2 Corinthians Ch2v14-Ch3v6 - Christ Centred Church

2 Corinthians, which is where we'll be looking at today.

! Thank you, Bob.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We've been going through our series in 2 Corinthians.

This morning we're going to be looking at chapter 2, verse 14, to chapter 3, verse 6.

So let's hear God's word.

2 Corinthians, chapter 2, starting at verse 14.

2 Corinthians 2 · chapter mention

To the one, we are an aroma that brings death.

To the other, an aroma that brings life.

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.

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again?

Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?

You yourselves are our letter.

Written on our hearts.

Known and read by everyone.

You show that you are a letter from Christ.

You show that you are a letter from Christ.

The result of our ministry.

Written not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God.

Not on tablets of stone.

Not on tablets of stone.

But on tablets of human hearts.

Such confidence we have through Christ before God.

Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves.

But our competence comes from God.

He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant.

Not of the letter, but of the spirit.

For the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.

Well, let's pray.

Father, may the spirit of the living God take the words that we hear, your words,

and write them afresh on our hearts today.

For us here as we gather in this room.

And for the children as they gather next door.

Father, do a work that brings life in us today.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.

Amen.

Well, I'm sure you're all familiar with the TV program, The Apprentice,

where entrepreneurs make their pitch before Lord Sugar in the hope of becoming his business partner.

And without any embarrassment or shame whatsoever,

they boast about their salary, the huge sums of money they've earned,

the company endorsements of where they've worked,

and their wide range of abilities that they have.

If you want the best,

if you want your business to succeed,

you need me.

I'm your woman.

I'm your woman.

Or I'm your man.

Well, if you were to ask the members in the church at Corinth,

what kind of people do we need for this church to grow?

For this church to take off?

Well, it was simple.

Their answer would be something like this.

You need people who are successful, influential, and powerful.

No room for the weak and fragile.

Well, at the risk of causing great offence to you all,

that rules us all out, doesn't it?

Please don't apply.

You see, most of us feel inadequate and ineffective.

We don't feel very impressive at all.

In fact, we're all far too conscious of our flaws and failures.

Well, if that's how you're feeling this morning,

we're in good company.

Because it seems Paul felt the same.

He didn't have a great big salary.

He wasn't terribly impressive.

Look at chapter 2, verse 17.

Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit.

He wasn't in it for the money.

He was no big name speaker.

He didn't even have a list of influential endorsements.

Chapter 3, verse 1.

Do we need, like some people,

letters of recommendation to you or from you?

No, he had no impressive credentials.

And he wasn't a powerful personality.

Look at chapter 3, verse 5.

Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves.

No great talent on display when Paul arrived.

And looking at ourselves and as others look at us,

we might feel the same.

We're not terribly successful.

We're not very influential.

And we're not very powerful.

But we do have Christ.

And because of Christ,

we who are weak and fragile

have all that we need.

That's what our theme is this morning.

It's a summary of our text.

You can read it on screen.

We are not successful, influential, or powerful.

But we do have Christ.

And because of Christ,

we who are weak and fragile

have all we need.

So three things to encourage us

that God is at work through people like us.

Here's the three things.

We have the aroma of Christ.

We have a letter from Christ.

And we have confidence through Christ.

So our first encouragement this morning

is we have the aroma of Christ.

Look at verse 15.

Chapter 2, verse 15.

For we are to God

the pleasing aroma of Christ.

Now what does it mean for us today

as we sit here

to be the aroma of Christ?

Well first,

we need to step back a little bit

and see that we have been

conquered by Christ.

Look at verse 14.

But thanks be to God

who always leads us

as captives

in Christ's triumphal procession.

Now victory parades

were a familiar sight

in the Roman world.

Trumpeteers celebrated

as victorious generals

marched back into their city

after going to other nations

and other places

bringing their captives in tow.

It was a great big spectacle.

And it's a striking image

that Paul uses

to explain who we are

as Christians.

Because Christ is

the victorious King

who has come and conquered us.

He has won us over

from a kingdom of darkness

and brought us into a kingdom of light.

Through his death

and through his resurrection

he has overcome sin

and Satan.

Now we are his captives

to serve Christ.

Not in a begrudging way

but because he is

our victorious champion.

Now what great encouragement

for us as a church

that we are now part

of Christ's triumphal procession.

As Christ marches

as this victorious general

through this world

the church

is Christ's victory parade.

