The Bible teaches that Christians are called to be the “aroma of Christ” to the world around them (2 Corinthians 2:15). This is a powerful metaphor that conveys an important spiritual truth. Let’s explore what it means for believers to be the aroma of Christ.
Christians Spread the Fragrance of the Knowledge of Christ
In 2 Corinthians 2:14, Paul says that God spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ everywhere believers go, just as an aroma fills the air around its source. He then goes on to call believers the “aroma of Christ.” So Christians spread the pleasing fragrance of the gospel of Christ to all those around them.
Jesus is likened to precious perfume in Song of Songs 1:3 – “your name is like perfume poured out.” The knowledge of Christ is sweet and precious to those being saved, but offensive to those perishing (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). Just as applying perfume scents the air with a lovely fragrance, sharing the message of salvation through faith in Christ spreads the beautiful aroma of the gospel.
The Aroma of Christ Refers to Christlike Character
While spreading the message of Christ is crucial, Paul also has Christlike character in mind when he calls believers the “aroma of Christ.” In many places, Scripture refers to pleasing aromas in correlation with righteous living and Christlike character (Philippians 4:18, Ephesians 5:2).
As Christians grow in godly character and good works, they spread the fragrance of Christ – who lived a perfect, righteous life – to all those around them. Their Christlike love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) gives off the sweet savor of godliness.
The Aroma of Christ Refers to Sacrificial Living
In 2 Corinthians 2:15, Paul mentions that Christians are the aroma of Christ to those who are being saved and to those who are perishing. He goes on to describe how believers are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved, but the stench of death to those who are perishing.
This refers to how the sacrificial lives of Christians – lives laid down in service to God – have opposite effects on people, depending on the state of their hearts. To lost people dead in their sins, the selfless sacrifice of godly believers is offensive. But to those getting saved, it is a sweet-smelling savor (Philippians 4:18).
So being the “aroma of Christ” has connotations of living sacrificially as Christ did, even though doing so may offend some. The aroma of Christ is the aroma of living and dying for the glory of God and the good of others.
Christians Become Like Christ through Abiding in Him
How do Christians practically live as the fragrance of Christ in the world? It happens through abiding in Christ.
In John 15:1-8, Jesus compares Himself to a vine and believers to branches. He says that as branches abide in the vine, they bear much fruit. But apart from the vine, the branches can do nothing. Through abiding in Christ, Christians receive His life and nourishment that enables them to grow in godly character and bear righteous fruit.
As believers spend time in God’s Word, in prayer, gathered together with other Christians, and actively practicing the Lord’s commands – all ways of “abiding” – they become permeated with the aroma of Christ. They begin to manifest His righteousness, goodness, love and sacrifice in their lives.
The Aroma of Christ Attracts People to the Knowledge of God
When Christians live as the aroma of Christ, spreading the gospel message, displaying Christlike character, and making sacrifices to serve God, it gets the attention of a watching world. Those intrigued by the fragrance begin to seek out its source.
In a world full of anger, anxiety, immorality, and selfishness, the qualities found in the aroma of Christ stand out. The pleasing fragrance draws people to find out more about the One Christians love and follow after – Jesus Christ.
As believers point unbelievers to Jesus through their Christlike lives, those people then have the opportunity to hear the gospel message, have their hearts transformed, and begin emitting the aroma of Christ themselves.
The Aroma of Christ Should Reach Both Believers and Unbelievers
Paul states that Christians are called to be the aroma of Christ among both other Christians and unbelievers (2 Corinthians 2:15). The fragrance of the knowledge of Christ should permeate His whole body, His church. And it should spread beyond the walls of Christian community to touch all the world.
Within the church, each believer should strive to live as the aroma of Christ, encouraging their fellow Christians toward greater obedience, godliness, love, and self-sacrifice. Christ living in and working through His people builds up the church.
And Christians must also be intentional about spreading the aroma of Christ to the lost. This happens through proclaiming the gospel, as well as through mercifully serving the physical needs of others. The fragrance is most pungent when believers are out actively engaging the world.
The Aroma of Christ Is Offensive to Some Unbelievers
To people who are perishing, not yet reconciled to God, the aroma of Christ is repulsive (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). Rather than attracting them, it turns them off.
The light of Christ exposes the evil in people’s hearts, and they do not like it (John 3:19-20). So sometimes when believers emit the aroma of Christ through righteous living and gospel proclamation, it convicts and offends people rather than drawing them in. Persecutors of the church are repulsed by the fragrance of Christ.
This should not discourage Christians from living as the aroma of Christ. Some will reject the message, but some will also believe and be saved (Acts 13:48-49). Believers must stay faithful to spread the fragrance among both types of peoples.
The Aroma of Christ Gives Life to Those Getting Saved
To those who are believing and getting saved, the aroma of Christ is a life-giving fragrance (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). Rather than being repelled by the sacrifice and godliness of Christians, they find it incredibly attractive.
The gospel message sounds like life-saving good news to them. The Christlike love and humility Christians display resonates with the work the Holy Spirit is doing in their hearts. They feel drawn to the source of this beautiful fragrance, desiring to know Christ and be near His people.
The aroma whets their appetite for more of Jesus. It leads them toward salvation and transformation into people who themselves become the pleasing fragrance of Christ to the world.
Christians Are Being Transformed into the Aroma of Christ
It is important to remember that believers are still a work in progress. Though Christians are called to be the aroma of Christ, they have not yet obtained complete Christlikeness. Like the Corinthians, all believers struggle with sin and spiritual immaturity to varying degrees (1 Corinthians 3:1-9).
But by God’s grace and power, Christians are being transformed into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). As they cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work, they increasingly reflect Jesus Christ and His fragrance to their communities.
The Aroma of Christ Is Strongest When Christians Are United
Jesus’ most urgent prayer for all of His followers was that they would be completely unified, just as He and the Father are one (John 17:20-23). He longs for spiritual oneness within His church.
When Christians live in unity with each other – laying aside petty differences and selfish interests – the fragrance of Christ permeates His whole church powerfully. People notice the self-sacrificing love believers have for one another in genuine Christian community, and it attracts them to the gospel.
Division and strife within churches distort the aroma of Christ and repel outsiders. Believers must pursue unity in order to spread the pure fragrance of Christ.
The Goal Is to Make Christ Known through the Aroma of Christ
The ultimate aim of Christians being the aroma of Christ is that God would be glorified and made known through them. As believers spread the sacrificial love of Christ and proclaim the message of salvation, God receives all the praise, honor, and credit.
It is only through the work of Christ within His people, empowering their righteous living and gospel mission, that the aroma goes forth. So ultimately, as the fragrance permeates lives, unbelievers come to know the Lord Jesus Christ through personal faith.
This brings glory to God. So the aroma of Christ leads people to encounter the source – Christ Himself – and believe in Him for salvation from sin.
Bible Verses about Christians as the Aroma of Christ
Here are some key Bible verses about the aroma or fragrance of Christ:
- “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. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” (2 Corinthians 2:14-15)
- “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.” (2 Corinthians 2:17)
- “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2)
- “But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.” (2 Corinthians 8:16-21)
Summary of the Meaning of “Christians as the Aroma of Christ”
In summary, for believers to be the “aroma of Christ” means:
- Spreading the gospel message about Jesus
- Displaying the character of Christ through righteous living
- Making sacrifices to serve God and others
- Drawing people to desire to know Jesus
- Representing Christ within the church and to the unbelieving world
- Bringing glory to God as Christ is made known
This is a sacred calling and high privilege. As Christians depend on the Holy Spirit and abide in Christ, they become permeated with the sweet fragrance of Jesus and take His aroma to all the world.