KenH
Well-Known Member
A Savour Of Death Unto Death – A Savour Of LIFE Unto LIFE!
“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 2:15-16)
As justified saints, those called of God to be “ambassadors of Christ”, we have a unique and awesome responsibility placed upon us – “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. NOW THEN WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”(2 Corinthians 5:18-20) The phrase “we are ambassadors” is one word in the original which means ‘to act as an ambassador’. We aren’t sent of God into this world to propose terms of peace, seeking to negotiate with sinners in order for them to accept those terms. Since Christ has actually RECONCILED HIS PEOPLE TO HIMSELF through His obedience unto death, we go forth with the full power of God, proclaiming and publishing WHAT HE HAS DONE. Think about WHAT THIS MEANS! We represent Christ and the GOD WHO SENT CHRIST “to save His people from their sins.” According to the verses at the heading of this article, as God’s representatives who go forth with His declaration of grace we are to “UNTO GOD a sweet savour of Christ IN THEM THAT ARE SAVED (the elect of God), and IN THEM THAT PERISH (the faithless, the lost, the perishing).”_To the elect of God, we are “the savour of life unto life.” But to the non-elect (reprobate) we are “a savour of DEATH UNTO DEATH.” In other words, the SAME SWEET MESSAGE OF FREE GRACE that God is pleased to use to bring ETERNAL LIFE to every object of His love BRINGS ETERNAL DEATH AND CONDEMNATION to every “vessel of wrath fitted to destruction.”(Romans 9:22b) The consideration of this awesome responsibility and task caused Paul to write: “WHO IS SUFFICIENT FOR THESE THINGS?” The word translated “sufficient” means ‘fit or qualified’. The answer then is clear: NO ONE IS FIT OR QUALIFIED to make this distinction but the God who chooses to HIDE the Gospel from one sinner, and REVEAL it to another. That’s not for us to decide – IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DECLARE. If we have a lost spouse, or children, or siblings, or parents we hope and pray the Lord will be pleased to bring to true faith, we MUST declare the Gospel to them, seeking to put this glorious message of free grace before them with every opportunity the Lord by His providence provides. For us to not do so is NEGLIGENCE at best, or INSUBORDINATION at worst. God has promised us “MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE”, so if we want sinners saved, WE MUST HERALD HIS VOICE of free grace – “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.”(Galatians 6:14-15)
- Richard Warmack, Pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Ruston, Louisiana
“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 2:15-16)
As justified saints, those called of God to be “ambassadors of Christ”, we have a unique and awesome responsibility placed upon us – “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. NOW THEN WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”(2 Corinthians 5:18-20) The phrase “we are ambassadors” is one word in the original which means ‘to act as an ambassador’. We aren’t sent of God into this world to propose terms of peace, seeking to negotiate with sinners in order for them to accept those terms. Since Christ has actually RECONCILED HIS PEOPLE TO HIMSELF through His obedience unto death, we go forth with the full power of God, proclaiming and publishing WHAT HE HAS DONE. Think about WHAT THIS MEANS! We represent Christ and the GOD WHO SENT CHRIST “to save His people from their sins.” According to the verses at the heading of this article, as God’s representatives who go forth with His declaration of grace we are to “UNTO GOD a sweet savour of Christ IN THEM THAT ARE SAVED (the elect of God), and IN THEM THAT PERISH (the faithless, the lost, the perishing).”_To the elect of God, we are “the savour of life unto life.” But to the non-elect (reprobate) we are “a savour of DEATH UNTO DEATH.” In other words, the SAME SWEET MESSAGE OF FREE GRACE that God is pleased to use to bring ETERNAL LIFE to every object of His love BRINGS ETERNAL DEATH AND CONDEMNATION to every “vessel of wrath fitted to destruction.”(Romans 9:22b) The consideration of this awesome responsibility and task caused Paul to write: “WHO IS SUFFICIENT FOR THESE THINGS?” The word translated “sufficient” means ‘fit or qualified’. The answer then is clear: NO ONE IS FIT OR QUALIFIED to make this distinction but the God who chooses to HIDE the Gospel from one sinner, and REVEAL it to another. That’s not for us to decide – IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DECLARE. If we have a lost spouse, or children, or siblings, or parents we hope and pray the Lord will be pleased to bring to true faith, we MUST declare the Gospel to them, seeking to put this glorious message of free grace before them with every opportunity the Lord by His providence provides. For us to not do so is NEGLIGENCE at best, or INSUBORDINATION at worst. God has promised us “MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE”, so if we want sinners saved, WE MUST HERALD HIS VOICE of free grace – “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.”(Galatians 6:14-15)
- Richard Warmack, Pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Ruston, Louisiana
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