A display to the world

of Christ's power

and greatness.

You see we are not small

or influential.

We are something wonderful.

The results

of God's work.

Now not only were the sights

were there sights

of generals

the sounds of trumpeteers

but in these great festivals

there were also smells.

So second

we are the aroma

of Christ.

Look at verse 14 again.

But thanks be to God

who always leads us

as captives

in Christ's triumphal procession

and uses us

to spread the aroma

of the knowledge of him

everywhere.

For we are to God

the pleasing aroma

of Christ.

Now historians will tell you

you can look this up

on Google

or wherever you go

to get your information.

They'll tell you that

during these great big

victory parades

there would also be

incense carriers.

People who would carry

incense along with

these parades.

Presumably to add

to the celebrations.

All over the city

as they marched

through the centre

would be this

unmistakable aroma.

You could hear

the trumpets

you could see

the generals

and you could smell

the victory.

Well the church

is the aroma

of Christ.

Where we go

and where we walk

we spread

that victorious

aroma.

But how do we

spread that aroma?

What does it look like?

Well very simply

we spread

the aroma

of Christ

by proclaiming

and talking about

the gospel

of Christ.

Did you see it there

at the end of verse 14?

He uses us

to spread

the aroma

of the knowledge

of him

everywhere.

You see

it's as we

share the gospel

as we spread

the knowledge

of God

so we

release

the aroma

of Christ.

The good news

of Jesus

his death

on the cross

for our sins

his

resurrecting

power

over death

and the grave

his gift

of life

his guarantee

of an eternal

kingdom to come

it's

aromatic

there's that

unmistakable

smell

of victory

as the gospel

is declared.

You see

the church

that is

you and I

gathered here

just think

about it

when you're

involved in

the ministries

like the

rock

that we

were thinking

about this

morning

or as you

speak to a

friend

or as you

speak to your

children

when you

open God's

word

and begin

to teach

and explain

so the

gospel aroma

of Christ

is released

and it

begins to

spread

and its

effects

are

undeniable.

