KJ Washington
[0:00] If you would turn your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 2, [0:02] verses 14 through 17, those verses will be in [0:05] for a duration of our time this morning. [0:07] If you do not have a Bible, [0:08] the verses will be on the screen behind me. [0:12] How many of you have entered into someone’s house
[0:15] or a building and have ever experienced a distinct aroma?
[0:21] I guarantee that all of us have had this type of experience [0:24] regardless of whether that’s good or bad, [0:26] but we have all have experienced [0:28] a very distinct aroma in the building. [0:33] That aroma begins to start saturating itself [0:35] into the clothes, the furnitures,
[0:37] and the bodies of anyone that is in the building [0:39] for a long enough time period. [0:42] And I know some of you are thinking about some places [0:44] that you really can think of. [0:46] You’re like, man, I probably don’t really wanna go back there [0:48] because of the smell.
[0:49] Or places you’re like, I actually like going there [0:51] because of the smell. [0:52] An example of that for me is Subway, the restaurant Subway. [0:56] I walk into Subway, [0:57] I feel like I’m met by a pleasant smell. [0:59] I’m encouraged by that smell,
[1:01] but other people go to Subway and they’re like, [1:02] man, this is awful. [1:04] You go to Subway, when you leave Subway, [1:06] that smell kind of stains you a little bit. [1:09] So you leave and you smell like Subway, [1:11] you can tell somebody’s been there
[1:12] even like a few hours afterwards. [1:15] It’s interesting how scents and aromas [1:17] can then permeate on people or environments [1:21] and kind of stain those environments. [1:23] But as Christians, when we follow Jesus, [1:26] we should give off the aroma of Christ.
[1:28] This aroma makes people aware of the fact [1:30] that we’ve been with Christ [1:31] and people should be able to figure this out [1:33] by our actions and the ways that Jesus is changing our lives, [1:37] how we make decisions, how we communicate with other people [1:40] and how we worship God with our lives.
[1:43] It should be clear to others [1:44] that Christ gives off an aroma of satisfaction. [1:48] So when people sees a Christian, they should be able to say, [1:51] oh man, Jesus satisfies their souls [1:53] because their lives gives off an aroma [1:56] of one that they submit to his rule in his reign.
[2:00] See, some people will notice the aroma of Christ [2:03] and be encouraged by this aroma [2:06] and others won’t be encouraged by this aroma. [2:09] And we will be able to see this [2:11] in 2 Corinthians 2, verses 14 through 17 this morning [2:14] about how the church is called to be the aroma of Christ,
[2:18] which will then go forward and reach the masses [2:22] for Jesus’ name. [2:23] So if you would turn for me to 2 Corinthians 2, [2:25] verse 14 through 17 this morning.
[2:30] It reads as this,
[2:48] to one a fragrance from death to death [2:49] and to the other a fragrance from life to life. [2:52] Who is sufficient for these things? [2:54] For we are not like so many peddlers of God’s word [2:56] but as men of sincerity as commissioned by God [2:59] in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
[3:03] Pray for me this morning.
[3:08] Father, I pray that you would help us [3:11] to realize why we’re called to be the aroma of Christ. [3:15] Father, I pray that during our time this morning [3:17] together in your word that you would do as you do, [3:21] you would convict us. [3:23] Lord, that we would be encouraged to follow you faithfully.
[3:27] But Father, show us our need for you [3:29] and the world’s need for you. [3:31] And Father, I pray that we would submit to your mission [3:33] and go forward in such a way [3:35] that we are intentional with reaching others [3:36] for the sake of your gospel.
[3:39] Your name we pray, amen. [3:41] The textual idea that we see this morning [3:43] is that this portion of Paul’s letters [3:45] are a reminder of Paul about his purpose in ministry. [3:50] His purpose was to be used for God’s glory [3:52] as a prisoner of war or as like Paul likes to refer to himself
[3:55] a slave of God throughout scripture [3:57] whose purpose is to glorify God through his captivity [4:01] which gives off a delightful ascent to God and to the world. [4:05] See, wherever God takes Paul is for God’s glory [4:08] and his pleasure so that the nations would know Jesus. [4:12] The main idea that we’re gonna take away
[4:13] from this text this morning is that [4:15] God has purchased his people as prisoners of war [4:18] through the triumphant work of the cross. [4:20] Those prisoners are being redeemed and held captive [4:23] for God’s glory which gives off an astonishing aroma to God [4:28] and is used to draw more sinners to himself.
[4:31] We’ll see this broken down in three major points [4:33] this morning that Jesus leads us in victory. [4:36] That second, that the Roma of Christ reaches the masses. [4:38] And that three, we’ve been commissioned for God’s glory. [4:42] Join me in point number one this morning. [4:44] Jesus leads us in victory.
[4:46] Send me from verse 14. [4:48] But thanks be to God who in Christ [4:49] always leads us in triumphal procession [4:51] and through us spreads the fragrance [4:54] of knowledge of him everywhere. [4:56] First off, we must acknowledge that Paul understands
[4:59] the ramifications of following Jesus. [5:02] See, he knew his decision to follow Jesus [5:04] was a matter of life and death for him [5:07] because regardless of the cost [5:09] or the amount of suffering that he would endure, [5:11] Paul was committing to following Christ
[5:14] even to life or even into death. [5:18] People did not always understand Paul’s commitment [5:20] to the gospel, but he continued to keep his eyes [5:23] fixed on Jesus because Jesus was all that he had.
