2 Corinthians 2:14-16 Now thanks be to God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the aroma of his knowledge by us in every place.… I. THE GLORIOUS PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL IN APOSTOLIC TIMES. 1. It was triumphant. The apostle did not find the hearts of men easy of access, so that he had but to enter and take possession. 2. It was intelligent. The apostles did not go forth demanding a blind and unquestioning acquiescence. The progress of the gospel was victory over darkness and ignorance; the victory, not of the secular sword, but of the sacred pen and the tongue of fire. 3. It was constant. "Always causeth us to triumph," "in every place." Sometimes it seemed doubtful which would win, truth or error; but it soon became decided that faith was the stronger, that more was with it than all that could be against it. 4. It was beneficent. The march of the army of King Jesus was not like the march of the conquering armies of Greece and Rome. II. THE GLORIOUS SECRET OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL IN APOSTOLIC TIMES. "Now thanks be unto God," etc. 1. The apostle acknowledged that God was the author of the progress. He felt it was with God that he had to do. 2. The apostle acknowledged that Christ was the agent of the progress. "Triumph in Christ." Jesus had been the agent in the great work of human redemption. 3. The apostle acknowledged that man was the instrument of the progress. "Causeth us to triumph"; "By us in every place." What a wonderful blending of workers — "God," "Christ," "us" — the union of Divine power and human instrumentality! Apostles did not originate the gospel, they received it. Let every Christian worker learn from this the source and secret of success in the work of the Lord. (F. W. Brown.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. |
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