In what way are Christians the aroma of Christ?

from the old testament

• Christians being the aroma of Christ is not found in the Old Testament.

from the new testament

• The statement that Christians are the "aroma of Christ" comes from 2 Corinthians 2:15. After mentioning missionary travels, Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 2:14–16, "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. 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. Who is sufficient for these things?"
• The phrase "triumphal procession" is the key to understanding what Paul is referencing: the Roman ceremony of the triumphal parade reserved for commanders who have won land for Rome (2 Corinthians 2:14). When a Roman commander conquered new territory for Rome, he would request from the Senate to go on a triumphal procession through Rome. If he made it through a series of qualifications he was deemed Triumphator and paraded through the city along with the spoils of his conquest. The Triumphator was specially adorned for this ceremony: he traded out his regular toga for a completely purple toga, a color not typically worn by Romans because it symbolized royalty; his face was painted red in reference to the red statue of Jupiter, the patron god of Rome; and finally he would be crowned in the laurel crown symbolizing his victory and pulled in a chariot by four white horses. He was preceded by the spoils from his newly conquered land—exotic animals, gold, jewels, spices, incense, even a band of slaves from the conquered peoples—and his army would follow him in celebration. At the end of the parade the conquered people would be ceremonially slaughtered in front of the temple of Jupiter.
• Paul makes several connections between Christian reality and this ceremony. First, he says that “Christ always leads us in triumphal procession” (2 Corinthians 2:14). At the height of this Roman ceremony, a triumphal procession would occur every three to five years, but Christ is constantly leading His people in victory.
• Secondly, Paul says that Christ uses us to “spread the fragrance of the knowledge of him” (2 Corinthians 2:14). Just as everyone would have known when a triumphal procession was taking place because its sound and smell filled the city, Christians are the unmistakable evidence of Christ’s victory, spread throughout the world.
• The “aroma” that we are spreading—the gospel—is a “fragrance from life to life” to “those who are being saved” (2 Corinthians 2:15–16). The spread of the gospel through God’s people brings hope and encouragement to those who receive it in faith. On the other hand, like the conquered people who were executed at the end of the triumphal procession, “among those who are perishing” the gospel is a “fragrance from death to death” (2 Corinthians 2:15–16). The gospel condemns those who live as enemies of Christ and refuse to turn to Him (John 3:16–18), for though they are already enslaved to sin and Satan, they will face an even worse end (Romans 6:23).

implications for today

We are all sinners by nature and by choice. Our sin separates us from God, who is holy and perfect. Yet, God made a way for us to be made right with Him. Jesus, fully God, fully man, came to earth and died in our place for our sins. He rose again conquering sin and death, and everyone who trusts in Him for the forgiveness of sins is saved and goes from dead in sins to alive in Him. This is the gospel.

The gospel is a double-edged sword: It brings life and hope to all who will receive God's grace, but it also proclaims the condemnation of those who refuse God. God is always extending His hand of mercy and grace to people to repent of their sins and live their lives for Him in victory, but He will not force anyone to come to Him. God desires for all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4) and He loves us so much that He died for us while we were His enemies, separated from Him, (Romans 5:10). Now is the time to respond—to receive the salvation He freely offers.

For those who have been saved, we now have the honor of spreading the truth and evidence of His love throughout the world. This looks like speaking the truth in love when it’s uncomfortable, choosing integrity when no one is watching, forgiving others when it hurts, sharing the gospel with a friend who needs hope, and living in a way that reflects Christ in our homes, workplaces, and communities. We carry the fragrance of Christ wherever we go. Some will be drawn to that aroma and find life, while others may reject it—but our calling remains the same. We are not responsible for the response; we are responsible for the witness. So, let your life be the unmistakable fragrance of a victory that cannot be ignored.