[5:28] And he knew that Jesus would be the one [5:30] that would be leading him forward in the mission. [5:33] Paul starts out verse 14 by sharing [5:35] why he is grateful to serve Jesus. [5:37] He was grateful because God provided Christ on our behalf. [5:40] He realized that he wouldn’t be committed
[5:42] to following Jesus without Jesus coming [5:44] to atone for his sins. [5:46] He knew that there was no other way possible [5:48] that this could happen, that he would be able to join Jesus, [5:50] that he would be able to be led by Jesus [5:52] without Jesus coming to die on his behalf.
[5:55] He realized the weight of his sin [5:57] and how wide and how deep his sin was. [5:59] And he realized that it was only too much for him to bear [6:02] and that only Jesus could bear his sin. [6:05] See, we need Christ. [6:07] We needed Christ to come and to therefore
[6:10] proceed on our behalf, to go on our behalf [6:12] and to die for us because without Christ, [6:14] we would still just be enemies of God left on the outside. [6:18] See, we need Christ to be victorious on the cross [6:20] because without Christ being victorious on the cross, [6:23] we would still be dead in our sin
[6:24] and lost in our trespasses. [6:28] Friends, we can’t forget where we were at without Jesus. [6:31] That we were on the outside looking in, [6:33] going off based off the various passions [6:35] and pleasures of our own hearts led astray. [6:39] That we needed Jesus’ atoning work to bring us near.
[6:43] Thankfully, Christ did come to reconcile [6:45] mankind’s relationship with God. [6:47] And Paul is grateful for that. [6:49] He’s grateful that Christ himself is leading the church [6:52] in triumphal procession. [6:54] So something that we see in the imagery
[6:56] that Paul is giving out in this text is that [6:58] anytime a Roman general would win a battle, [7:01] they would have a procession in that city [7:03] that they won the battle in. [7:05] That they would basically show the people of that city, [7:07] hey, this is what we have done.
[7:09] This is how victorious we are. [7:11] And this is how victorious we were. [7:12] And so this is what they did. [7:13] They would then go take people and hold them captive [7:16] from the enemy’s team. [7:19] So after winning the battle,
[7:20] they kind of showed it to the city and said, [7:22] hey, look, we got your people too. [7:25] And this is the illustration Paul’s trying to give off [7:26] about Christ is that Christ is the one that is leading us [7:29] because he had a fight up battle that he won [7:31] through the cross, through his death,
[7:33] his burial and resurrection that has allowed him [7:35] to then take captive for himself people [7:38] and guess who those people are? [7:39] That’s us. [7:41] That we were the ones that were enemies of him [7:44] going against God, fighting against him
[7:46] and his pleasures and his passions. [7:48] And then Jesus then dies for us to redeem us away from that [7:51] and says, look, follow me now. [7:53] You’re with me in this procession.
[7:57] Last year, one of the largest victory processions happened [8:00] in the history of the world. [8:02] This is the seventh largest victory procession. [8:04] This is because the Chicago Cubs won the 2016 World Series. [8:10] Many Cubs fans showed up to witness this account. [8:14] They were rejoicing with their team.
[8:16] They were thankful that they had won this trophy. [8:19] It had been a long time for them. [8:21] Been many battles, many seasons of losing, [8:24] but they were thankful that they won. [8:26] They got to that point. [8:28] But this is the difference between the triumphal procession
[8:31] of Jesus and the procession of the Chicago Cubs. [8:34] The Chicago Cubs fans sat on the outside waving [8:37] at the team, championing them on because they won. [8:40] But Jesus looks at us and says, come, be with me. [8:43] Proceed forward with me. [8:44] You’re with me now.
[8:47] Like that’s the glory of the cross [8:48] that Christ didn’t just leave us there stuck in our sin. [8:51] Didn’t just say, hey, come with me, be with me, follow me. [8:56] Suffer for me, live for me. [8:58] Ultimately be a slave on my behalf for my glory.
[9:04] And I think Paul is clear here to say that [9:06] not I am proceeding, but that we are proceeding [9:09] with Christ in triumphal procession. [9:12] And this is key to our understanding here. [9:14] Because when a general would conduct his victory procession, [9:17] he had to take prisoners of war.
[9:19] He had to. [9:20] These are people that are held captive from the other team. [9:23] And this is what Paul’s making the connection to here. [9:25] He says the church are the ones [9:27] that are being held captive for God’s glory. [9:30] He’s like, I’m gonna do a work in them.
[9:33] I’m gonna show off my glory through them as a means. [9:37] Because look where they were once at [9:39] and look what I’m doing through them.
[9:43] See, King Jesus isn’t just victorious [9:45] because he died and rose from the grave, [9:46] but he’s victorious because he could do a work [9:48] in a people like us. [9:50] And that’s why we should be thankful. [9:53] But we have to realize that our sin had ramifications
[9:58] and that we were slaves to our sin first. [10:00] Romans chapter six, verse 17 through eight says this. [10:04] But thanks be to God that you who were once slaves of sin [10:08] have become obedient from the heart [10:09] to the standards teachings to which you were committed. [10:13] And having been set free from sin
[10:15] have become slaves of righteousness. [10:17] So praise be to God that we’ve been set free [10:20] from the bondage of sin because of King Jesus, [10:23] which gives us the opportunity to be obedient to him. [10:26] But for us to be a slave to God, [10:28] we have to die to ourselves daily.
[10:30] See, Paul here is acknowledging a shift in his allegiance [10:33] from being against God to being for all things [10:36] that are good in the eyes of God. [10:40] But he had to set his mind upon those things [10:42] that are good in the eyes of God and that’s his mission [10:44] because Jesus is leading us forward in this.
