. You can support the Gospel ministry for which we give thanks. Jesus lives, and we and all who believe in him will live with him forever. What sweeter smell could there ever be?
The Text: 2 Corinthians 2:12–3:6 (NIV) 12 Now
when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, 13 I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia. 14 But
thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. 3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 4 Such
confidence we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.