THE SAVOUR OF DEATH OR LIFE

For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 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? (2 Cor. 2:15-16).

The apostle gave thanks unto God because as he preached Christ, God always made him to triumph and made manifest the savor of Christ (spread abroad the knowledge of Christ) as the savor of a sacrifice. This savor is unto God a sweet savor of Christ in them that are saved. The preaching of Christ is a savor of life and death, and as Christ is preached, he is life to them who believe, receive, bow to, and rejoice in Him as their only plea and righteousness before God. But even as Christ is preached, He is a savor unto death in them that perish, to them who won't believe, won't receive, won't bow to, and don't rejoice in Christ. They feel they don't need the savor of a sacrifice before the holiness and justice of God. When the gospel is preached, there are two things always taking place (even though most are unaware of it); some are being prepared for glory, others are being hardened. Some are being brought to the light; some are left sitting in darkness. Some see Christ and His glory; others see no beauty about Him. Some who hear the gospel have their hearts made tender towards sin; others have their hearts hardened in sin. No wonder we say, "Who is sufficient for these things"? The question we should all be asking is, "How is the preaching of the gospel affecting me"?

Pastor Don Bell

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SURRENDER

True salvation requires a sinner to surrender to Christ. Sinners are required to surrender because we have declared war on God by our sin and refusal to bow to Christ. The only way hostilities will cease is if we surrender and submit ourselves unto the righteousness of God (Rom 10:2).

Surrender is defined as to yield the power or control of to another because of demand or compulsion. God’s Word commands sinners to surrender – to yield all the control of your salvation to the doing and the dying of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Surrender is also defined as to give over or resign one’s self to something. God’s Word commands sinners to surrender and give ourselves over to the sovereign grace of God who has every right to do with us as He pleases.

Finally, surrender is defined as to give up completely. God’s Word commands sinners to completely give up all of our works of righteousness. We must completely give up all trust in and all admiration for our good works, count them as dung, and throw ourselves upon the sovereign mercy of Almighty God. The encouragement for sinners is that every sinner who has ever surrendered to Christ and thrown themselves upon God’s sovereign mercy, has received the riches of God’s mercy.

In the closing days of WWII, most Japanese soldiers refused to surrender, even though their surrender would have been met with food, water, clothing, and life. The Allied forces were left no choice but to kill them for their continued rebellion. The same is true for every sinner who refuses to surrender to Christ – God will send them to eternal death because of their continued and persistent rebellion against Him. The only way to be truly free is to surrender to Christ. Anything other than complete surrender will leave us in bondage to the law and under the condemnation of death.

Bold Sinners

God’s grace will never make you bold to sin, but it will make you bold to come to God’s throne of grace to find the mercy of forgiveness for your sin.