[10:47] He had to be committed to the task of following Jesus, [10:49] which means that he had to do something different [10:51] in comparison to life that he was previously living. [10:53] He had to change something. [10:55] And when we start following Jesus, [10:56] we receive a new life through the finished work of the cross,
[10:59] which will allow us to constantly die [11:01] to our own lives daily.
[11:06] See, our enslavement to Christ [11:08] is all about God’s glory and not our own. [11:11] This type of servitude that we’re called to [11:14] requires us to have a joy and a delight in Jesus [11:17] because none of us know where the Lord’s gonna take us [11:20] for his mission.
[11:23] But we have to trust him that he’s king [11:26] and that he’s been victorious.
[11:29] So how far are you willing to go for Jesus’ mission?
[11:34] Are you okay with Jesus changing everything about your life [11:37] and just totally flipping your life upside down [11:40] because your perspective of the world [11:41] was different than his? [11:42] You were in opposition at war against God’s purposes [11:46] and his good desires.
[11:48] But we’re thankful because Jesus redeems us from that.
[11:53] But the thing we must consider is that the world [11:55] is not for us in this. [11:57] How are you gonna live for the mission of Jesus [11:59] and the culture that is becoming post-Christian? [12:02] Let’s go this way, it is post-Christian. [12:05] The culture is not for the proclamation of the gospel
[12:07] going forward, it is not for us to follow Jesus faithfully. [12:11] It grinds against us in that. [12:13] But we have to be submitted to Jesus in enslavement [12:18] for us to be faithful to Jesus [12:19] regardless of the tumultuous situations [12:21] that might present itself to us.
[12:24] See, Paul goes on to describe how God works through his people [12:27] by giving off a fragrance of him. [12:29] It’s through our time following Jesus and his ways [12:32] that we go through this marination process [12:34] that takes place in us renewing our minds and our souls. [12:37] Giving a stain to our lives that gives off to others
[12:40] the fact that Jesus is king. [12:43] See, when people see that we are bound to Jesus, [12:45] they are made aware of the power of the cross [12:47] and how transformative it is in our lives. [12:50] So many of us wonder, it’s like, okay, [12:51] why don’t people around me see
[12:53] that there’s something different in my life? [12:55] Because you’re not bound to Jesus. [12:57] You wanna know why you’re not reaching people [12:59] for God’s glory? [13:00] Because you’re not bound to Jesus. [13:02] Why does my neighbor who is a non-believer,
[13:05] their lives look the same as mine? [13:07] Because you’re not bound to Jesus. [13:09] Paul’s saying here there’s a clear distinction [13:10] between your life and the those [13:12] that are sitting on the outside. [13:13] Why?
[13:14] Because you’re proceeding forward with Christ [13:16] in a procession, a glory’s victory parade. [13:20] And we’re testimonies, conduits of God’s glory [13:23] working through us because he saves wretched sinners like us.
[13:28] Our lives are for the purpose [13:30] of spreading the name of Jesus to nations around us. [13:35] And that baffles some people that Paul would change [13:38] from being one of the biggest proponents [13:39] against Christianity to being for it. [13:42] That shows that has to be a work of God’s grace.
[13:45] How do you go from seeking to kill Christians [13:46] to being willing to die for the Christian faith? [13:50] That’s a work of God. [13:52] How can you go from living for your own pleasures [13:53] and your own glory to living for God’s glory, [13:56] his glory alone, wherever that takes you,
[13:58] however that might change your schedule? [14:00] It’s by God’s grace. [14:01] God’s doing a work in us for his glory. [14:05] And this is what gives off this beautiful fragrance. [14:08] But we have to be bound to Christ for this to happen. [14:11] See, the church led by Jesus
[14:12] is God’s means of reaching people. [14:15] But God has to have precedence over our lives [14:17] for that to happen. [14:19] So it’s easy for us to say, [14:20] yes, Jesus has led us in victory, [14:22] but it’s harder for us to say,
[14:24] hey, we need to die to ourselves to follow him in victory. [14:27] See, for us to join the procession, [14:29] we have to allow Jesus to change how we use our time. [14:33] And the struggle for some of us in here today is that [14:35] you don’t wanna be bound to Jesus [14:38] because you don’t want him to change your schedule,
[14:40] to change your lives. [14:41] You’re too content with the life that you have [14:43] because you think your life is better [14:44] than the life that he has for you. [14:47] But Jesus is calling us to come die to ourselves [14:49] so we can give off a fragrance to how good he is
[14:52] and how sweet he is to others. [14:54] Ephesians 5, verse two says this, [14:56] and we walk in love as Christ loved us [14:58] and gave himself up for us as a fragrance offering [15:01] and a sacrifice to God. [15:03] So just as Jesus sacrificed his life on our behalf,
[15:06] we are called to sacrifice our lives for Jesus. [15:09] Sacrificing our lives does not mean [15:10] that we are always comfortable. [15:12] We have to remember that. [15:15] It’s not living the white picket fence life [15:17] that we all think that we deserve.
[15:19] We have to trust that Jesus is sufficient, [15:22] that he will lead us in the life that is for his glory. [15:26] And that pushes against the grain of our lives [15:29] because that means you have to do something. [15:32] Some of us are waiting for God to work in your life [15:35] and it’s because you’re not taking the first step.
[15:38] When he saves you, that’s the first step. [15:40] By his grace, he saves you so you need to follow him. [15:42] That’s the next step. [15:44] Follow him in an enslavement that is for his glory. [15:48] So I want to encourage you this morning. [15:50] Leverage your current schedule for mission.
