The Apostle Paul reminds his readers that he and the other apostles are called by God to get the gospel out to the word. He again uses an example from the Roman military to describe how the gospel is going out, and then he reminds his readers that true apostles preach the gospel like it is. They don't water it down or change it to suit the desires of their listeners.
"For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." (2 Corinthians 2:15) When we concluded yesterday we found Paul comparing Christ to a victorious Roman army general. A Roman general, returning from winning a battle, would go home with his troops in a parade-like fashion to the cheers of the Roman people and to the accompanying smell of a great deal of burning incense. The captives who trailed at the back of the line would smell it. The captives who could provide valuable services would find themselves living out the rest of their lives in a Roman colony, but at least they weren't destined for death. Some of the captives, who were enemies of the state or other condemned criminals, would end up executed either in a public execution or in the Roman arenas. Paul is saying something like, "The incense of the gospel is going out to all the world. Everyone will be affected by it. Some will accept it and gain eternal life; some will reject it and gain condemnation."
"To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life." (2 Corinthians 2:16a) The Roman captives who knew they were destined for death must have found the smell of incense nauseating, but the captives who knew their lives would be spared would associate the smell of incense with a feeling of relief. In the judgment before the throne of God, those who in their lives smelled the "incense" of the gospel but rejected it will come to associate the gospel with death because their rejection of it will bring them eternal separation from God. But those who gratefully breathed in the "incense" of the gospel will forever associate their acceptance of the gospel with the relief of redemption from their sins.
"And who is equal to such a task? 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." (2 Corinthians 2:16b-17) Taking the gospel to the world seems like a job too big for a mortal human being. And it would be too big of a job if the Lord were not in the work. But He empowers those He calls. The power is His and the glory is His.
In the original language it would seem Paul is talking not so much about charging a fee for preaching, but about ministers who water down or alter the gospel in order to draw crowds. When we water down or alter the gospel message we strip it of its power. We might draw large crowds by changing the message to suit the desires of our listeners, but we won't bring anyone to true repentance. In our own day there are teachers who present Jesus Christ to their listeners as a "pal" or "buddy". And while Jesus truly is the best friend we can ever have, we must never divest Him of His holiness and righteousness. The gospel message must always include the fact that we are all sinners who have fallen far short of the mark. If we were not sinners, why did Christ come into the world and suffer for us? There would have been no need of such a sacrifice if we were okay as we are or if we were capable of making ourselves acceptable in the eyes of a holy God. So beware of any minister, teacher, evangelist or anyone else who preaches the love of Christ without also preaching the sinful state of mankind.
Many of those who heard the apostles preach recognized their sinfulness and their need of the Redeemer. Others scoffed at the idea and decided they were fine just as they were. This is why, at the judgment, both groups will be judged by what the gospel says. Both groups will be judged by whether or not they accepted the only sacrifice available to make mankind right with God. This is why it is vital that the gospel message be preached exactly as it is. Watering it down won't help anyone. Altering it to suit the customs or morals of the day won't help anyone. We have to tell it like it is. Will some be offended by it? Yes. Will some be saved by it? Yes. Just as in Paul's day, some will be willing to listen and some won't, but we aren't to be concerned with that. Our commission is to share the gospel. Let's do what our Savior has told us to do.
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