GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY AND GOSPEL SERVICE

“When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord opened a door for me, I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus. Instead, I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia. But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place. For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. Who is adequate for these things? For we do not market the word of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.” (‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2:12-17‬ ‭CSB)‬‬

The sovereignty of God in salvation means that our salvation is all of His grace. But, God has decreed that He will use His church to proclaim the Gospel that brings salvation.  This is a great tension of truth, to be held in balance. We see here—as throughout Scripture—the paradox of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. These truths are not contradictory, but complementary. 

The section of 2 Corinthians beginning here and going to the middle of the sixth chapter deals with the Christian ministry. While Paul was defining and defending his work in Corinth, he was giving us a measuring stick for all ministry done in the church, whether by laity or by clergy. There are those who feel this section may be a digression. But I feel it is possible this is Paul’s reaction to those who have raised grave questions about the integrity of his ministry. We have therefore been presented in this section of his second letter with one of the Scripture’s grandest pictures of the ministry of all Christians. [Chafin, K. L., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1985). 1, 2 Corinthians (Vol. 30, p. 211). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.]

A MISSION THAT IS PROVIDENTIALLY DIRECTED (v.12-13).  OPEN AND SHUT—Opportunity is a door that opens and shuts according to the providence of God. Providence is a composite word—from “pro” meaning before and “video,” to see—thus, combined to speak of God seeing beforehand and in His sovereignty directing all to His desired ends. He has all power to do what He wants and all wisdom to know what ought to be done, motivated by all love, righteousness, and grace to accomplish all for His glory and our good.

That does not mean that I will understand God’s ways. Sometimes they appear contrary to human reason. They are directed by a perfect logic that I cannot attain, and therefore, I must trust Him. Paul did that here.  He apparently came to Troas with a wide open door for preaching the Gospel. Paul was all about preaching “in season and out of season” (2 Tim.4:2b). In other words, as I heard the late Stephen Olford once say about this, “take opportunities and make opportunities.” But, as the Apostle waited for Titus to bring a report concerning the Corinthian church, Titus was a no show. Paul became increasingly troubled in his spirit and this restlessness led him to go seek to find his brother. He walked away from an opportunity and struck out for Macedonia. 

Discerning God’s will does not mean we just take the easy road—sometimes it is just the opposite. Would a pastor leave a large congregation to go to a struggling church revitalization work?  In a carnal churchy way of thinking, no—it’s all about climbing the ladder. But, in following Christ, it is to kneel at the cross, rather than climb the ladder!

We must be cautious about subjective feelings driving our decisions. We can allow human reason to override heavenly direction.  God has led me each step of the way—and thus far, it has always been a step of self-denial. The Lord has disturbed my soul—showing me my time was through where I served, tested my faith by moving me out of the comfort zone, and into a new challenge—that did not make a lot of sense at the time. We live life forward, but understand it backward. All I know is this—God leads His dear children along. 

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Paul was sure that God was leading him (v. 14a). The circumstances were not comfortable, and Paul could not explain the detours and disappointments, but he was sure that God was in control. The believer can always be sure that God is working everything together for good, so long as we love Him and seek to obey His will (Rom. 8:28). This promise is not an excuse for carelessness, but it is an encouragement for confidence. [Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 636). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.]

A MESSAGE THAT IS POWERFULLY DECLARED (v.14-16).  LIFE AND DEATH—The Gospel is an aroma that is the scent of life to those who receive it and the stench of death to those who reject it.

Paul is using imagery familiar to people of his day. He speaks of the triumphal procession of a Roman general returning. As the victorious legions returned to Rome, all the citizens took a holiday and cheering throngs lined the streets to greet them. It was a spectacular mix of sights, sounds, and smells. The cavalcade might last for days as the conquering heroes wound their way through the streets and up the hill to the temple of Jupiter. The general would ride in a chariot, his armor sparkling in the sun. The vanquished were led behind him—chained to his chariot. Wagons full of wealth—the spoil of battle would be in tow. The fragrance of incense permeated the air—the sweetness of triumph to the victors and the stench of death to the vanquished. 

Using this analogy, Paul portrays Jesus as the Conquering Commander. His followers are chained to His chariot—trophies of His grace, slaves held by shackles of love. The Gospel is the incense—fragrance of life to those who receive it and the fumes of death to those who reject it. 

  Paul regarded himself as a signal trophy of God’s victorious power in Christ. His Almighty Conqueror was leading him about through all the cities of the Greek and Roman world, as an illustrious example of His power at once to subdue and to save. The foe of Christ was now the servant of Christ.  [Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 303). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.]

It is interesting that Paul—facing so much distressing, depressing days, yet saw each as the dawn of hope. Wherever he went and whatever he faced—in a jail, during a riot, hated and harassed, burdened and betrayed—he refused to surrender to the situation about him, but looked to the sky above him and saw victory in Jesus. 

This was the vision that transformed all the circumstances of his life and kept adversity from weighing him down and temporary setbacks from depressing him. It is the loss of this vision of the victorious Christ that creates a defeated ministry and a church wringing its hands. [Chafin, K. L., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1985). 1, 2 Corinthians (Vol. 30, p. 212). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.]

