The apostle Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians compares the preaching of the gospel with the fragrance of perfumes. Preaching is the fragrance of Christ, faith is born of preaching: "But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere", 2 Corinthians 2:14.
Paul after this comparison takes up the teaching of Psalm 1: 1, the psalm of the two ways: "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers". Two mentalities (destructive or edifying), two paths (sin or righteousness), two retributions (blessing or curse). In other terms: "For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life.", 2 Corinthians 2:15-16
In front of the announcement of the good news, the kingdom of God, there are basically three classes of people; those who receive the word and discard it because for them it does not make sense, these are the natural men; another group instead receive the word and receive it with joy but for lack of constancy, that is, lack of roots, as soon as the deception of riches arise abandon the word of God; and finally there is a third type of people (the spiritual men) who receive the word of God, retain it with a willing heart and put it into practice with constancy, this is the good land that bears fruits of life according to the parable of the sower, Matthew 13:1-9.
The kingdom of God according to the bible is a preview, an aroma, of what is to come, salvation for some, that is, the fullness of spiritual goods; and ruin for others.
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