[15:52] I want to encourage you to consider [15:53] how you use your current schedule [15:55] for the advancement of the gospel. [15:57] Some may have to change or completely reorient [15:59] your schedule for this to happen. [16:00] You cannot be bound to Jesus without having to serve him.
[16:04] You have to create time for that. [16:06] Many of us are filling up our schedules [16:08] with events and programs that are not being used [16:10] for the advancement of Jesus’ mission. [16:13] Hear me out on this. [16:14] I fully believe we can use different programs
[16:16] and events to advance the gospel. [16:18] But if we’re honest with ourselves, [16:20] most of the time we don’t have a missional compass [16:21] at those events.
[16:25] On the other hand, we are people sometimes [16:28] who are just wasting our time. [16:30] Who are saying that we have no time for mission, [16:33] but we really just don’t want to give up [16:34] the current lifestyle that we have.
[16:37] So my hope is that you’re reflecting [16:38] during our time this morning on your life [16:40] and in the ways that you can start moving [16:42] your schedule around for God’s glory. [16:45] See, when Jesus brought us into the recession, [16:47] that means that he’s doing a work in our lives
[16:49] the entire duration of the procession. [16:51] It’s not that Jesus saves you to say you’re good. [16:54] He says, I save you, I want to redeem you [16:56] your entire life. [16:57] The way that you raise your kids, [16:58] the way that you work, the way that you interact
[17:00] after work, even to the moment you lay your head [17:04] on the bed to go to sleep. [17:05] Jesus changes everything. [17:06] And if he does not have dominion over that in your life, [17:09] that means that he’s not the king of your life. [17:11] You’re not enslaved to him.
[17:13] It’s not about just showing up on Sunday mornings [17:15] and saying I’m all for the mission of Jesus. [17:18] But the mission of Jesus happens when he scatters us [17:20] throughout Chesapeake County and we begin to be intentional [17:22] with the people around us for the sake of the gospel. [17:25] That means that changes your schedule.
[17:27] No more, oh man, I can’t do anything on Saturday mornings [17:30] to serve the church or to serve or reach people. [17:33] Not leaving the house until 12 o’clock [17:34] because we need our days of rest. [17:36] That’s where the mission of Jesus pushes against us. [17:39] It calls us to something.
[17:40] It might mean that on a Thursday night, [17:42] you might have to give up the dinner with your spouse [17:43] and the family to invite somebody else over [17:45] to have dinner with you all.
[17:48] It changes your schedule. [17:49] That might mean you might have to get up earlier [17:51] to serve Jesus. [17:52] It changes your schedule. [17:54] See, we’re okay with saying that he’s victorious. [17:57] We want him to be victorious over every area
[17:59] and aspect of our lives and that causes us to do what? [18:02] Come and die. [18:04] Die to yourself. [18:06] See, if you want to follow Jesus, [18:08] you have to take that serious. [18:10] Because it’s not about you.
[18:12] It’s not about us. [18:14] It’s all for God’s glory. [18:18] And God wants to use us to reach people [18:19] through our enslavement to him. [18:22] Point number two this morning. [18:23] The aroma of Christ reaches the masses.
[18:26] Stemming from verse 15 through 16. [18:29] For we are the aroma of Christ, [18:30] to God among those who are being saved [18:32] and among those who are perishing. [18:34] To one a fragrance from death to death [18:36] and to the other a fragrance from life to life.
[18:38] Who is sufficient for these things? [18:40] Paul here continues his discussion [18:42] of Christians being the aroma of Christ. [18:44] Christians are called to sacrifice their lives to God, [18:47] which gives off a pleasant aroma to him and to the world. [18:50] See, the aroma is pleasing because believers
[18:52] are promoting the cross over everything else. [18:57] See, we can look at Paul’s life and quickly notice [19:00] what or whom he was giving his life to. [19:03] Think about all the tumultuous situations [19:05] that Paul was placed in. [19:07] And the only way that he could have joy
[19:08] in the midst of those situations [19:10] is if he was bound to Jesus.
[19:13] He was beaten, bruised, almost stoned to death. [19:18] All for Jesus’ glory. [19:20] You don’t become that committed to Jesus [19:22] unless you think that he’s king [19:23] and that you need to submit your life to him. [19:26] Yes, I know that all of us won’t go through
[19:28] those types of situations, [19:29] but I guarantee you that does imply [19:31] us changing our schedule. [19:33] The people struggle with understanding [19:34] why Paul had to move his schedule around [19:36] to go serve Jesus.
[19:37] It’s because he was committed to Jesus. [19:40] This means that sometimes that we need [19:41] to rearrange our schedule to show up to group activities, [19:44] to be present for discipleship. [19:47] How can we be too busy for following Jesus [19:49] if Jesus is our king?
[19:50] That doesn’t make sense, [19:51] and that’s what Paul’s getting at here [19:52] because we’re used for God’s glory. [19:55] See, within the church, there are countless examples [19:57] throughout church history of men and women [19:59] who encouraged people to follow Jesus.
[20:01] There are thousands upon thousands of people [20:03] who will never be mentioned in history either. [20:07] Of the church that have been faithful to Jesus [20:09] in his mission their entire lives, [20:11] each group of these, each one of these individuals [20:13] have encouraged other people to grow in the gospel.
