Introduction: Odors, aromas, smells, fragrances....these are more powerful than you think, and play a large part in how we live. There are good smells and bad smells. Smells that attract, and smells that make us run. Manufacturers and advertisers spend billions of dollars every year on making things smell just right: new car smell, deodorant smell, soap, laundry detergent, perfume and cologne, etc.etc. Here in 2 Corinthians, Paul writes about the "aroma of Christ," and the "fragrance of the knowledge of Christ."

If you carefully examine an oatmeal cookie, what might you smell? Raisins, oats, brown sugar, cinnimon, baked flour and oil. When you think of Christ, and the wonderful story of the Gospel, what do you "smell?"

I. I smell God's mercy and grace.

A. We are all sinners, and none of us deserves salvation.

B. But God is a God of mercy and grace.

God delights in being merciful:

Micah 7:18
"Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy."

Deu 4:31
"For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath."

Psa 78:38-39
"Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return."

Dan 9:9
"The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him..."

John 3:16-17
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

II. I smell God's wisdom.

A. What do you fix for supper when your husband calls at 4:30 and says he is bringing three executives home with him at 5 PM? Well, I would send out for pizza!

B. The Gospel is no "off-the-cuff" little something whipped up on the spur of the moment! The Gospel is not a Domino's pizza! It reveals the wisdom and careful planning of God.

Revelation 13:8 calls Jesus "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

The Covenant of Salvation is a covenant made in eternity:

Hebrews 13:20-21
"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

God proclaimed the Gospel in Genesis 3:15 to Adam and Eve, then to Abraham, and to Moses and the prophets, and then at just the right time in history sent His Son to be our Savior:

Mark 1:14
"Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."

C. Paul had written the Corinthians in an earlier letter about how the Gospel was the wisdom of God...

1 Cor 1:22-24
"Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."

The same fragrance may seem good or bad to different people. For example, cigar smoke. Some people love the aroma of cigars. Some people choke on the smoke. The Gospel is like that. To unbelievers, the Gospel seems foolish or bad. To God's elect, the Gospel is the wisdom of God.

III. I smell an opportunity for service.

A. Paul the Apostle was excited and grateful to God for calling him to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles.

B. The other Apostles were happily involved in their "Mission to the World."

C. God has graciously given you and me tremendous tools and opportunities to reach the world for Christ today.

D. And how shall we speak? We must not "peddle the Word of God for profit." We must speak "as from God, with sincerity, as men and women sent by God." (Note: the "men" here in the NIV is not found in the Greek text. Both men and women are to be evangelists as God gives them opportunity.)

Conclusion: How does the Gospel smell to YOU personally? Read 2 Corinthians 2:15-16. Is it the aroma of life? If you have not yet trusted in Jesus to be your Savior, there's no better time than right now.