WinstonY

We reconcilded to God by Jesus. To reconcile means to exchange hostility for a friendly relationship] To restore to friendship or harmony.] Families sometimes have a falling out. Sisters no longer speak to one another. Husbands leave, wives and children are abandoned. Adultery and alcoholism and greed alienate people. Reconciliation is needed, to take what was broken and mend it, to heal a relationship. That's what God has done.(notes) . We are Jesus ambassadors to the world. Despite our desire to be quiet we are compelled to speak the message of the gospel as we pass through the world. In the same sense as the last question.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 5:16-17) What does verse 17 teach us about the nature of a new believer? What changes in a person when he puts his faith in Christ? Why don’t old habits disappear immediately if everything has become new? A new believer is changed by the in pouring of the Holy Spirit and is a new creation. A work In progress. As time, even decades go p ast the work of sanctification goes on making us closer and closer to the person God wants us tobe like. When we die we go immediately to God and sanctification is complete and we live with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit fore ver. Our joy will be complete. The old habits are hard to break because we still liv in the same old creation and we therefore need the guidance of the Holy Spirit every day.

Paul is convinced that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (5:10) paul seems to see things in a bipolar fashion. Good and bad. Hot and cold. Rich and poor. So here he sees grace and judgment as opposed to each other. We , as believers will be tried but pardoned as Christ will stand beside us and in God's grace we will be clothed in garb of righteousness that shields us and hides our unrighteousness. We than stand before god in the righteousness of Christ. Our desire to please God is not effected by the judgements seat.. The Holy Spirit fills us with love. The love of God and the love of the World and its people and all things. Therefore we try to please God because we want to please God and not because of judgment. 2)) our motivation to persuade others should grow in proportion to our love for God.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 5:10-11a) How does Paul’s mention of the Judgment Seat of Christ fit the context here? How should our belief that we Christians will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ to be judged for our works affect (1) our desire to please him? (2) Our motivation to persuade people to receive Christ? .Since we are confident that our life is "hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3)... and since our citizenship is securely established in heaven (Philippians 3:20)... "So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.” (5:9) Pleasing God is now our aim, our ambition in life. Just like pleasing your mom or dad brought joy as a child, now we find joy in pleasing the Lord. Paul wrote: "Live as children of light ... and find out what pleases the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8b, 10) For the disciple, life isn't about us anymore, but about him! We don't serve him in order to get to heaven – that's taken care of – we serve him because we love God. We are freed from worrying about saving ourselves so that we can enjoy a life of loving service pleasing God. (notes) This is what I believe when I read the scriptures! But the scriptures like the Lord are quite paradoxical. They (the scriptures ) sometimes they seem to contradict . Here in verse 9 they talk about the love of the Lord but in verse 10 they speak of judgement. we must remember that Christ stands with us at the judgement and we are clothed by His glory and righteousness as we stand before the Lord.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 5:7) What does it mean to walk by faith, not by sight? Why can’t nonbelievers understand this kind of living? What aspects of your life are guided by your senses rather than by your faith? How can you bring a faith perspective into these areas? To walk by faith implies that we see 'Way' by seeing by faith. Jesus said to the blind man. "Your faith has made you see!" (Luke 18. 42) There are two ways to see. One way is to see with our eye the physical objects. But in the dark we cannot see! The other way is to see with the eye of faith.It is with this eye that we cam see and follow the way, the truth and the life. We can learn to see with this inner eye of the spirit by following the spirit and listening to the spirit when she calls to us. Non believers cannot see with the inner eye because they are not filled with the spirit. Hunger, sex and anger are examples where are guided by your senses rather than by faith. Prayer will help to bring a bring a faith perspective into our lives.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8) How do Paul’s words comfort you when you consider your death? What do Christians believe happens when we die? What will happen to us if we die before Christ returns? What will happen to us when Christ returns? I am really heartened and encouraged by the teaching here in the notes "when you die, your spirit immediately goes to be with God. It is with him that you will enjoy the time between your death and the resurrection.: and in Philippians 1:22-24 which I encountered in the Philippians course by Dr. Ralph. Christians are promised that they will go to be with Christ, the Father and the Spirit when we die. This same answer applies to the last three questions!

Q1. (2 Corinthians 5:1-5) In what sense are our bodies like tents? If we were to truly look forward to our “house not made with hands,” how would it affect our daily lives here? Our bodies are like tents in that both are only temporary. Our bodies are only clay pots that house the treasures embodied by the Spirit. When our pots are broken and no longer use able they are discarded like old or broken tents and we move on to more durable and permanent lodgings where we are accompanied by the Holy Spirit. Our lives would be directed by the Spirit. To day I was going to visit a sick friend when, out of the blue l thought " you should visit aunt Jean. "When l got to the hospital my cousin was met she was distraught. "How am I to get this wheel chair to the home." "I got a truck here"l said. Was this not the Spirit?

