He Always Leads Us in Triumphal Procession

2 Corinthians 2:12-3:6

From Troas to Macedonia

Paul has an open door for ministry in Troas

A potential ministry opportunity has given him the urge to travel to Troas

Paul changes ministry plans

He goes to Troas expecting to find Titus there

He is presumably anxiously waiting to hear from Titus about the Corinthian church

When he does not find Titus in Troas, he abandons his ministry plans in Troas in order to go to Macedonia

He is seeking to find Titus so that an update on the Corinthians may be received from Titus

It is notable that Paul is willing to leave unfinished ministry in Troas out of concern for the Corinthians

Paul’s point is that this is solid proof of his love for the Corinthians

Just because a door opens doesn’t mean you must walk through it

There is often more to consider than merely “is there opportunity for something?”

Does it serve the way of love?

Does it honor Christ?

Are there more pressing matters that require your prioritized attention and effort?

We need Spirit-given wisdom to discern what we should do and when we should do it

O Lord, give us wisdom!

Christ always leads us in triumphal procession

What is a triumphal procession?

Picture this:

There is a victory parade through the streets after the final battle has been won. There is great fanfare and many spectators lining the streets. The parade is led by the commander of the Roman army. Armed Roman soldiers flank the edges of the parade with their flashing armor and glistening spears. As you watch the parade, you realize that the center of the column is a large line of prisoners of war through the streets of the capital, marching on their way to be executed as a spectacle of their defeat. The point of the march is to display power, authority, victory, and the enemy’s defeat

But who do you picture yourself to be in the image?

Paul’s point is that he is like one of the prisoners who are being led to the slaughter

What does Paul mean?

He means that Christ has triumphed in His heart to make Paul His own

He means that he has died with Christ

He means that he has been raised to newness of life in Christ

Galatians 2:20- I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Romans 6:3-11- Bible

He is so thankful that this is true

“But thanks be to God!”

Paul may have changed his plans again and gone where he did not expect to go, but no matter where he goes, he will live as one who belongs to Jesus Christ, is led by Jesus Christ, and triumphs through Jesus Christ, who triumphed through His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave

We belong to Christ, He who conquered our hearts

We have been bought at a price

We have died with Him in His death

We have been raised to life with Him in a resurrection like His

Our life is hidden with God in Christ

Thanks be to God!

This is not our default condition, but is received by faith in Jesus Christ alone

We are the aroma of Christ

“We are the aroma of Christ to God”

What does Paul mean?

Dual analogy

Paul pictures the sacrifices and incense offered up by the Romans to their gods when they put on one of these victory marches

Paul clearly adjusts the analogy to associate Christ’s triumphal procession sacrifice to His sacrifice on the cross

The fragrance of His death is a perfect sacrifice to God

And now, Paul carries that aroma with him wherever he goes and whatever he does

This fragrance is the knowledge of Him

This means that the truth of the person and work of Jesus Christ permeates Paul’s life

The idea that we should live good lives and only speak of Jesus when necessary is antithetical to the Bible at every level

The aroma of your life

Is the aroma of Christ’s sacrifice for sinners the aroma of your life?

If people have a chance to sniff your life, what would it smell like?

If people have a chance to see your life, what would they see?

Do you live as one who has been transformed by the grace of Christ, permeated by the Gospel of Christ, and in step with the Spirit of Christ, so that everywhere you go, whatever you do, and whoever you’re with, they will smell the aroma of Christ and see the loveliness of Christ?

The aroma of Christ to all people

Among those who are perishing

The aroma of death to death

There are many who will smell this aroma and disregard it, brush it off, hate it, and oppose it

They are dead in their sin their sin

Ephesians 2:1-3- And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

They are blinded by Satan

2 Corinthians 2:3-4- And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Among those who are being saved

The aroma of life to life

Others smell the aroma and love it and receive Christ by faith

It is not because they are smarter or wiser, but because the Lord is pleased to grant them a nose to smell, eyes to see, a heart to believe

Ephesians 2:4-5- But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

2 Corinthians 4:5-6- For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Who is sufficient for these things?

We are utterly insufficient in ourselves for this ministry

Insufficient in worthiness

Insufficient in power

We are sinners, unable to save ourselves, and unable to save others

Even the most remarkable life and ministry would be absolutely bankrupt of any fruit if our sufficiency were in ourselves

John 15:5- I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

But our sufficiency is in Christ

He saved us and credited the worthiness of Christ to our account

So, although we were unworthy sinners, we have been made worthy through Christ

He lives inside of us by His Holy Spirit, and empowers us for the ministry that He calls us to

So, who is sufficient for these things?

Christ Jesus is perfectly sufficient in every way, and in Him, His sufficiency girds us and empowers us!

O, let us not drift or fiddle or become discouraged, but let us press on into Christ-exalting life because He lives in you and He lives in me!