The truths of 2nd Cor 2 v 15-16

In 2nd Cor 2 v 15-16 we read that preachers are "savour of death unto death..... and life unto life" - what does this mean?

One way of answering the question is to remember that the same sun which softens the wax, also hardens the clay.

As one who passes out tracts and speaks to the unsaved I find these verses particularly apt as they sum up the responses people make to the free offer of the Gospel.

With regards to the phrase "savour of life unto life" consider the following people I have spoken to over the years:  (names have been changed to protect their identity).

1.    I think of Mark.  I first encountered him while he was selling the Big Issue in Canterbury.  He was very open to the Gospel and was pleased to receive a Gideon NT.  Over the years we had many conversations and he came to know the Saviour.   As one who had been a drug addict, and seen 4 close friends die of drugs, he rejoiced in the Gospel and I rejoiced when witnessing his baptism.

2.  I think also of James.  He was clearly seeking God and I passed on a number of tracts and booklets to him as I spoke to him about Christ and the Gospel.  One day, he approached me to say that he had been saved through the material given him (and, of course, through the Holy Spirit opening his heart - Acts 16 v 14).  He is now settled in a church in Margate that faithfully preaches the same Gospel I shared with him.

3.  I think, too, of Tracy.  She was seeking after God and bought a book on Buddhism; that same day she came past me while I was giving out tracts and took one.  To cut a long story short - she got saved, baptised, and is now worshipping God at an Evangelical church in Canterbury.

4.  Also, I think of Paul.  A young chap who was brought up in a Christian home (what a privilege) but rejected God at the age of 14.  However, he came to realise that he needed God in His life and was seeking him.  What a joy to point out the promise of Jeremiah 29 v 13 viz. that if people seek God with all their hearts they WILL find Him.  He also took "Knowing God Personally" which I give out to seekers.

In all of these cases, and many more beside, the Gospel is truly a message of life unto life.  However, there is a flip side to this - for many the Gospel is a message of death unto death; that is, they hate its message because it reminds them of their sin, their need of repentance and the eternal fate that awaits them if they don't get saved.  Examples of these are as follows:

1.  An atheist who I see walking his dog while I'm passing out tracts.  He taunts me for what I'm doing and tells me to get a  ********  proper job.

2.  A Muslim man who said that I needed help when I told him that Jesus is divine.  Another Muslim man who told me that it is idolatory to worship Jesus.

3.  A lady who gasped with shock when I told her that Jesus is the only way to Heaven.  On that same theme, another lady who told me that that teaching is "racist".   Many times I've been called a bigot or narrow-minded because of the truths of John 14 v 6.

4.  The Jewish man, very friendly in himself, but vehement in his denial of Christ as God's Son and strong in his rejection of the necessity of faith in Him in order to have eternal life.

Again, I could give many examples of people who seem to be hardened by the same Gospel which softens others.

As we tell people of Jesus and the only way to eternal life, let us NEVER compromise truth for the sake of popularity but always faithfully declare the Gospel knowing that it is "the power of God unto salvation" - Romans 1 v 16.

What if they don't want to change?

While passing out tracts in Canterbury, one day, I was approached by a lady who identified herself as a "Zen Buddhist".  During the course of our conversation she introduced the subject of homosexuality and my response to this was simple - the Bible does teach that it is wrong, but the Bible also teaches that they can be changed, 1st Corinthians 6 v 11 being a key verse in this matter.  The conversation progressed amicably enough and, after about 15 minutes,  she walked away.

Afterwards, as I reflected on this the thought went through my mind - "what if they don't want to change?".   Indeed, that question can be asked of any unsaved person.  It seems that John 3 v 19 is absolutely correct when it says that people "loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil".

Over the years I have had, literally, hundreds of conversations with unbelievers, the vast majority of whom appear to have no desire to repent of their sins and turn to Christ.   Moreover, it is impossible - humanly speaking - for them to do so.  Why is this?  The Bible says: "The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God : for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1st Corinthians 2 v 14).

Humanly speaking, people will never come to repentance and faith in Christ as their personal Saviour; their eyes are blind, their ears are deaf, their understanding has been darkened, their minds have been alienated from God, their hearts are hard and they are spiritually dead.

How, then, can they be brought into a position whereby they recognise their need of Christ, repent and accept Him?  Consider the following Bible passages:

In Matthew 11 v 27 Jesus stated that people will not know Him unless it has been revealed to them by Jesus Himself.

In Matthew 16 v 15-17 Jesus asked His disciples who they believe that He is.  Peter replied that He is the Son of God, to which Jesus responded by stating that this was revealed to him by His Father in Heaven, and he didn't come to this conclusion by natural means.

In Luke 8 v 10 Jesus told His disciples that they had been "given" to know "the mysteries of the kingdom of God".

In John 6 v 44 Jesus said that people could not come to Him unless they were "drawn" by His Father, and in verse 65 of the same chapter Jesus said that people will not believe in Him unless it has been "given" to them  by His Father.

In John 10 v 26-27 Jesus told a group of people that they did not believe because they were not of His sheep and that His sheep hear His voice.

In Acts 11 v 18 we read that God granted gentiles "repentance unto life" - a gift.

In Acts 13 v 48 we read that "those ordained unto eternal life believed", the inference being that people not so ordained do not believe (see John 10 v 26).

And, finally, in Acts 16 v 14 we read that Lydia listened to Paul's preaching and responded because the Lord "opened her heart".

Taking all these verses together we can see that, as we spread the Gospel, it is the Lord who grants the gift of faith.  The work of evangelism is our responsibility, the work of converting people is God's responsibility.

Bearing all this in mind, what should our response be?

Firstly, we should be full of praise and adoration to God for opening our eyes and drawing us to faith in Christ and secondly, we should re-double our efforts to preach the Gospel knowing that we have a certainty of God's blessing in the conversion of precious souls, as it pleases Him to do so. 

All people who have been given to Jesus WILL come to Him (John 6 v 37).