How Can I Please God? 2 Corinthians 2:15

Since we are God's creatures he must have a purpose for us and that purpose must include pleasing him. If we please God part of our purpose will be fulfilled.

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place, For we are the 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 from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? 2 Corinthians 2:15.

IN CHRIST
We must be in Christ. This Bible verse is for those who are "in Christ." They have chosen to accept his terms of salvation, give him allegiance, and be faithful to him.

FOR WE ARE
It is not an option. This scripture states a fact that once we come to Christ, we have become something. Coming to Christ not only gives salvation but makes us the fragrance of salvation to others.

You cannot stop the aroma. It goes where it will, and you can't put it back in a box to prevent others from experiencing it.

FRAGRANCE
Fragrance reminds us of Old Testament worship. Our lives should be lived as an act of worship. If we are living worshipful lives those around us will take note that we are living a different way.

The Old Testament priests were anointed with perfumed oil. You could not help but smell it; if you were anywhere near, you shared an experience.

We do not just experience God's goodness; we become part of it; we become the blessing he wants to bless others with.

KNOWLEDGE OF HIM
The aroma of our lives is not just that we live good lives full of noble sacrifices and acts of service to others but it is the aroma of knowing God. Knowing God is not academic knowledge about God but personally experiencing God the way you know a beloved friend not the way you know the facts of a person you never met. Knowing God must be personal, this is only possible through Jesus.

TRIUMPH
Ancient Romans burned incense during the triumphal parade. Enemies captured in battle would be paraded to their deaths smelling the incense, while the victors would be marching to reward and enjoy the promise of good things the incense suggested.

DEATH TO DEATH
The vanquished enemies of Rome were condemned to death, when they marched in the procession it was a march to their death. Those who reject Jesus are marching toward their final days with the fear of death and an uncertain eternity.

LIFE TO LIFE
Those given life by faith in Christ have a new life in this world and eternal life in the next.

YOU CAN PLEASE GOD
The sweet aroma of our lives lived for Christ is a blessing to those around us and pleases God. Just as fragrance was used in worship and consecration, so are our lives to be filled with worship and service.

It is only in Christ and by being obedient to him that we are able to please God. It is not because of anything special about us except that we have been captured by Christ's love and are led by him daily in his triumphal procession.

If you want to know more about coming to Christ for salvation, see my other blog.

Thank you for visiting and reading my blog. I sincerely hope this post is helpful and an encouragement.  

(c)Adron Dozat 1/13/15

Does Being A Christian Give You A Sense Of Purpose? 2 Corinthians 5:20

It seems like there are different types of Christians; some are like everybody else but others have exceptional lives. What gives them their passion?

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ behalf be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20.

WE ARE
Paul had a sense of identity. He didn't think in terms of what he wanted to be or that he will be something someday.  "We are" is a statement of fact; it is saying that he already is this, that it is not an option.

AMBASSADORS
An ambassador is someone who represents the interest of another person, usually a head of state like a king.  Ambassadors have many responsibilities, one of which would be to accept the surrender in war.  Christians as ambassadors represent God to this world, and bring His terms of surrender to those who have rebelled, ending their spiritual warfare and bringing peace.

AS THOUGH GOD
An ambassador has to know the person they represent.  Paul was conscious of God and yielded himself to him as God's servant so Paul could speak as if he were speaking on Christ's behalf.  He could do this because of his intimacy with the King.

RECONCILED
A person needs to be reconciled when they are estranged from another person.  To be reconciled is to be brought back together and remove the cause of the division so it is as if no barrier ever existed.

We need to be reconciled to God because our sins have separated us from God.  Jesus became sin for us so we can be brought back to God and not only that we are given the righteousness of Christ himself.

If you have come to Jesus by faith you are his ambassador.  You may be in a neighborhood, a workplace, or a community- wherever you are you are an ambassador to those people.  The King of Kings has commissioned you to bring the terms of peace with God.


Follow the link to read all of 2 Corinthians 5.

To learn more about how you can come to Christ and have salvation see my other blog.

(c)Adron Dozat 4/24/14

How Can God Make Promises to Sinners?

The Bible is full of promises from God to man, but how can that work since God is holy and man is sinful?

"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God." 2 Corinthians 1:20.

PROMISES
A promise implies a relationship, it may be a relationship of a friend or of someone who is subject to authority, or of a passing acknowledgment of one another, but there has to be a relationship that allows communication before you can have a promise.

BUT
God is pure and holy He does not associate with sin and He will not have a relationship with sinners.

HOPE
In the Bible, God has given many promises to those who love and obey him. The greatest promise is that "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son so that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life" John 3:16. That promise is the guarantee of eternal life. God can fulfill that promise to us because Christ fulfilled the demands of judgment for sin. Through that promise, we can enter into a relationship with The Father in Heaven.

AND
Because Jesus' death paid for our sin we have salvation and all the other promises of God's goodness are available. Without Christ's death, none of The Lord's promises would be available to us for we would have no standing before The Almighty, instead of the promises of good we would have the prospect of judgment.