third

the aroma

brings

both

life

and

death

verse

15

for we

are to

God

the

pleasing

aroma

of Christ

amongst

those who

are being

saved

and those

who are

perishing

to the

one

we are

an aroma

that brings

death

to the

other

an aroma

that brings

life

isn't that

how we

respond to

the gospel

of Christ

can you

smell it

the smell

of life

or the

smell of

death

as we

listen to

the word

today

do you

get an

aroma

of

life

or are

we

receiving

an aroma

that's

death

it's

like the

incense

sticks

or the

yankee

candles

that we

have

in our

house

they're

everywhere

Kirsty

buys them

in bulk

and I

follow around

after and

remove them

to one

they are a

beautiful

scent

to another

they are a

horrible

stench

and the

gospel

will always

have that

effect

it will

either draw

people

or repulse

people

to one

Christ

is joy

and freedom

and life

to another

Christ

is foolish

to be

rejected

and death

what's your

response

to the

gospel word

as we

hear it

this morning

can you

smell that

scent of

victory

of

life

of

Jesus

now

before we

move on

we all

have a

question to

answer

did you

see it

the end

of verse

16

and who

is equal

to such

a task

who is

capable

of all

of us

here today

who is

capable

of being

a

pleasing

aroma

to

God

well on

our own

we can't

we're not

up to the

task

but Christ

our victorious

champion

is at

work

through

people like

us

and because

of him

we can

say

yes

I am

up for

the

task

you see

it's not

about us

being

successful

or influential

or powerful

it's about

God

spreading

the aroma

of Christ

as we

open up

his word

and begin

to speak

and teach

the gospel

of Christ

we spread

that aroma

so we

are

the aroma

of Christ

be

encouraged

today

the second

encouragement

is

we have

a letter

from Christ

look at

chapter 3

verse 3

you show

that you

are a

letter

from Christ

now it's a

strange

metaphor

he's jumping

from the

generals

and the

aroma

metaphor

and now

he's talking

about letters

and things

written

on the

letter

so what

does that

mean

well first

there is

the letter

of recommendation

do you see

it there

at the beginning

of chapter 3

he says

are we beginning

to commend

ourselves

or do we

need like

some people

letters of

recommendation

to you

or from

you

I have a

book here

it's called

The Language

of Rivers

and Stars

written by a

friend of mine

called Seth

Lewis

some of you

know Seth

some of you

don't

and you might

say well why

should I read

that

well when we

open up at

the first

couple of

pages

there's some

endorsements

people like

Alistair

Begg

well I've

heard of him

he's a good

guy

and

Stephen

Wellham

well he

teaches at

Munster Bible

College

I mean

if he's

saying it's

good

it must

be good

there's a

plug for

Seth's book

by the way

well the

same thing

is going

on here

regarding

Paul's

ministry

they're

saying

well what

are your

credentials

Paul

what are

your

endorsements

who

recommends

you

why should

we listen

to you

well that's

when Paul

pulls out

the letters

from his

briefcase

and brings

out all

the big

names

Paul

a brilliant

speaker

a great

crowd

puller

Paul

guaranteed

to up

your

collections

every

time

he

speaks

well the

problem

was

Paul

had no

letters

of

recommendation

but he

did have

one letter

an endorsement

that could

not be

bettered

and guess

what

we have

that same

letter

as well

it was a

letter

that came

from

Christ

a letter

from

Christ

look at

verse 2

you

yourselves

that's

right

you

the church

you

yourselves

are our

letter

written

on our

hearts

known

and read

by everyone

you show

that you

are a

letter

from

Christ

the

church

is

Paul's

endorsement

as Paul

preached

the gospel

so the

aroma

of Christ

began to

spread

and it

brought

life

there were

people in

the city

of Corinth

who were

changed

and they

became

Christians

verse 3

you show

that you

are a

letter

from

Christ

the

result

of

our

ministry

Paul

is saying

you want

a

recommendation

well

you are

my

recommendation

the fact

that you

are following

Christ

is proof

that my

message

and my

ministry

is real

and genuine

now aren't

there times

that we

wonder

if we're

having any

effect

we're not

being talked

about on

social media

we're not

on 6-1

news

making the

headlines

the online

influencers

aren't

recommending

us

but guess

what

the gospel

is at

work

and how

do we

know

how can

we be

so sure

well here

you are

start

looking at

the people

around you

you see

the church

is a

letter

from

Christ

and each

person

who believes

the gospel

is the

written

endorsement

from

God

the church

is a

result of

your

faithfulness

your

witness

and your

work

the church

is a

letter

saying

your

work

has

taken

effect

and if

you have

any

doubts

whatsoever

look what

he says

about this

letter

they are

a letter

written

by the

spirit

verse

three

you show

that you

are a

letter

from

Christ

the

result

of our

ministry

written

not with

ink

but with

the spirit

of the

living

God

not on

tablets

of stone

but on

tablets

of human

hearts

God

now I

think

that's a

beautiful

picture

of what

happens

as you

faithfully

teach the

gospel

and share

the gospel

with your

friends

and family

parents

as you

open up

the word

of God

to your

children

whether it's

happening

on college

campus

or in

school

at the

CU

or when

you go

to work

when you

share the

gospel

the spirit

of the

living God

takes that

word

and writes

it

on people's

hearts

guaranteeing

salvation

you see

the work

of the

spirit

cannot be

erased

or removed

his work

is permanent

and eternal

picture it

like this

as God

works

through

you

so you

begin to