Q5. (2 Corinthians 4:15-18) In what way do problems and physical deterioration help us toward “an eternal weight of glory”? Why is it so easy to focus on temporal matters to the exclusion of eternal things? Why is a focus on eternal things so important to our spiritual growth? What can we do to help shift our focus? ​At the age of 72 I feel the physical deterioration of my physical body. At the same time I have seen, over the last ten years a renewal that seems to increase in crescendo as my physical process of wearing out occurs. It is almost as there is a corresponding renewal in my spiritual well being in proportion to the deterioration. It is almost like a trade of-one for the other. Probably as one gets older one comes to realize of the frailness of the body. a feeling that we cannot do everything for our selves and as we rely more on others for our physical needs we also begin to rely upon the lord for “an eternal weight of glory”. The pain is real and as we experience the pain our natural response is to do something- anything to be rid of the pain. But if we know the pain is temporary and the final relief is eternal we can bear the pain. One with out the other is not possible! We need to focus on the renewal process. It is not automatic. It is a day to day process. our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (4:17, NIV)

Q4. (2 Corinthians 4:8-12) How does it encourage you to know that Paul went through tremendous stress and pressure? What effect did these sufferings have on the way people could see Christ in Paul? Why is pain necessary to spiritual growth? How does our pain allow others to assess our authenticity as Christians? We are encouraged by the example of Paul's suffering for his faith as much as his spiritual suffering. When we are exposed to struggle, stress, and pain, our inner self is exposed. People can see us for what we are. If we're sniveling cowards, that will become obvious. If we exhibit God's grace under pressure, people will see that as well. When we suffer, people can see Jesus' work within us and will be attracted to the authenticity they see. (notes) God's power was sufficient to see Paul through his difficulties. This is the part that Paul stresses that the source of his strength comes from the grace of God. Paul is just a clay vessel and even when it is cracked the contents of Christ's love shines through in his power and in his glory. The power of God is contained in these clay bodies of ours and we also are able to see the struggle through to the end. The Corinthians could see in the sufferings of Paul the suffering of Christ and thus experience in Christ through Paul that Jesus dying was followed by his rising again. because Christ has risen Paul, and we also can walk in the newness of Christ rise. Through Christ we see a new Heaven and a New Earth, the Day of the Lord. Without pain we do not stop to gaze at and to experience the healing power of the risen Christ. Others can, as the Corinthians did with Paul, see the risen Christ through our suffering. Thus when we suffer we suffer for the Lord.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 4:8-12) How does it encourage you to know that Paul went through tremendous stress and pressure? What effect did these sufferings have on the way people could see Christ in Paul? Why is pain necessary to spiritual growth? How does our pain allow others to assess our authenticity as Christians? We are encouraged by the example of Paul's suffering for his faith as much as his spiritual suffering. When we are exposed to struggle, stress, and pain, our inner self is exposed. People can see us for what we are. If we're sniveling cowards, that will become obvious. If we exhibit God's grace under pressure, people will see that as well. When we suffer, people can see Jesus' work within us and will be attracted to the authenticity they see. (notes) God's power was sufficient to see Paul through his difficulties. This is the part that Paul stresses that the source of his strength comes from the grace of God. Paul is just a clay vessel and even when it is cracked the contents of Christ's love shines through in his power and in his glory. The power of God is contained in these clay bodies of ours and we also are able to see the struggle through to the end. The Corinthians could see in the sufferings of Paul the suffering of Christ and thus experience in Christ through Paul that Jesus dying was followed by his rising again. because Christ has risen Paul, and we also can walk in the newness of Christ rise. Through Christ we see a new Heaven and a New Earth, the Day of the Lord. Without pain we do not stop to gaze at and to experience the healing power of the risen Christ. Others can, as the Corinthians did with Paul, see the risen Christ through our suffering. Thus when we suffer we suffer for the Lord.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 4:7) What truth is Paul seeking to communicate by this analogy of a treasure in a pottery jar? What does the clay jar represent? What does the treasure represent? What's the paradox here? “It isn't about us” We bear the precious and awesome "light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (4:6), but we are just weak, human vessels, subject to imperfection and breakage. Our strength is from the Lord. Without the Lord we are useless, we are fragile, we are easily broken- Pottery vessels are useful for a while, but have a limited working life-then they fail, crack, break, and ultimately dissolve. We are like the clay vessels. Our strength is only in the Lord. We are the fragile jars of clay and the treasure is the word of the Lord which is the truth of the Gospel. It's a paradox. Paul says,"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” The paradox is that this powerful , onnipotent God entrusts the precious truth, the covenant that is to good to be true to such fragile instrument as the human species. That God so loved the world...

Q4. (Genesis 27:33) Why couldn't Isaac reverse his blessing once he discovers Jacob's trickery? What is Isaac's role in this blessing? What is God's role in it? it can It seems that there was no doubt in the minds of the characters inthe story that the blessing was final. It was probably there sense that when a a word spoken It can not be taken back. Here issac is speaking a prophecy, a word from God. Issac is speaking for God . God is the agent in the story.