I think we need this reminder in the current crisis of coronavirus. We need to be prudent—God gave us a head for more than just a hat rack!  Wash your hands, be cautious about where you go and whom you are around, if you are sick or at high risk stay home!  What we don’t need to do is panic!  Jesus told us it would be this way to the end of the age. In Matthew 24, He warned of “plagues in various places,” (Luke 21:11). Yet, He underscored that these are creation’s labor pains that will birth the new creation at Christ’s return!  I have read the last book of the Bible—and it mentions awful plagues, but in the end we win!  We are more than conquerors. It is our privilege to share the Gospel everywhere we go—the smell of life and the stench of death—offering compassion or condemnation depending on how people respond to it.  There is to be an aroma about us—the incense of hope!  Peter said thus, “but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.” (1 Peter 3:15-16 CSB)

In the Septuagint the term “aroma” (euōdia) was used of Old Testament sacrifices (Gen. 8:21; Ex. 29:18; Lev. 1:9; Num. 15:3). Paul’s life was a sacrificial offering (Rom. 12:1), well-pleasing to God. The course of his life in proclaiming God’s message while at the same time suffering rejection and attack by many was an extension of Jesus’ life as the Servant of God (cf. Col. 1:24). [Lowery, D. K. (1985). 2 Corinthians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 559). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.]

Do we feel inadequate for such a responsibility?  We should because we are!  Even Paul felt the weight of such responsibility was too much for him.  That drove him to his knees, “It is not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.” (2 Corinthians 3:5 CSB)

After all, it is “the fragrance of Christ,” we are exuding. It is His life manifest through our flesh!  There will be those who receive that sweet savor of the Savior.

Yet, there is a word of caution to those who reject the message. With every refusal, there is a hardening of the heart more and more, “an aroma of death leading to death.”  It is impossible for preaching of the Word not to bring results. Scripture warns, “Therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.” (Luke 8:18 CSB)

Will we have any response to the sermon?  Yes—100%. Some will leave better and some will leave worse, but all will be changed by their choice. Here is the promise I have seen in four decades of ministry, ““o my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.” (Isaiah 55:11 CSB)

A MOTIVE THAT IS PURELY DRIVEN (v.17). RIGHT AND WRONG—Our motive, method, and message is either right or wrong, and we have no middle ground.  The word, “market,” used here is interesting in several ways. Many churches today are employing marketing techniques from the business world to inflate the numbers of people attending. I am not saying it is wrong to find ways to contact people and connect with them. We should all be about reaching people. Nor is this a slam on large churches. There are those who are doing it right. There is nothing inherently commendable about a church bring small. Maybe they just stink at what they are doing. I’m not dealing with size, but strategy. Understand the danger of marketing. In the secular world, advertisers seek to identify consumers and design their appeal to stimulate them to make a purchase. They appeal to self-interest. The church needs to remember that what brings people to the church will be required to keep them in the church.  If people come for what they can get out of it, then when they are no longer receiving what they want, they will move on elsewhere. 

Paul said they peddle God’s Word. This word kapēleuontes, “to hawk, peddle,” is used only here. Paul may have had in mind Isaiah’s description of Jerusalem’s unscrupulous Israelites who “diluted” their wine with water to increase their profits (Isa. 1:22; cf. Lucian’s description [Hermotimus 59] of similarly unscrupulous philosophers). So too these false apostles adulterated the Word of God for profit. They served themselves, not God whom Paul represented. They were “greedy for money” (1 Peter 5:2), an evidence of their falsehood. But Paul ministered with sincerity (cf. 2 Cor. 1:12.) [Lowery, D. K. (1985). 2 Corinthians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 560). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.]

It is diluted doctrine—a watered down message that is being peddled by compromising preachers.  They make it palatable to the masses so their marketing will be successful.  As I was preparing this sermon, I saw where a preacher had promised immunity from the coronavirus if people would give to the church.  Greek scholar A.T. Robertson noted:  “It is curious how hucksters were suspected of corrupting by putting the best fruit on top of the basket.” [Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (2 Co 2:17). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.]. This kind of preaching looks good on the surface.  What is offered tastes sweet.  But underneath the fruit is rotten and poisonous.

That is not what Paul gave out. It is an abomination. God help me to be true to the Word of God—and about the saint’s interest and not self-interest. 

CONC.  As concerning the Gospel—it is black and white. There are some things that are in the “gray” zone, but not the Gospel.  People’s response should be to love us or loathe us.  We are not to be concerned if they like us.  We should be met with receptivity or hostility, but never apathy. Christ wants His church hot, but if not had rather we be cold, but never lukewarm!

The undiluted Gospel message is this: repent of your sin and receive Jesus as Savior. Bow to Him today and be saved!  You dare not delay, for you are not promised another opportunity. You may have one, but it will not be like this one. Each time you say no to God, it is easier to say no the next time. You can callus your conscience.