2 Corinthians 2:14-17 // 3 Marks of a True Christian Minister

In the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic, you might be thinking that our study in 2 Corinthians is irrelevant. After all, what does the apostle Paul’s interaction and relationship with a bunch of ancient Christians in Corinth have to do with us? It might not seem applicable, but it is because it’s truth – God’s Word.

Taking in God’s truth reshapes our thinking in any circumstance. We’ve already been reshaped through truths about relationships, conflict and decision-making. Today, we’re going to reshape our thinking about ministry.

2 Corinthians 2:14-17 shows us three marks of a true Christian minister.

True Christian Ministers Are Slaves

The first mark of a true Christian minister is that they are slaves. That’s the imagery Paul uses in verse 14:

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.

This gives the picture of a king returning victoriously from battle leading all the conquered slaves behind him. In these processions, the slaves would also sometimes be given incense so that everyone could both see and smell what had happened.

What Paul is saying is that wherever we go, we go because we are following Christ as His conquered slaves. And wherever we go, He always uses us to spread the knowledge of Him.

This might not sound like a very appealing idea. But it’s part of the paradox of Christianity. It’s good to be conquered by Christ and spreading the knowledge of Him.

As slaves of Christ in the midst of COVID-19 . . .

If you’re a Christian, you are a slave of Christ and a minister. You’re not stuck at home because of the COVID-19 pandemic – you’re stuck there because Jesus Christ put you there. He wanted one of His servants to be there to minister to your household, your family, and (through digital media) your coworkers, employees and friends.

Whatever means you have to interact with people, that’s your way to serve Christ as His slave. So you might be in Troas, Corinth, Charlotte, with people, alone – wherever you are, God put you there to spread the knowledge of Him.

True Christian Ministers Are Smelly

True Christian ministers are slaves of Christ. They’re also smelly.

For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.

– 2 Corinthians 2:15-16a

There are all kinds of smells in the world. Some people love the smell of new cars, but other people hate it. Some people also love the smell of French vanilla, while other people hate it.

Like new cars and French vanilla, Christians give off an aroma – a spiritual aroma. And, like new cars and French vanilla, some people love the smell of it while other people hate it. To those who are saved it’s like life, but to those who are perishing it’s like death.

For us, we need to understand that some people will love us for our Christ-like aroma while others will hate us. But the spiritual aroma we radiate must not change with our audience.

True Christian Ministers Are Sincere

True Christian ministers are slaves of Christ. They give off the aroma of Christ. And the third characteristic is that they are sincere.

Who is sufficient for these things? 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 2:16b-17

There are Christian ministers today who try to profit from ministry and are often unfaithful to God’s Word. We need to be watchful of these people.

How do you know if someone’s a peddler of God’s Word? Anyone who uses their ministry as a platform to point to themselves might be a peddler of God’s Word. People who promote themselves in their ministry and get rich off it probably fall into this category too.

True ministers, on the other hand, are sincere. They minister out of responsive obedience to God instead of selfish ambition. They also point to Christ instead of themselves.

Living As True Christian Ministers

You might be thinking, “Yeah, I’m a Christian. But I don’t see myself as a minister.” If that is you, investigate why. Biblically, we as Christians are all ministers – but here are a couple reasons why you may not see yourself that way:

• You don’t think you’re sufficient for ministry. If that’s the case, it’s a good place to start (see verse 16b). In yourself, you’re not sufficient. But in Christ, you have been sanctified empowered through the Holy Spirit. It’s only based on God’s awesomeness that you can minister to anyone.
• You’re not a Christian at all. Just by growing up in church doesn’t make you a Christian. You must trust in Jesus as your Savior and follow Him as your Lord. If you’re only culturally a Christian, it’s no wonder you don’t see yourself as a minister – you’re not one yet.

All Christians are ministers. Let’s honor God and minister during this pandemic. Let’s live as slaves of Christ, radiating the knowledge of Him and being sincere. We don’t ask, “What’s in it for me?” but “What’s in it for Christ’s name and glory? What’s in it for my spouse, family, coworkers, community?”