[20:17] These Christians gave off a sweet aroma to others [20:20] of what it means to follow Jesus. [20:22] Their lives entice others to pursue God, [20:25] and so some of us have been encouraged by that. [20:27] Some of us have developed relationships [20:28] with people that are that type of person,
[20:31] but many of us kind of stop and look at those people [20:34] and say, oh man, I wish I could have faith like them. [20:37] I wish I could be just as intentional as them. [20:40] But we don’t want to put our foot to the work here [20:44] and actually spend time with the Lord, [20:46] grow in discipleship, put ourselves into the gospel
[20:49] community so that we can grow, [20:51] show up to be present with the church. [20:55] We don’t want to put in the hard work. [20:57] We want to have the faith like them, [20:58] we don’t want to do the work like them [20:59] to spend time with Jesus, and to bind themselves to him.
[21:05] I know many of you have experienced those conversations. [21:08] I’ve met people that I’ve had a conversation with them, [21:10] and I’ve just been encouraged by the conversation. [21:13] I’m like, man, this makes me want [21:14] to follow Jesus more faithfully. [21:17] That then causes me to then go to the scriptures
[21:19] to saturate my life in the Bible, [21:22] because if I fully believe that Jesus is everything, [21:25] I have to be committed to his word. [21:27] I have to be committed to growing in the gospel, [21:30] in discipleship, and in community. [21:33] And it’s through this time of maturation in the Bible
[21:36] that God uses that as an aroma, [21:39] a very pleasing aroma to others [21:41] about how good Jesus is.
[21:45] See, some of us want to reach people,
[21:49] but we don’t want to spend time with Jesus.
[21:53] Friends, spend time in the word, [21:55] spend time growing in community.
[21:59] See, in reference to these people [22:01] that we see that encourage us, [22:02] some of us start to think that, [22:04] hey, not all Christians are called to this. [22:06] But instead, all Christians are called [22:08] to this type of lifestyle, being committed
[22:11] and bound to Christ. [22:12] We’re all called to it. [22:13] It’s either you’re doing it or you’re not doing it. [22:16] It’s either you’re following Jesus or you’re not. [22:19] There’s not a gray area, [22:21] but if we’re submitting to his kingship,
[22:23] we will be bound to him.
[22:26] I’m encouraged today to know that Jesus wants [22:29] to use his church as a means of mission. [22:33] As we have the honor of being the hands [22:34] and the feet of Jesus’ ministry, [22:36] we never know where the gospel’s gonna take us. [22:39] We don’t know the people that we’re gonna interact with.
[22:43] We don’t know if they’re gonna respond [22:44] to the gospel or not, [22:45] if they’re gonna submit their lives to it. [22:47] But that doesn’t stop us from going [22:50] and sharing the gospel. [22:52] They might be taken back by the gospel message,
[22:54] they might be encouraged or enticed by that gospel message, [22:56] but we still have to go. [22:59] We still have to be faithful to Jesus’ mission. [23:01] And I’ll be straightforward with you. [23:02] There will be a decent amount of people [23:04] who will be dissatisfied with the gospel message.
[23:07] Your neighbors might look at your life [23:08] and say, why do you do that? [23:10] They might not understand. [23:12] Your family members might look at you and say, [23:14] why are you so active in the church? [23:15] Why are you so committed to reading the Bible,
[23:17] to growing in the Bible? [23:18] You don’t need to do that. [23:19] They’re not gonna understand. [23:21] But there will be others who will be encouraged, [23:24] who will be drawn closer to the Lord through this time.
[23:28] Friends, I think that Jesus is calling us [23:30] to come down to ourselves in this.
[23:34] First Corinthians chapter one, verse 18 says this. [23:38] For the word of the cross is folly [23:39] to those who are perishing, [23:41] but to us who are being saved is the power of God. [23:45] See, the power of cross does not make sense [23:47] to the non-believers because they haven’t been cut
[23:49] to the heart by the gospel message. [23:51] See, when we hear the gospel preached, [23:52] it nourishes our souls, but when they hear it preached [23:55] or lived out, it’s just another story.
[23:59] But that still should not stop us, friends. [24:00] Remember that. [24:01] Just because it’s foolish to them [24:03] doesn’t mean it’s not worthless. [24:05] It’s not worthless at all. [24:06] It is our hope.
[24:08] It’s our foundation. [24:10] It’s everything that we have is found in the gospel message [24:12] because our lives would never be the same. [24:15] But if your life is the same as it was [24:17] before you started following Jesus, [24:19] you probably should be considering,
[24:21] are you following Jesus and are you bound to him? [24:23] There should be a difference.
[24:26] See, my hope and prayer is that we would be a people [24:28] that God would work through to reach the city, [24:31] to reach this county for God’s glory. [24:34] And I really believe that people that are active [24:37] in reaching others as the Roma of Christ [24:39] give off a term what is called gospel fluency.
[24:43] Pastor Jeff Vanderstelt coined this term, gospel fluency, [24:46] and he kind of describes it as this. [24:48] He proposes that gospel-flument people are people [24:50] who have saturated their lives in community, [24:52] marinated with the good news of the gospel. [24:54] These people have centered their lives
[24:56] around the mission of Jesus and seek to bring others [24:58] into a lifestyle of applying the gospel [25:01] in the ends and the outs of their life. [25:04] Gospel-flument people find their lives bound to Christ. [25:08] Friends, we have to be committed [25:09] to being gospel-flument people.
[25:11] How do we do that? [25:11] By spending time with Jesus, [25:13] spending time growing in the gospel, in community, [25:16] even when that goes against the grains of our schedules [25:19] or our own ideals.