GOD SAYS YES
More than a yes the sacrifice of the Lord is a seal of approval or ratification. God gives his affirmation that the work of Jesus is satisfactory to meet the requirements of Justice. The ultimate demonstration of the Yes of God for the work of Jesus is the resurrection.

WE SAY AMEN
Amen, can mean mutual agreement. To say amen is to say I agree.
     * We agree Christ is the fulfillment of the promises of God,
     * It is an agreement to a partnership with Christ.
     * It is an agreement of the worth of Christ,
     * It is an agreement that we are sinners in need of his saving.
     * It is an agreement that Christ is our savior.
You could say the Christian life is all about the Amen.

You could say Christianity is all about Jesus.

If you want to know more about having a relationship with God see my other blog.

(c)Adron Dozat

What Is The Point Of Your Life? 2 Corinthians 4:5

If your life had a message what would it be? If your life told a story what would be the moral of it all?

"For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Christ's sake." 2 Corinthians 4:5, NIV*

These words from the Apostle come from a section of his writing where he shows that his motivation and actions were pure and without hidden agenda.

Paul the Apostle had a message but it was not about himself, he had no place in the message except to be the speaker of the message. He could have talked a lot about himself, his education, revelations, experiences, and more, but he had a message much greater than himself.

The false teachers of his day and ours want to be the center of attention and the recipients of the benefits of the philosophies they bring; but not the Apostle, his focus was on Christ and serving.

PREACHING
The message of the Gospel, which Paul the Apostle taught, was that Jesus Christ is Lord. Which means Jesus is God come down taking on human flesh to walk among us as a sinless example of righteousness and he offered his life, body, and soul as a sacrifice on the cross to pay for the sins of humanity, a sacrifice that was acceptable to God the Judge and evidenced in the resurrection of Jesus and his accession to the throne in heaven. We participate in the gospel by faith where we receive the blessings and benefits of salvation as a gift paid for by Christ. This is a humble gospel and leaves no place for pride and self-promotion. This Gospel was Paul's focus and purpose.

JESUS
Jesus is Lord, elsewhere in the Bible, it teaches that "Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord." Philippians 2:10-11

SERVANT
Paul could have said, "I am an apostle and I have rank conferred on me by The Lord. So, serve me, do this and do that."  Nowhere does the Bible or outside sources attribute such words or actions to the Apostles. Instead, he says here, "We are your servants for Christ's sake." He was in the place of leadership of the church and acted like the lowest servant.

PAUL'S MOTIVATION
What drove Paul? What was his message and the point of his life? It was the last three words of the verse, "For Christ's sake." He did what he did to advance the Gospel. You might say all he did he did for Christ.

What would our lives be like if we followed Paul's example and made Christ all? What if our motto was, "I'm all for Jesus or I am nothing at all?"

To read this verse in other translations then follow this link: Online Parallel Bible.

(c)Adron Dozat 12/30/12

What Did Jesus Do for You? 2 Corinthians 8:9

Can anyone fully appreciate what Jesus did for us?  Ponder what the apostle says:

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9 NIV.

GRACE
The word “grace” confuses people and in this context we see Jesus doing something he could have legitimately refused, yet did anyway- at great cost.

RICHES
We cannot define the riches Jesus had before his incarnation but they must have been beyond measure.  Heavenly riches supersede anything in this universe all the riches of this universe combined would not add up to a dust mote on the riches Jesus had in heaven.

POOR
He gave up those awesome eternal riches to become dirty, hungry, lonely, humble, and poor in the poorest country in the Roman Empire; to be born in a dirty,  stinky, stable and wander as a misunderstood teacher who was betrayed by his followers and abandoned by his students to be tortured to death on a shameful cross.  His worldly possessions at death were only the robe and the shirt off his bloody torn back.

WHY
Why would he do this? Jesus explained it on the eve of his crucifixion. “Greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friend.” (John 15:13). His love compelled him to do this, he did it for you.

What Did Jesus Do For You?

What is gained by his sacrifice?  He paid for the sins that enslave us and condemn us all to eternal judgment.   He did what we could not do, and became our sin offering. Jesus’ death paid for our sins and God gives salvation on the merit of his sacrifice for you.

God doesn't just say, “Ok, you are saved from hell now and I will no longer see your sin, so you can come and squat in some corner outside of hell for eternity,” God would be justified if he did, but He goes far beyond salvation and gives us wonderful riches- and that is grace.

Jesus did this wonderful and unimaginable thing for you and all he asks is that you turn from sin that hurt him and you, admit your need and let him into your life; and then you will receive the riches of salvation that he offers.

To learn more about salvation visit my other blog: click here.


(c)Adron Dozat 

What Is The Most Essential Christian Life Truth. 2 Corinthians 5:7,

How would you sum up the Christian experience? If Christianity had a tagline what would it be?

"We live by faith and not by sight."  2 Corinthians 5:7,

This verse puts faith in opposition to sight, as if sight negates faith.

FAITH
Some say it is foolish to abandon rational thought in favor of blind superstition. They are right, but faith is anything but blind superstition. Faith is relational concerning the object of that faith. We have faith in God, whom we know and experience. Superstition explains away facts and gives conclusions without knowledge.

