Glory in the Cross: Comforted in Christ Series 2 Corinthians 2:12-17

Though Christ we triumph over all!

2 Corinthians 2:12-17 “12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. 14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.”

Introduction

One of the biggest challenges we face as followers of Christ is not allowing culture to dictate how we are defined and what we believe in. Society, and the crazy culture of today tries define what a true Christian should act like and represent. We see that in our churches today, we have allowed society to tell us what we should be for or against. Time after time, we see how these so called church leaders have surrendered, compromised, or have laid aside what Scripture teaches us who we are, and how we are respond to certain issues. Trying to conform to what the world expects one to be is something that has happened from the beginning of time; culture attempts to conform to whatever the ideology of the day is. The church in Corinth was a great example of this. In 1 Corinthians 4:8-16 Paul says,

1 Corinthians 4:8–16 (ESV)

8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! 9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me.

Paul was constantly challenged with the church in Corinth because the false teachers were pressuring them to be “good” citizens rather than being faithful followers of Christ. The spiritual immaturity of the Corinthian believers, and led to three specific dynamics that made the church. First, at some point, false teachers had infiltrated the church and was preaching and teaching a Jesus other than the One that Paul preached, which was the true Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They were preaching and teaching a different , gospel, Paul refers to them in Chapter 11 as “false apostles, and “servants of Satan. These people had taken every opportunity tell the Corinthian church that Paul didn’t care about them, and was instead trying to take advantage of them. His change of plans in visiting them and the need for him to send a harsh letter certainly added fuel to the fire.

Second, these evil encroachers were able to fit in with the Corinthian standards of leadership, placing emphasis on the attainment of honor, advancement in social status, public speaking ability, ministry for hire, and wealth. This is no different that what we do today; whoever sounds good, shouts the loudest, makes the best promises, eloquent with words, who tickles our ears are who we flocked to! The church of today looks to be culturally relevant, seeker sensitive, trying to incorporate ideologies that will make them relevant in today’s society. The apostle Paul was quite different; he was a humble servant, not after financial gain, working with his hands in manual labor, and refusing to preach for status by showing off his great rhetorical skills, and violated key leadership values which were celebrated in Corinthian culture. We also are called to be different, Ephesians 4:17-24 says,

Ephesians 4:17–24 (ESV)

17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Third, the Corinthian church was both socially and geographically diverse. The church was most likely made up of a many house churches of no more that about 40 people each, and many would have included various people of different socio-economic status. It was Paul’s purpose to pull the Corinthian church back to a firm commitment to the Gospel, a true, authentic devotion to Jesus Christ, and of course as we are dealing with today, as pastors, preachers, teacher, and all believers, there is always pushback, retaliation, and persecution for believing in and speaking the truth.

But what kept Paul from failing, what keeps us from failing? Other people in Paul’s shoes, when facing the same trials and crises, would have given up, they would have thrown in the towel. Yet Paul not only triumphed over the circumstances, but out of those circumstances produced a greater letter that even today is help Christians to experience victory. What was good for Paul is good for us as well. We will see today, that God always provides a way, an opportunity, and through Him we will always come out on top, we will triumph no matter the circumstance. We must have a conquering faith in who God is, and what He graciously provides us to triumph over our crises.

I. Unfinished Business: 2 Corinthians 2:12-13 “12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.”

After sending his letter, Paul was so concerned about how the Corinthians responded to it, and he was waiting to see Titus to find out if the Corinthian church had repented and began to return to believing in the gospel that Paul had proclaimed to them. Paul was presented a great opportunity to proclaim Christ in Troas, but he left that opened door, because the Holy Spirit had his mind and heart on the church at Corinth. We wanted to find Titus to find out how the Corinthians fared spiritually. Why would the Apostle Paul,a bondservant of Christ, who was called to proclaim the Gospel, turn away from an open opportunity to do so? Because just because there’s a opportunity to do something doesn’t that it’s ordained by God, or it doesn’t mean that the Lord wants you to go through that door at this time. Paul was concerned whether he had alienated the Corinthians or did they bear the fruit of repentance.

Part of our struggles as Christians is allowing God to move and work things out for our good. We move to another church because we were hurt by a particular person, or because we didn’t get the ministry that we wanted, so we go somewhere else and end up somewhere that we don’t want to be. As preachers and teachers of the Gospel, we are ready to jump ship as soon as we think or feel there’s a better opportunity to go elsewhere. Instead of letting God lead, we try to lead God and expect Him to bless us! See, I made that mistake, I was hurt and went to where I thought the grass was greener, but ended up in a place that I didn’t want to be. As Paul said later on this these verses, and I say now, THANKS BE TO GOD that he led me here, he led me home, He led me to Renfrew!