[25:22] We have to trust that Jesus is enough [25:24] to know what’s good for us in this. [25:27] I really think that’s what Paul understood here. [25:29] That’s why he was able to go wherever [25:31] for the sake of the gospel. [25:33] But my encouragement for you is this,
[25:34] is that we would be able to be gospel-flument people [25:36] so that we can befriend other people [25:39] so that they can come to know Jesus. [25:41] So takeaway for you this morning is this, [25:43] is that befriend people with the intentions [25:44] of pointing them to Jesus.
[25:47] Befriend people with the intentions [25:49] of pointing them to Jesus. [25:50] It’s easy for believers to maintain focus [25:52] on spending their time with the body of Christ. [25:55] I know we’re called to biblical community, [25:56] but we’re also called to bring people
[25:58] into biblical community. [26:00] And the best way for doing this is by befriending people [26:03] while having the intentions [26:04] of pointing them towards the gospel. [26:06] See, the people we befriend might come [26:08] from different backgrounds, different circumstances.
[26:12] It might be a little bit messy [26:13] because they’re dead in their sin, [26:14] lost in their trespasses, but we’re still called to go. [26:17] We’re still called for our lives to be on display [26:20] so that God can do a work through our lives. [26:22] But we have to go, we have to engage them
[26:25] in hopes that God would do a work. [26:28] That can be as simple as you building relationships [26:30] with people at the grocery store, the workers, [26:33] by you building relationships with people [26:34] that you work out with, with your colleagues, [26:38] with your neighbors.
[26:41] We have to invite people into our lives [26:43] so that they can see gospel fluency, [26:45] so they can see the gospel working [26:46] and how bound we are to Christ and how he is our hope. [26:50] People should be able to tell if you take Jesus [26:52] out of your life, that your life will crumble.
[26:55] They should be able to tell that. [26:57] And they can see that by doing life with you [27:00] and getting to know you. [27:01] Our third point this morning is this. [27:03] We’ve been commissioned for God’s glory.
[27:08] Stemming from verse 16 and 17. [27:10] To one a fragrance from death to death [27:12] and to the other a fragrance from life to life. [27:15] Who is sufficient for these things? [27:17] For we are not like so many peddlers of God’s word [27:20] but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God
[27:23] in the sight of God, we speak in Christ. [27:27] No one is sufficient for this mission. [27:30] None of us have the ability to look towards God [27:32] and say that I deserve the opportunity [27:34] to follow and to serve you. [27:36] See Jesus didn’t have to save us,
[27:38] he didn’t have to make us new [27:39] through his death, burial and resurrection [27:40] but it was by his grace that he saved us [27:43] and by his grace alone that he has commissioned us. [27:45] Only those who believe a false gospel [27:47] believe that they deserve Jesus.
[27:51] Only those people can look at Jesus and say that hey, [27:54] you need me for your mission.
[27:59] Or even those same people will say that they don’t need him. [28:02] Either.
[28:05] See the gospel exposes our need [28:08] so that we can submit to Jesus. [28:10] But when you don’t have a need, you’ll never submit. [28:13] Therefore you are not partaking in his mission.
[28:17] Friends, we’re seeing a clear trend here [28:18] that the gospel causes us to submit [28:19] because it causes us something. [28:21] Because Jesus is victorious, he’s calling us [28:23] to come die to ourselves, to come [28:24] and bound and enslaved to him,
[28:26] which causes us to go forward [28:27] and to allow our lives to be used for his glory. [28:32] All showing that we’re not sufficient for this. [28:35] See Paul notes that false teachers [28:36] were teaching doctrines that were subversive [28:38] to the churches.
[28:39] These people did not acknowledge [28:40] their own personal weakness or insufficiencies. [28:43] And this was extremely detrimental to the church [28:45] because Christians are called to live in a different way. [28:49] Our lives are to be marked by our weakness [28:52] because it shows our need for Jesus.
[28:56] See many of y’all are just considering your own life [28:59] and you don’t really think that you have to go. [29:02] You don’t really think that you have to change [29:03] anything about your life. [29:06] You think that you’re self-sufficient. [29:09] We’re not self-sufficient people.
[29:11] Neither are the people outside these doors [29:13] in the county, in the city or in the world. [29:15] Like we need sufficiency that can only be provided in Jesus. [29:19] 2 Corinthians 3 verse 5 says this, [29:22] not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim [29:24] anything that’s coming from us,
[29:25] but our sufficiency is from God. [29:28] See friends, we bring nothing good to the table. [29:33] Some believe Jesus is sufficient until he saves them [29:35] then they become self-sufficient.
[29:38] That’s heresy.
[29:41] That you believe that Jesus can save you [29:42] but then you don’t need Jesus.
[29:46] But why do we practically live that way? [29:49] Why do we practically attempt to reach other people [29:51] for the sake of the gospel in that manner?
[29:55] And we wonder why God’s not doing the work [29:58] through us to reach other people. [30:01] See self-sufficiency is a false gospel, [30:03] but we have to realize that we need Jesus [30:05] because he’s only sufficient. [30:07] So my question is why do we continue to boast in ourselves?
[30:11] Because God’s called us to reach people [30:12] but we’re not actually putting our money [30:14] where our mouth is in reaching people.
[30:17] That we want to be this aroma in a theological way, [30:19] we can talk about, oh I’m called to reach the nations [30:22] for the sake of the gospel, [30:22] but in all practicality, your life might be hollow [30:27] or as Jesus referred to the Pharisees, a whitewashed tomb.
[30:33] And you wonder why your life isn’t encouraging [30:35] to other people or God’s not doing the work [30:36] through your life to reach other people [30:38] and it’s because you don’t think Jesus [30:39] is sufficient enough for you.
