14 感謝 神！常帥領我們在基督裡誇勝，並藉著我們在各處顯揚那因認識基督而有的香氣。15 因為我們在 神面前，無論在得救的人身上，或滅亡的人身上，都有基督馨香之氣。16 在這等人，就作了死的香氣叫他死；在那等人，就作了活的香氣叫他活。這事誰能當得起呢？
保羅在今天的經文中給我們描述了一個“羅馬凱旋式”的畫面。凱旋式是古羅馬授予那些打贏了一整場戰爭的軍事將領的慶祝儀式。在整個儀式中，得勝的將領將坐在一輛金色的戰車上，四周被他的手下所環繞。在整個遊行隊伍中還包括各樣擄來的戰利品和戰俘。羅馬的祭司也在遊行的隊伍中一邊前進，一邊燒香從而向得勝的軍隊致敬。遊行一般會結束在大競技場，在那裡戰俘會在競技場上和野獸搏鬥至死。
保羅用這一個當時代的人很容易理解的畫面來描述耶穌基督，我們救恩的元帥的得勝。如今，藉著祂的受死，復活和升天，我們已經得著了一個得勝的地位。我們今天所有的爭戰都是站在耶穌基督已經得勝的地位上，因此我們可以常常在基督裡跨勝！
當那些羅馬的祭司在那裡燒香的時候，這些的香氣對於遊行隊伍中的不同人意味著不同的意思。對於得勝的羅馬軍隊來說，這意味著得勝；對被擄失敗的一方來說，這意味著死亡！同樣，今天你我所承受的職分也非常的重要。我們每一個信徒都應該在各處顯揚那因認識基督而有的香氣，在得救的人身上，這是叫人活的香氣，在拒絕耶穌的人身上，這是叫人死的香氣。
换句话说，你我今天的執事關乎我們周圍人的生死存亡！難怪保羅會發出感嘆說：這事誰能當得起呢？
就像J. Vernon McGee曾經講過的一樣: “親愛的朋友，這個世界上最榮耀的一件事情就是傳揚耶穌基督的福音，沒有任何事情能夠超過它。 我永遠不會想要競選美國總統。 但是我知道，宣揚主的話是一件何等榮耀的事情！”
2 Corinthians 2:14-16
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?
Paul painted a picture of the "Roman Triumph" in today's Scripture. Roman Triumph is the special tribute that Rome gave to their conquering generals, who won a complete victory over the enemy on foreign soil. The processional would include the commander riding in a golden chariot, surrounded by his officers. The parade would also include a display of the spoils of battle, as well as the captive enemy soldiers. The Roman priests would also be in the parade, carrying burning incense to pay tribute to the victorious army. The procession would normally end at the Circus Maximus where the helpless captives would entertain the people by fighting wild beasts.
Paul used this picture to show that Jesus Christ, our great Commander in chief, came to this world and has already completely defeated the enemy through His death and resurrection. Today we as believers simply follow in Jesus Christ's triumph to fight from His victory.
As the Roman priests burned the incense in the parade, that odor affected different people in different ways. To the triumphant soldiers, it meant life and victory; but to the conquered enemy, it meant defeat and death. They were on their way to be killed by the beasts. Paul uses this image to remind us the importance of our ministry. Believers as incense, give forth the fragrance of Jesus Christ in their lives and labors. To God, believers are the very fragrance of Jesus Christ. To other believers, we are the fragrance of life; but to unbelievers, we are the fragrance of death.
In other words, the Christian life and ministry are matters of life and death. The way we live and work can mean life or death to a lost world around us. No wonder Paul cried out, "And who is sufficient for these things?"
As J. Vernon McGee once said: "My friend, the greatest privilege in the world is to give out the Word of God. There is nothing like it. I would never want to run for the presidency of the United States. But it is glorious to give out the Word of God!"
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