Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?  2 Corinthians 2:12-16

It’s interesting when we see the shadows from the Old Testament show up here in the New Testament. Whenever the Israelites offered God sacrifices or offerings , the aroma was pleasing to God, (Numbers 15:3) why? It’s because God is pleased with our heart towards him, to worship God in Spirit and Truth!

The Apostle Paul says here “For we are unto God a Sweet savour or aroma of Christ” Think about that, everything you do, ever act of worship or service to The Lord , is pleasing to God. As the Apostle Paul said “Present your bodies as a Living Sacrifice” (Romans 12:1) Live your life for Christ, in everything you do, be sanctified and led by the Holy Spirit, as His temple!

Not only are we a pleasing aroma to God but also to the Church, when you are around Born Again believers, doesn’t it just please your soul and re energize you? This is part of the Church , to fellowship with one another , to share our spiritual gifts with one another, to comfort one another. However the false convert gives off a worldy stench, as Jesus said they make him want to vomit them out of his mouth” (Revelation 3:16)

While we the Church are a pleasing aroma to God and others, we are the aroma of death to the world. Why? Because the real gospel exposes sin and its penalty, the real Jesus requires repentance and baptism of the Holy Spirit, the real Church is Born Again and follow the Word of God has their authority!

The world hates the real Jesus Christ of the Bible, the world hates the real gospel that is not watered down and sugar coated, the world hates the remnant of the real body of Christ! The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing! (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Continue to love and serve The Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul, you are a pleasing aroma to God, for the world you are the aroma of death, as Jesus said “they will hate you, because they have hated me first!” (John 15:18) Amen!

But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. 2 Corinthians 2:1-8

The Church, the body of Christ, is a family not an organization. Like all real families, there are going to be conflicts and problems, the question is how will the Church respond to these problems? Many Christians have this unrealistic idea that there is a “perfect Church” , the perfect Church will never exist because the Church is the people, and people are not perfect.

With that said, the Apostle Paul is grieved and sorrowful over a member of the Church of Corinth, their conduct or behavior , but as Paul says here “that you might know the love which I have more abundantly for you” Many people view discipline as hateful, but as the Bible says “God loves those he disciplines” (Hebrews 12:6) Church discipline is for the love of the Church, and we as Christians should appreciate when someone points out something we are doing wrong, even though our flesh really hates it. Paul had great love for his brothers and sisters in Christ, however he love them enough to discipline them also

Notice the spiritual maturity of Paul then, he instructs the members to “forgive and comfort him” Once the member was disciplined , he was then forgiven. We can learn alot from this model Paul is demonstrating here, while we should discipline those in the Church , we should also be willing to forgive them also. Church discipline has become a foreign concept in today’s Church, as most leaders in the Church today don’t shepherd anyone, but as Paul warned “a little leaven (sin) leavens the whole lump” (Galatians 5:6) When we allow sin to run rampant in the Church, it eventually corrupts the entire Church body, which is what we see mostly today

For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 2 Corinthians 2:9-11

Notice Pauls warning, Satan will take advantage of these situations to bring more division within the body of Christ, we see this everyday! This is why we need to repent and forgive one another as mature brothers and sisters in Christ. As the Apostle Paul closes here “If there is anything to forgive, I have forgiven in the person of Christ”!

We forgive because Christ has forgiven us first, Amen!

And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit; And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay? But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 2 Corinthians 1:15-20

When we put our faith and trust in the world, we will always be let down. But when we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, we will never be forsaken because God is faithful. The world is fallen with fallen people, many people will make promises they never intend to keep, or make statements that are simply not true. Don’t be surprised when the world fails you, but God will never fail

We as Christians are not to live as the world, but to live as Christ. As Jesus said “Let your Yes be a Yes, and your No be a No”(Matthew 5:37)  We as Christians need to be honorable and truthful, not just making false promises as the world does. Be careful about the words you speak, if you are not sure , then be honest. Don’t make promises you can’t keep. If you want people to see Christ in you, then you must act like Christ

As the Apostle Paul was making his rounds to different Churches, I’m sure at times there was confusion whether he was coming or not , or whether Paul was going to keep his promises. But as Paul said “But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay” We don’t ever have to wonder if God is going to keep his promises, because God can’t lie (Titus 1:2) Every promise by God is a guarantee, its a done deal, we have victory through Jesus Christ!

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, in Him was always Yes! Amen! When you look at all other religions , they are all created and featured upon a flawed and sinful human. Christianity is true because Jesus Christ is the sinless Lamb of God. Nobody in the world has ever been able to find fault in Christ or accuse him of a crime, because Jesus is the true living God in the flesh, the Son of God

As Paul says “For ALL of God are in Him (Christ) are Yes! And In Him (Christ) Amen! In Christ we have a guarantee of salvation, eternal life, and victory, there is no question of whether it is a done deal, it is already finished at the cross!  Our God is faithful and we have blessed assurance in Jesus Christ, Amen!

For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end; As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus. 2 Corinthians 1:12-14

 We as Born Again Christians are called to be the Light of the World and Salt of the Earth (Matthew 5) With that being said, we are going to be in the world even though we are not of the world. Remember what Jesus prayed “I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but you keep them from evil” (John 17:15)

Many Christians try to isolate themselves from the world, or almost hide away, but is that Biblical? How can we be The Light of the world, if the world doesn’t know we exist? This is a fine line we need to walk, because we also don’t want to be too involved with the world either. This is why whenever you get involved in anything, we should pray for the Holy Spirit’s discernment and lead to follow

Notice what Paul says here “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom” First notice we as Christians are not being led by worldly wisdom or motives, we are being led by the Holy Spirit, our conscience which convicts us of right and wrong, and when we are good examples for the world in Christ, we can rejoice that we are representing Christ in honor and respect. 

We have conducted ourselves in holiness and sincerity! When you are a true Born Again Christian you will stick out in the world like a sore thumb. Everyone can tell who you belong to by the fruits you are producing (Matthew 7) If the world can’t tell if you’re even a Christian, then there is an issue. How can you be a child of the light, when you live in the darkness?

As Paul goes on to say “We (Church) are rejoicing , even as you also are in the day of the Lord Jesus” Everytime you go out into the world and be a true disciple of Christ, all of Heaven is rejoicing. There is no better feeling, when you go out into the streets and share the gospel with non-believers, you can just feel the joy coming from God. Remember as Jesus said “All of Heaven rejoices over one sinner repenting” (Luke 15:7)

It’s easy for us to be like Elijah and hide in a cave, but Christ has called you to “Go and share the good news with everyone” (Matthew 28:19) Go into the world , in the name of the Father, Son , and Holy Spirit, knowing the Church and the angels are all rejoicing over your life, and serve The Lord in Spirit and Truth, Amen!