LIVE BY FAITH
Our trust (faith) in Jesus and work on our behalf are sufficient to save us from our sins and give us eternal life (John 3:16), and since sight did not save us, it is illogical to think that sight could provide for us or sustain us. If we are saved by faith we must live by faith. God would not make salvation one way and living that salvation a contrary way, we are born again through faith so we must live in the same way.

PERSONAL
Our faith is personal; one man's experience of faith will not communicate it's realities to another man. Faith is something that we find to be so simple that a child may practice it daily and aged philosophers may ponder its depths with inconclusive frustration. Faith is Christian essential. We must live by that same faith that gave us life.

CONFLICT
We struggle with faith and are fed confusion by enemies of the gospel. We try to express faith in different ways. We say things like trusting Jesus as Savior, accepting the Lord, coming to Jesus, asking Jesus into your heart, and other phrases like this to convey the truths of faith. The terms that made faith click for you as a young believer are the same terms you live by.

EXPRESSION
Christian disciplines such as prayer, scripture memory, service, Bible reading, etc. will build up our faith, but when they become the object of our lives, they are not an exercise in faith but of sight. These disciplines do not give life but are an expression of life and the effect of growing as a Christian.

LIVE
Whatever your situation do not resort to schemes and plans but trust in God, trust what you know about God and trust his actions on your behalf. That is what brought us into this life and that's what keeps us going.

(c)Adron Dozat 11/20/11

What is The Most Important Teaching on Christian Living 2 Cornithians 5:7

How would you sum up the Christian experience? If Christianity had a tagline, what would it be?

"We live by faith and not by sight."  2 Corinthians 5:7, NIV.

Art by Bluemorpho on Society 6
2 Corinthians 5:7

DISPUTE

This verse seems to put faith in opposition to sight- as if sight negates faith.

FAITH

Some say it is an excuse to abandon rational thought in favor of blind superstition. Faith is anything but blind superstition. Faith is relational concerning the object of that faith. We have faith in a God that we know and experience, unlike superstition, which explains away facts and gives conclusions without knowledge.

NOT SIGHT

We are born again through faith, so we must live by faith; our trust (Faith) in Jesus, in his person, and work on our behalf as sufficient to save us from our sins and eternal life (John 3:16). Since sight did not save us, it is illogical to think that sight could provide for us or sustain us. If we are saved by faith, we must live by faith. God would not make salvation one way and living that salvation a contrary way.

PERSONAL FAITH

Our faith is personal, and it is relational; one man's experience of faith will not communicate its realities to another man. Faith is something that we find so simple that a child may practice it daily, and aged philosophers may ponder its depths with inconclusive frustration. Faith is Christian essential. We live by it; you may call it trusting, believing, putting yourself in someone else's hands, whatever it means to you, then you must not depart from it. We must live by that same faith that gave us life.

EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH

We express faith in different ways; we say things like

• Trust Jesus as Savior
• Accept the Lord
• Come to Jesus
• Ask Jesus into your heart

We use these and other phrases like this to convey the truths of faith. The terms that made faith click for you as a young believer are the same terms that you live by.

BUILD UP YOUR FAITH

Christian disciplines such as prayer, scripture memory, service, Bible reading, etc., will build up our faith, but when they become the object of our lives, they are not an exercise in faith but of sight. These disciplines do not give life but are an expression of life and the effect of growing as a Christian.

FAITH IN GOD

Whatever your situation, do not resort to schemes and plans but trust God, trust what you know about God, and trust his actions on your behalf. That is what brought us into this life, and that's what keeps us going.

(c)Adron Dozat 9/6/11

How Can Your Sins Be Cleansed? 2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV

We want our sins to be clean before God, so we say prayers, attend services, fast, etc. but do we have any assurance of cleanness?

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21.

God does not weigh our sins against counterbalancing “good deeds” and judge us based on the greater of the two. Sin deeply grieves God, who is so holy that the only payment is absolute death and eternal banishment from Him. But God does something about our sin we could never do; we can’t pay the price for sin but God puts our sin on one who did not have sin of his own to pay for.

RIGHTEOUSNESS
God freely gives what no man can ever earn- His righteousness. It is complete and satisfies the judgment of God against sin. God's righteousness is so far above any human righteousness that there is no comparison. Man’s righteousness only dresses up sin, but God's righteousness purifies as if sin never occurred.

SIN
Whatever God does is done perfectly. The fact that God put my sins on Jesus, and gives righteousness is a done deal; it is perfect and can’t be improved upon. We can rest, even rejoice, and celebrate that God has done what we never could do.

HIM
It is all because of Jesus. The pronoun "Him" is used twice, making the point.
     * In him we are offered righteousness.
     * In him we are given salvation. In him we have blessings.
     * In him we live. Why would anybody want to not be "in him?"
     * If you are not in him you am in your sin and will face judgment.
If you trust Jesus for salvation then you are are in him.

MIGHT
The word “might” means that the possibility now exists where it was not before but an action is required. You will have righteousness if you receive the salvation God offers through the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus.

SALVATION
Salvation is free because Jesus paid a great price on the cross; salvation is not cheap because it cost Jesus everything. To learn more about salvation see my other blog.

(c)Adron Dozat