There are times that a door may be opening but it’s not the door God wants us to walk through. This made be similar to what is going on in your life , a door is open for you proclaim and stand for truth, but there is much work to be done right where you are. Your spirit cannot rest, not because you want to disobey God and do something else, but the Holy Spirit is revealing to you that you have unfinished business; something that you need to take care of before you can go to that next step. Yes a door was opened but God was calling Paul to finished what he started, to make sure that the Corinthian church had responded appropriately to his letter. It appeared that that Paul’s plans had completely fallen by the wasteside. Where was Titus? What was going on with the church in Corinth? Paul has open doors of ministry is Troas, but he had no peace in his heart to walk through those doors. In a human’s perspective, it looked like Paul was defeated, Satan had one that battle. But there’s just one thing folks. Paul had a conquering faith! Out of of this time of adversity he was able to break out in praise! Paul’s praise derived from blessed assurance in Christ! Paul was praising because he trusted the Lord! We see Paul’s obedience work out in 2 Corinthians 7:5-7

5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.

As always, when we act in obedience to God’s will, He makes a way. He restores our soul, He put our minds and hearts at rest. When the Spirit moves, we move; when the Spirit leads us somewhere else, we need to follow without resistance. If you are hoping and praying for God to open a door, we don’t try to open one ourselves. Trying to enter through a door that God has shut will not end well. We should go to the throne of grace with humility; we humbly ask him to open the doors that he provides for us, and to close the doors that He doesn’t want us to go through at that time. As Christians, if we are fully commited to Christ, if we truly have faith in what He has in store for our lives, we can restfully, and peacefully know that He has our best interests at heart. Obedience always works out! We need to embrace our struggles, because our struggles make us more dependent on God!

II. Perspective and Privilege 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 “14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?”

There are going to be issues in this life, especially as people of faith, as followers of Jesus Christ. We go through seasons of drought and seasons of harvest. We can either cave in and run, or we can face things head on, knowing that God has our backs. We must have a different perspective on life, and suffering as a believer...

Perspective #1: We must be willing to endure struggles… Paul says, “Thanks be to God, who in Christ ALWAYS leads us in triumphal procession.” Because Christ is and will lead us to certain victory, we, as believers, are called to spread the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. That fragrance is the Gospel; that fragrance is the work of the Cross. Paul gives us the illustration of a triumphal procession in Roman terms. When the commander in chief won a complete victory over the enemy, and if he killed at least 5,000 enemy soldiers and gained new territory for the Emperor, then that commander in chief was entitled to a Roman triumph. The processional would include the commander riding a gold chariot, surrounded by his officers. The parade would also include a display of the spoils of battle, as well as the captive enemy soldiers. The Roman priests would also be in the parade carrying incense to pay tribute to the victorious army. How does this piece of history apply to us heavy burdened believers today? Jesus Christ, our Great Commander in Chief, came to foreign soil, meaning this earth, and completely defeated, death, hell, and the devil! Instead of killing five thousand soldiers, He gave life to all who believe on His name! We endure struggles, we endure persecution, oppression and suffering, because no matter how the world sees it, no matter what the so called odds may be, in Christ we walk in victory! We have the sweetest smelling, most wonderful story to proclaim, that Jesus Christ is Lord! We are the aroma of Christ!

Perspective #2: We must show appreciation for our struggles.... What we go through, what every we have to endure, we must appreciate that fact that we get to suffer just a little of what suffering our Lord and Savior endured. James 1:2-5 “2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

1 Peter 4:12–19 (ESV)

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And

“If the righteous is scarcely saved,

what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Privilege: Paul’s use of aroma represents the Christian ministry. He saw believers as incense, giving for the awesome, wonderful, life-giving, life-saving fragrance of Jesus in lives that they live and their boldness to endure suffering for the sake of the Gospel. To believers, Christians are the fragrance of life, but to unbelievers, we are the stench of death. We are a wonderful fragrance to those who are being save, we are stench to the world because we proclaim a message that forces them to confront who they really are, no good, rotten sinners marked for death. What does Paul say in 1 Corinthians 1:18 “18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” See my brothers and sisters, the Christian life and ministry are matters of both life and death. The way we live our lives and commit ourselves to magnifying Christ and making Him front and center, can mean life or death the lost world around us.

III. Sufficiently Commissioned: 2 Corinthians 2:17 “17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.”