[30:42] That it’s a Jesus plus, that you can do other things [30:45] and then follow Jesus.
[30:49] See in America we struggle with the mentality [30:51] that we can do bad all by ourselves. [30:54] That’s because we believe that we don’t need [30:55] anybody else’s help.
[31:00] Friends as you can tell, I’m making a petition [31:02] that we need Jesus and that we need him to reign, [31:05] to be supreme and to rule over our lives. [31:08] See before we become boastful about that, [31:14] about our ability to be commissioned for mission, [31:16] we must consider our personal need for Jesus.
[31:20] Thankfully God saved his church and together [31:22] the church can go out and reach others together.
[31:27] He didn’t call some of us to this mission. [31:29] He didn’t call just the pastors, the church leaders, [31:32] but he called all of us if you follow Jesus [31:35] to be used for his glory.
[31:39] But you have to be committed. [31:41] You have to come to die to do that.
[31:46] And the only way you’re gonna do that [31:49] if you’re consumed by Jesus and his grace [31:52] and how good he is.
[31:55] Yeah that’s a tough message [31:57] to grind against the grain of your heart. [32:00] But I’m sure that if you submit to King Jesus [32:02] that you’ll do that joyfully. [32:04] That you’ll trust him even when it goes against [32:07] everything else around you.
[32:09] Even if that’s within your household.
[32:12] Follow Jesus with all it’s worth [32:14] so you can raise up your kids to submit to Jesus [32:17] for all it’s worth. [32:19] So they would know that he is supreme.
[32:22] But God’s gonna do a work in us [32:24] so that we can reach other people. [32:26] See as King Jesus is partaking in his procession, [32:29] he has the church lined up behind him. [32:31] All the men and women who have decided to die to themselves. [32:35] These people have committed their lives
[32:36] at whatever cost for God’s glory. [32:39] None of them were sufficient. [32:40] None of them deserve God’s grace. [32:42] But they represented the power of the cross [32:44] and the beautiful aroma of Christ. [32:46] See God uses the aroma to bear fruit
[32:48] in the lives of the people participating [32:50] and the ones that are yet to participate [32:52] in the procession. [32:54] So through the procession the church gets to represent [32:56] all that Jesus has done. [32:58] Just think about that.
[32:59] That we’re not sufficient [33:00] but Jesus still wants to use us to reach other people.
[33:05] That as we’re falling behind him, bound to him, [33:08] he’s like, man, I’m showing off your lives for my glory. [33:11] That you get to be part of this process. [33:12] That you get to be part of the beautiful scent [33:14] that draws sinners to myself.
[33:20] But we don’t even think twice about the process.
[33:25] We wanna reach people without actually walking behind him. [33:29] When you’re in the procession, [33:30] you’re bound to him walking behind him. [33:33] How can we reach other people [33:34] if we’re not walking behind him, [33:36] humbly submitting our lives to him?
[33:40] I wanna give a few practical steps this morning [33:42] of how Jesus might wanna use us to reach non-believers. [33:47] First one is this, invite non-believers [33:49] to be a part of biblical community. [33:51] A great way to care for our neighbors [33:53] is by inviting them to be a part of Christian community.
[33:55] By inviting them, this allows us to be able [33:57] to display the work of the gospel in our lives [33:59] to non-believers while showing them what it looks like [34:02] for people to follow Jesus. [34:04] Most people may have never entered into relationships [34:06] with people that are genuinely following Jesus
[34:08] and has surrendered their lives to him. [34:11] So that should propel us to go, to engage them, [34:14] to build relationships with them [34:15] in anticipation that Jesus would do a work and save them. [34:19] Some examples of this would be to invite our friends [34:21] and neighbors to a cookout, to a block party,
[34:23] or by inviting them to an event [34:24] that your village group is hosting. [34:27] We can attest to the countless stories [34:29] of how we have seen the gospel expose hearts of sinners [34:32] through people being brought into biblical community.
[34:37] So what’s stopping you from inviting people?
[34:40] When’s the last time that you’ve actually considered [34:42] inviting other people to hear the gospel proclaimed [34:45] and to growing in the gospel?
[34:49] The first step in that is about you growing in the gospel [34:51] and you submitting your life to Jesus, [34:53] and that will propel you to then go forward [34:55] and invite other people into that. [34:56] And that’s contagious. [34:57] Like it’s a sweet aroma.
[35:00] It’s pleasant to the soul and nourishes us.
[35:04] But first we need our nourishment [35:05] before we can go out and invite other people. [35:08] The second one is this, allow the body of Christ [35:10] to be involved in discipling non-believers. [35:13] As believers, we should never forget [35:15] that we’re either discipling someone towards the cross
[35:18] or away from the cross. [35:20] So while we are trying to reach our neighbors, [35:22] we should attempt to bring them [35:23] into more discipleship relationships within the church. [35:25] We are not on this pilgrimage on our own, [35:28] but we have the church to help us reach our county.
[35:32] The best way to do this is by communicating with [35:34] and involving other people in your village group [35:36] or in the church in the process of engaging your neighbors. [35:39] This allows the church to be the church [35:41] and gives each person the opportunity to use [35:42] his or her gifts to experience
[35:45] the mission of Jesus going forward. [35:47] There might be people that you’re able to reach, [35:49] but your friend might be able to reach them better. [35:51] Invite them alongside of you in this process. [35:55] This is what this is about. [35:56] When you’re bound to Jesus, you’re not bound alone.
