AM Aug 12th 2Cor 2

August 12th

We triumph in Christ

14: 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. 15: For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16: 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? 17: For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

Lastly Paul breaks forth into thanksgiving to God for him own life and ministry. Paul was ever grateful for the honour of serving Christ especially in the light of his perceived unworthiness. He says may God be thanked who always causes us to triumph. Christ causes our ministry to overcome all obstacles and situations. And He makes known to all the sweet smell of our ministry which is the revelation of Christ, in every place where we serve Him. Our ministry in the Word is to the Lord a sweet smell to those who are saved and to those who are unbelievers. To unbelievers our ministry is the smell of death which leads to destruction. But to believers our ministry is the smell of life which leads to abundant life. Paul then asks a rhetorical question – Who is sufficient in themselves for all this? (well Paul although he knows his own inability and unworthiness never the less has no mock humility, he knows his ministry is a blessing to his hearers but he does not put this down to the power of his own personality or the cleverness of his oratory. Rather he realises that it is blessed on the basis of three things, First the beauty of his subject – Christ, Second the enabling of the Holy Spirit in which Christ is preached in power and lastly that his success in ministry is measured in direct proportion to his willingness to submit to walking in the Spirit. Lastly he says we are not like many that l could mention who spoil the message of God but we in complete sincerity in the presence of God we preach and teach Christ. We have no other subject but Him.