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SMELLY CHRISTIANS
There is an interesting contrast regarding
the reaction of people to those who are genuine children of God.
It has to do with the “savour” or smell of
those who are born again. Proof: “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...” (2
Corinthians 2:15-16). Genuine Christians (not hypocrites or false
professors) have a smell. Unto God this smell is a sweet one. We know this
because Paul wrote “we are unto God a sweet savour [smell] of Christ.”
Humanity is divided into two groups. Paul
wrote of “them that are saved”
and “them that perish.”
These are the two groups: saved people and perishing ones. These two groups
react differently to the smell given off by those in whom the Holy Spirit
dwells. Remember the Holy Spirit of God dwells permanently in those who are
born again. We know this because the Bible says,
“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please
God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the
Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he
is none of his,” (Romans 8:8-9). Those who
never experience the indwelling Spirit are among
“them that perish.”
They are “none
of his.” It is this Holy Spirit within the
true believer that causes him or her to give off an odor. Such people are
different. They live different lives from those around them. They follow
holiness. They persevere in righteousness. God's Word says,
“The righteous also shall hold on his way...”
(Job 17:9). This is not because of what the believer is in and of himself,
but rather because the Spirit of God is operative in him from his new birth
forward.
So to
“them that perish” genuine Christians
smell like death. Not only do they smell like death, they smell like
“death unto death.”
That means that the child of God is a death-conveying odor leading to the
death of “them that perish.”
They want nothing to do with genuine Christianity although they may love
their religion. The idea of salvation by grace alone is not reasonable to
them. They think they are saved because of their works and trust in what
they have done: praying, 'speaking in tongues,' having been baptized, 'going
forward,' etc.
In contrast to
“them that perish” are
“them that are saved.”
To them genuine children of God smell like life. The children of
God are a life-conveying odor leading to
life of “them that are saved.”
The all important question is this: what
do genuine Christians smell like to you? Children of God do indeed give off
an odor. Is it pleasant and inviting or do you find the true children of God
offensive by the odor they give off? Will you live or will you perish? |