[35:59] You’re bound with the church, following him, [36:02] submitting your life to him, [36:03] and God’s gonna use that to reach other people. [36:07] But you have to be committed. [36:08] And so my challenge is to challenge other people [36:10] in our congregation to be committed to this task,
[36:14] to submitting their life to Jesus more, [36:15] to submitting to the enslavement of Christ.
[36:19] Like we need him. [36:21] He’s the only one that’s sufficient [36:22] for this mission to go forward. [36:25] And so we need to take this into consideration [36:27] when we review texts like Matthew 28, 18 through 20. [36:31] Sometimes when we review Matthew 18,
[36:34] I mean 28, sorry, 18 through 20, [36:36] and we’re like, oh yeah, I’m supposed to go out [36:37] and make disciples. [36:39] But the reason why we don’t make disciples [36:41] is because we don’t see the cost of having [36:42] to go out and make disciples.
[36:45] We wanna make disciples that are kinda easy, [36:49] they’re kinda fluffy disciples. [36:50] We don’t wanna go through the hard moments [36:52] in discipleship where we have to call people out for sin [36:54] and encourage them to grow in the gospel. [36:56] We don’t wanna call people to submit
[36:57] to the kingship of Jesus. [36:59] We wanna call them to leverage their schedules, [37:01] to start befriending people. [37:04] We don’t wanna have the conversations of, [37:05] hey, you’re probably worshiping your job.
[37:08] We wanna have the conversations of, [37:09] hey, you’re not being a good husband or good wife. [37:12] We wanna have the conversation that you’re not actually [37:13] spending time with the Lord. [37:15] Or hey, you probably should get up earlier [37:16] so you can read your Bible
[37:18] because you’ll just forget about the rest of the day. [37:19] Those are conversations we need to have with people [37:22] so that we can make disciples, [37:23] but we won’t have those conversations [37:25] unless we are a slave to Christ and bound to him [37:27] because he’s only one that’s gonna guide us
[37:29] through those conversations. [37:30] Matthew 28 reads as this, [37:32] and Jesus came and said to them, [37:34] all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [37:36] That’s why he can tell us to do this. [37:38] That’s why he can tell us to be submitted to him.
[37:40] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, [37:43] baptizing them in the name of the Father [37:45] and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [37:46] teaching them to observe all that I’ve commanded you [37:49] and behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.
[37:55] That’s the call this morning. [37:59] To come bid, to die to yourself [38:01] so that you can follow Jesus, [38:04] submitting to his kingship, submitting to his reign, [38:07] submitting to his authority, [38:08] that you’re being a disciple,
[38:09] that you’re growing in the gospel, [38:11] you’re pursuing discipleship relationships, [38:13] that Jesus is wrecking your life [38:14] for the purpose of you going forward [38:16] and reaching other people for the sake of the gospel. [38:20] My hope is that our church would be a place
[38:23] where the beautiful aroma of Christ [38:25] will go forward in this community.
[38:29] That the people would see the people of our congregation [38:31] say, man, they know Jesus, they pursue Jesus, [38:33] Jesus, everything for them. [38:36] But that’s not gonna happen if you’re not committed to him. [38:38] You have to trust the gospel.
[38:42] You don’t stumble into discipleship. [38:45] You don’t stumble into sanctification.
[38:49] Just sitting here on Sunday mornings [38:50] listening to a sermon preached, [38:51] does that mean that you’re gonna start [38:52] following Jesus even more? [38:53] You have to put your feet in motion, [38:56] submit humbly to Jesus and his reign,
[38:59] read his word and grow in this area [39:00] so that we can reach other people. [39:04] So as the band comes forward this morning, [39:07] my prayer is this, [39:09] is that we reflect on all that Jesus has done this morning [39:13] through communion.
[39:15] That we would consider our need to be enslaved to him. [39:20] That we would realize that without Jesus coming [39:23] to die on our behalf, without him redeeming our lives, [39:26] that our lives would be worthless in his eyes. [39:29] That we would be lost, dead in our trespasses, [39:32] in need of a savior.
[39:33] But then he has called us because of that [39:36] to submit our lives to him, [39:38] which would then therefore give off a beautiful aroma [39:40] that will reach other people. [39:42] So as you come to the table this morning to take communion, [39:46] when we take the bread that represents his body
[39:48] that was broken for us, [39:50] think about how far you’re going to go [39:52] for the sake of Jesus’ mission.
[39:56] You know you have to go far, but are you willing?
[40:00] And he deserves it because his blood was poured out [40:02] on our behalf. [40:03] Like we needed Jesus to intercede for us.
[40:07] We can come to the table hopeful this morning in that, [40:11] that Jesus is enough for us, [40:12] that he is sufficient in all that we need.
[40:17] And if you’re a non-believer this morning, [40:18] you haven’t trusted the gospel, [40:20] my prayer is that you would. [40:22] That you would realize how joyful it is to follow Jesus. [40:25] And that Jesus is worthy of our praise, [40:27] he’s worthy of our submission,
[40:29] but that he calls us to something. [40:31] He calls us to submit our lives to him. [40:34] My question for you is that what’s stopping you? [40:38] Jesus calling, he’s done all the work [40:40] to submit your life to him. [40:42] There are pastors in the foyer
[40:43] that would love to have a conversation with you [40:45] about what it looks like to follow Jesus [40:47] to submit your life to him. [40:50] So as a church this morning, [40:51] I’m thankful that we can come [40:52] boasting in Jesus alone that he’s sufficient
[40:55] and submit to him in our enslavement. [40:58] Come to the table this morning, [41:00] joyful and happy for all that Jesus has done for us.