spread the

aroma of

Christ

and lives

are changed

each

transformed

life

is to be

read

as a

letter

from Christ

written

by the

spirit

and given

to his

church

to encourage

you

it's saying

look around

you

look at

all these

letters

written from

Christ to

you

a mark

of God's

work

in their

life

each one

of us

is so

precious

so we

can say

with Paul

verse 2

you

yourselves

are our

letter

written

on our

hearts

at home

in my

study

I have

a big

black

box

and in

it

I don't

know if

Kirsty

knows this

or not

are letters

from

Kirsty

from when

we are

dating

it was

called

dating

then

going out

whatever

it's called

now

and we

wrote

letters

we didn't

send

texts

and every

so often

I open

up that

box

and I

read one

of those

love

letters

from

Kirsty

do you

want to

hear some

I'm

I'm not

going to

read it

but

re-reading

those

letters

remind

me of

our

relationship

of our

love

but we

need to

re-read

the letters

from Christ

that are

before us

to look at

the church

and see the

work that

God has

been doing

amongst

us

to hear

the stories

afresh

of what

God has

done in

our

lives

you see

you

us

together

are

evidence

and proof

to one

another

that God

is building

his

church

it's not

about us

being

successful

or influential

or powerful

it's about

God's

endorsement

his

recommendation

a letter

from Christ

the work

of the

spirit

in our

life

proving

the results

of our

ministry

God is

at work

be

encouraged

and don't

forget

so we

are the

aroma

of Christ

a letter

from Christ

and third

encouragement

we have

confidence

through

Christ

look at

verse 4

such

confidence

we have

through

Christ

before

God

Christ

gives us

confidence

today

to continue

in your

ministry

you mightn't

feel up to

it

but here

is bucket

loads

shovel loads

of confidence

but first

we must

know that

we are

not

competent

verse 5

not that

we are

competent

in ourselves

to claim

anything

for ourselves

by ourselves

we're nothing

we have

no ability

or power

within ourselves

to change

ourselves

never mind

thinking of

changing

anybody else

we're

inadequate

we're

ineffective

we're

weak

and fragile

and the

truth is

we are

all too

conscious

of our

flaws

and failures

how can

I possibly

serve

in the

church

what do

I

have to

offer

well

by ourselves

we have

nothing

we have

absolutely

nothing

to offer

we are

not

competent

but

but

we have

a confidence

and a

competence

that comes

from God

look at

verse 5

not that

we are

competent

in ourselves

to claim

anything

for ourselves

but

our

competence

comes

from God

yes

we're

fragile

let's

face it

we have

hidden

flaws

and we

know

our

failures

but that's

not a

disqualification

in fact

admitting

to our

weaknesses

that is

what

qualifies

us

it's not

about my

ability

or being

successful

or influential

or powerful

it's coming

to God

and saying

God

I can't

I have

nothing

but you

can

our

competence

comes

from

God

can you

see how

upside down

it is

to how

the world

thinks

to get

anywhere

in life

we have

to prove

our

ability

show off

our

performance

boast

and brag

about all

the things

we have

done

no

thankfully

our

competence

doesn't

come from

within

us

it

comes

as a

gift

from

God

and

enables

us

and equips

us

to do

what he

calls

us

to do

have

confidence

competence

in our

ministry

verse 6

he

has

made

us

competent

as ministers

of a new

covenant

not of the

letter

but of the

spirit

for the

letter

kills

but the

spirit

gives

life

Paul is

contrasting

here

the old

covenant

and the

new

covenant

under the

old

covenant

you remember

when Moses

went up

Mount

Sinai

and God

gave him

the written

law

on stone

it was

good law

it showed

God's

people

how they

should

live

except for

there was

one problem

with the

law

it never

changed

people's

hearts

it's a bit

like the

speed signs

that we see

when we're

driving along

the road

they tell

you how

fast you

should

drive

some of

them even

have little

smiley

faces

or sad

faces

if you

go over

the speed

limit

you see

they can't

make you

keep

to the

limit

but we're

living

in the age

of the new

covenant

the age

of the

spirit

and the

spirit

of God

changes

people's

hearts

changes us

eternally

look at

the

end

of verse

six

the

letter

kills

by itself

the law

will kill

it will

only

condemn

but the

spirit

gives

life

you see

our

competence

doesn't

come from

ourselves

it's not

about our

ability or

cleverness

our competence

comes by

the power

of the

spirit

working

through

us

that

gives

life

to

change

people

you see

it's not

about us

being

successful

or

influential

or

powerful

it's

about

God

giving

us

confidence

through

Christ

so that

we can

continue

to serve

the

church

left

to

ourselves

we're

not

impressive

but we

do

have

Christ

and

because

of

Christ

we

who

are

weak

and

fragile

have

all

that

we

need

we

are

the

aroma

of

Christ

we

are

a

letter

from

Christ

and

we

are

competent

through

Christ

be

encouraged

as we

go out

into a

new

week

and we

meet a

mad and

frightening

world

who say

you have

nothing to

bring

we are

the aroma

of Christ

let's

pray

father

we

thank you

for your

church

your

people

for the

work you

have done

in our

lives

we

thank you

for the

gifts

and

abilities

that you

have

given

to

us

and we

pray that

we may

use

them

for

your

glory

father

give us

strength

and

encouragement

to go

on doing

all that

you have

called us

to do

we love

you

and we

thank you

help us

then as we

start into

this new

week

that we

would go

in

confidence

because we

have

Christ

in

Jesus name

we pray

amen