The Aroma of Christ (Eph

The Aroma of Christ (Eph.5:1-ff) – Michael Mazzalongo

Intro –They say that the sense of smell has the greatestpotential to arouse a variety of emotions.

. Note how the smell of freshly cut grass or bacon frying can make usnostalgic for childhood memories.

. Or certain smells denote certain places or experiences (hospitals,funeral homes, schools)

. Psychologists tell us that the sense ofsmell plays an important rule in human sexuality.

- No wonder that perfume companies spend billions of dollarstrying to create and mix ingredients to produce fragrances that will be sold to enhance one'simage or create mystery of attraction.

• It's quite natural therefore that the Bible uses the experience of smell to create certain image and teach certain lessons.

. In Gen.8:21, after the great flood hadcleansed the earth of sin Noah offereda sacrifice of thanksgiving to God and the Bible says that the Lord “smelled the soothing aroma, denoting that the violence and sin were replaced by peace an righteousness.

. In Philippians 4:18 Paul uses this imaging as well calling the gift senthim by the church, “ a fragrant aroma”,again suggesting that their gift waslike a sweet smelling thing ---pleasantto experience.

• In Eph.5 Paul uses this same analogy of smell to describe two things

1.How pleasing the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf was to God – vs.1-2 (read)

. Jesus' life, death, resurrection was like a fragrant smell to god.

2 .How pleasing the life of one who imitatesChrist is to God – vs. 3

Our life, death, resurrection was like a fragrant aroma to God.

*I believe that being pleasing to God is very importantto us, so this morning I'd like to share with you some of the ingredients necessary to create the aroma of Christ so pleasing to our God.

In Eph.5:6 Paul describes 4 of these ingredients

Ingredient # 1 – Purity – vs. 3-14

-In vs. 3-14 Paul describes the first essential ingredientin order to produce the aroma of Christ in our lives--- personal purity.

-Purity means cleanliness, the absence of any foreignmatter in the ingredient.

-Paul lists the type of things that need to be removedfrom our lives in order for them to be pure.(Read vs. 3-6)

. Improper sexual activity including lasciviousness (pornography/voyeurism)

. Greed (never having enough – materialism)

. Swearing, dirty stories, bad language, nasty and derogatory remarks.

. Lewd behavior and speech (Howard Stern and the talk show that parade sexual freaksetc.)

. He reminds them that it is for this kind of impurity that God punishes people – make no mistake, don't let anyone tell you otherwise --- God will punish for these sins.(vs. 7-14)

. In these verses he encourages Christiansnot only to avoid such behavior but not to tolerate it in others and to expose it as evilto the world.

*Christians not only have a right to denounce what is immoral and impure in this world, they have a responsibility to do so as well.

II. Ingredient # 2 – Spirituality – vs. 15-21

- The second ingredient necessary to produce the aroma of Christ is spirituality (read vs.15-21)

- Here Paul compares the feature of worldly, godlessliving to a spiritual lifestyle.

- In the life without reference to God or spiritual thingsmen are careless in their ways, don't seek after spiritual wisdom, fail to recognize that the time is short and the judgment is coming.

.Their greatest pleasure is to waste their life and time with parties, pleasure, and drunkenness is the favorite state of mind.

- But the follower of Christ is spiritual in nature and purpose.

. He/She is filled with the spirit and becauseof this has wisdom and knowledge of thingsthat come from above not just below.

. The time is not wasted on foolish activitiesbut invested in spirit filled things likepraise, prayer, and thanksgiving.

. The fellowship and relationship is not in lustor competition like in the world but in humility and submission which is of the Spirit.

- Some complain that the church activities are cutting into their life, limiting what they can do.

- They don't realize that church activity isreallife and rest of our hobbies here on earth is just temporary.

III. Ingredient #3 – Order – vs.22-25; 6:1-9 (read)

- One cannot produce the aroma of Christ without an orderly life.

- Paul describes the proper order of the 6 main relationships in one's life.

1. Wives need to be in submission to their husbands.

2. Husbands need to love their wives.

3. Children need to obey their parents.

4. Parents need to lead their children tenderly.

5. Employees need to be honest and profitableto their employers.

6. Employers need to be fair with their employees.

The presence of Christ is easily seen by the orderliness in our lives and Christ requires this especially in the everyday affairs of life as we deal with family and work. - His presence must be recognizable in our everyday family and work life - just in church.

*An orderly life is a greater witness for Christianity than being at church on Sunday morning because unbelievers don't come to church --- but they see you in your marriage, the way you treat your family and how you are at work.

IV. Ingredient #4 – Perseverance – vs. 10-20

- The final ingredient to produce the aroma of Christ perseverance - In 6:10-20 Paul describes what perseverance is:

1. Being strong in the Lord. vs. 10

• Not wavering in where you stand, what you believe.
• Others have no doubt about your commitment.
• You exude faith, confidence, the willingness to do right, say right, think right.
• The bible and prayer and the Holy Spirit cannot help the one who doesn't read or go to God in prayer or submit to the Holy Spirit ---- use it or lose it!

3. Being wise in the Lord. - vs. 12

• In order to finish the battle, the war, you need to know who the enemy is and his way of fighting.
• It's not about “not having sex until your married,”“not getting drunk,” “all the allurements in the world.”
• It's not about those things --- it's about Satan usingthese and other things to draw us away from Jesus Christ and eternal life.

The “war” is not against drugs, it's against Satan and to defeat Satan and his schemes we must persevere in faith, prayer, the gospel etc. ---It's not about what you avoid, it's about what you do.

*Christ persevered through immense trials and attacksby Satan and those who wish to create the aroma of Christ before God must also have the ingredient of perseverance in their lives.

Summary / Invitation

- What aroma is your life producing before God?

• Is it the aroma of sexual sin, words, thoughts and activity that is unclean? (nothing wrong with sex in the proper context --- but is your sexual activity proper?)
• Is it worldliness --- like Esau a man so unspiritual he traded his birthright for a plate of stew? Do you smell like the world because you've traded your Christianity for the few earthly pleasures the world has to offer, worldly music, activities..?
• Is the aroma one of chaos and confusion? A personat odds with everyone --- family, friends.

- The smell of laziness or dishonesty?

-Perhaps it's the smell of fear. You can smell when someone's afraid. Afraid of being judged because you've not remained faithful to Jesus.

- I encourage all of us to cultivate the ingredients that will create the aroma of Christ in our lives that not only God can smell, but others can as well.

Four ingredients to produce the beautiful aroma of Jesus Christian

- Purity of thought, speech and action.

- Making spirituality the priority.

-Orderly loving at home and work.

-Perseverance in the faith --- not just avoiding

Satan's attack but gaining on the offensive through evangelism, teaching, prayer, faithfulness to church, and service.

• It's not too late to dispose of the stench of the old sinful life and begin preparing a new mixture of ingredients that will come before God smelling sweetly and acceptable in Christ Jesus.

*If you wish to take on this new aroma come and bathe in the pure waters of baptism and wash away your sins or cleanse your conscience by being restored through prayer.