Thursday, March 31, 2011

The Victory Parade - II Corinthians 2:14-16

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma of life to life. And who is adequate for these things."

This is a wonderful passage for people like me who feel at times we have really made a huge mistake. Paul had written a strong letter to the Corinthians, and he was really struggling with how it would be received (see v. 13). He was no doubt second-guessing himself and probably feeling like a loser. Then he remembered that in Christ he was a winner. He was reminded by God's Spirit that all of us who are in Christ are a part of an enormous victory parade.

When Paul says that God "always leads us in His triumph in Christ", he is alluding to the victory parades sanctioned by the Romans emperors whenever there was a significant victory by the legionaries or navy. Some people think that we Christians are the captives in the parade, and there is some merit to the proposal (see I Corinthians 4:9), but I believe the best understanding in the context, and when one examines the historical date, is that we are in fact the victorious soldiers.

The Roman victory parade was a magnificent affair that lasted a day or more. It began with the Roman magistrates leading the procession, followed closely by Romans senators. Then came the trumpeters in front of slaves carrying all the wonderful spoils of the battle. White oxen proceeded the king of the defeated country, if he was captured as a result of the victory. Behind him walked all the dejected soldiers, ashamed and vanquished. Immediately after these captured troops were the victorious Roman officers followed by musicians and dancers celebrating the victory. The Roman general rode in a chariot with a slave who kept whispering in his ear (according to General Patton) "all fame is fleeting". Finally, the soldiers who had actually fought and won the battle brought up the rear, soaking up the cheers and accolades of the massive crowds who turned out to greet them.

This is the picture Paul was given, and he in turn gives it us to encourage us that even if we sin, even if we really blow it on a particular occasion, we are still victors in Christ. We may not be the best soldier and we may not have fought the hardest. We may have even failed at key moments in the battle, but we are all still a part of the victory celebration.What a glorious encouragement!

Oh yes, to those who reject our Lord we smell like "death" (v. 16). But to those "who are being saved" we smell like "life". And to God "we are a fragrance of Christ" because we as Christians are clothed with His righteousness (see Galatians 3:27). This passage is always a great encouragement to me. I hope it is for you as well. Remember, even if we fail at times, even if we lose some battles, we are still on the winning side with the Lord Jesus Christ!

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