S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Aromatherapy is a branch of alternative medicine that uses plant extracts, especially those with odor, to treat medical and psychological ailments. Despite the name, these extracts (also known as "...

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July 01 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Lynda Hickman Supporter Homemaker, plumber, carpenter, all around gearhead

2 Corinthians 2:14-17, "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, & through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved & among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, & to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ."

I love the smell of apples & cinnamon, of lavender, and of my 25 year old Mr. Lincoln hybrid tea rose when it blooms.
I love the fragrance of Estee Lauder "Beautiful." [My husband thought it smelled like "Raid." LOL He told me that he suspected that the years of repeated chemo-therapy had affected his sense of smell & taste. Roses didn't smell "as sweet as a rose" & foods that had once caused his mouth to water made him sick to his stomach. It is sad when we can no longer have our senses delighted by aromas & fragrances.]

2 Corinthians 2:14 is an amazing verse. "Now thanks be to GOD Who always leads us in triumph IN Christ, & through US diffuses the "fragrance" (aroma) of His knowledge in every place." Who needs Estee Lauder when we are a "fragrance" to GOD? To His nostrils, we are an amazing fragrance!

Matthew Henry's comments about those verses in 2 Corinthians 2 are very enlightening:
He points out that while we are the fragrance of Christ to both those who are being saved, who are listening, who are allowing His gospel to change their hearts, we are also a fragrance, or more accurately a "savor of death" to those who remain "wilfully ignorant & obstinate", who loathing the gospel, they reject it to their own ruination. These are the one's who, in their rejection of the gospel, are blinded by it in a way, as they walk in their own corruption, their hearts grow hard. To them the fate is spiritual & eternal death.

But thanks be to GOD that not all will fall by the way. On the contrary, to some the gospel is an "aroma of life leading to life."

When we were still dead in our own sin, we were quickened, made alive by His gospel. 
As we continue to walk in triumph found only IN Christ, the fragrance of Him, His mercy & grace is "sweeter than honey to the taste" to those humble souls who receive it. To them it is "most delightful & profitable."

The Apostle Paul did not liken himself or those who worked with him (vs. 17) to those who were "peddling" the Word of GOD, adding their own "notions & doctrines." 

Instead he said that it was in the "sight of GOD" that he & they who were truly IN Christ did speak. Always remembering that their approval must come from GOD alone, that His eye was always upon them as they spoke, & they must never "add to or diminish" His gospel. 

And this same commitment must be ours today. We must seek to be as the Bereans. (Acts 17:11), measuring every word & deed by the truth found only in His Word.
We must always remember that the Bible is GOD's Word, given by GOD through the Holy Spirit recorded for us by His prophets (Luke 1:68-70 & 2 Peter 1:20-21) so that we might understand what He is saying to us. We must never add our own thoughts, imaginings, conjectures or speculations. To do so is to corrupt the very truth of His Word.

Psalm 19:7-11, "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgements of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 
Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward."

His Word is PERFECT, SURE, RIGHT, PURE, CLEAN, TRUE & RIGHTEOUS. 
No amount of gold can compare!

June 01 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report