Q3. (Genesis 27:6-29) God had told Rebekah that Jacob is supposed to rule over Esau (Genesis 25:2? 3). To what extent does this excuse her plan to deceive her husband Isaac? It does not excuse Rebecca. God had a plan and God's plan may not have involved in deception and sin. Rebecca's plan introduces deception and sin into the plot and it seems that it cannot be wiped out. God does in the end work out his plan but now their are problems of resentment and anger. How much responsibility does Jacob bear in the deception? ​Although Jacob was not the instigator of the plan he was a willing participator. His only worry-he is afraid that if his father discovers the ruse, he will curse him. But mother reassures him. How can a woman so treat her elder son? But remember she is Laban's sister. i

Q2. Was Rebekah a spiritual woman, that is, interested in spiritual things? Was Isaac a spiritual man? Which do you think was the more spiritually sensitive? What evidence of spirituality do you see in Jacob? In Esau? No, Rebekah was not a spiritual woman at this time and Issac doesn't appear to be spiritual either. Rebecca most have been somewhat spiritual when she heard God say "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.'" (25:21b-23) At this point, as a teenager, the bible does not give us any indication that Jacob was spiritual . neither was Esau, he appears to be to impulsive and uncaring about what happens to be worried about spirituality.

Q1. Why does the New Testament condemn Esau for selling his birthright? (Hebrews 12:16-17) What did selling the birthright represent? What does this transaction say about Esau's character and values? What does it reveal bout Jacob's character and values? The New Testament seems somewhat obtuse about the answer to our question! It seems, however that "...there are some doors we forever close for ourselves by our actions, actions that cannot be undone."(n0tes) It seems that this action led the brothers into a scenario that could not be changed. Much the same as Cain and Abel. But is Esau completely to blame? we are to love one another! Jacob has deliberately enticed his brother and knowing his character is quite sure he is successful. The birthright is a spiritual as well as legal right. Spiritual in that he receives from the father the right of leadership and the promises that the Father received from God. Abraham would have blessed Issac. But Issac is kept from blessing his older son. Jacob's character is hardly completely moral , he is being selfish, insensitive and unloving toward his brother. He is cunning , farsighted and grasping. Not unlike the characteristic picture that many people see in Jews since that time.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 4:1-2) How do questionable ethics and ministry practices hurt the work of Christ? What is Paul's alternative in verse 2b? When I attended the University of New Brunswick in the early 1960's the written emblem on top of the gymnasium door read: When that great scorer comes To mark against your name He marks not whether you won or lost But how you played the game. (from the poem "Alumnus Football" by Grantland Rice) This poem came to mind as I read the notes for the lesson. It has been a code by which I have lived for the last 55 years. Paul writes : "We have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God" (4.2) Here Paul sets forth the standard that he has set for his ministry- yet he still had misunderstandings and lots of follow up problems. If we in our ministries do not follow the same standard as does Paul, we also will likely have problems. The old saying 'you can't please everybody ' is true, especially when Satan is around. Questionable ethics and practices are simply going to make matters. God, our God is a God of truth and justice. Psalm 32.4 "...His work is perfect; for all`His ways are justice...`.If this is our God as the Psalmist quotes then how can we honestly represent him with questionable ethics and ministry practices. It will not work our ministry will be false and at some point there will be a time when the dirt hits the fan. Our ministry needs to be grounded in good ethics and practices and based upon the theme that `Jesus is Lord. by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God 4.2b Paul`s alternative seems to be to lie and misrepresent the situation. But this never really works.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 3:18) Why is character change directly related to time deliberately spent in God’s presence? What is the theological word for the process of maturing in Christ? Have you noticed a change in the “degree of glory” you’re experiencing now compared to a few years ago? Why or why not? Character change is directly related to time deliberately spent in God’s presence because it is by the grace of God that we are sanctified. The process of sanctification is the gradual process of becoming holy and godly in our character to match our holy standing, which was brought about instantly through Christ's gift of salvation on the cross. It is God who through Jesus is able to transform us from a creature of sin. The catalyst for this change is the Lord. The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit of God, the fruit of the Holy Spirit is gradually filling our character, replacing the common and unclean with the holiness and glory of the Lord. Yes' I have noticed change in the lat 13 years. I have been studying the word of the Lord.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 3:18) Moses glowed by spending time with God on Mt. Sinai, in his tent of meeting, and in the Tabernacle. How can we get a similar glow of the Spirit in our lives? In what way is meditating on Scripture beholding God? Is the low plane of Christianity in our day related to the time we spend in communion with the Lord? What is God leading you to do to increase your glow? We can get a similar glow of the Spirit in our lives by spending time with God. We can 'see' God In His creation, in His word and His Word, in the faces of the poor and needy as we endeavor to help them, in His revelations to us and largely by the revelation of Jesus Christ. As we open our hearts and our minds to Jesus the Lord we are able to see something of God. We will never see the full glory of God but we can see a revelation of that glory. Definitely yes, the low plane of Christianity in our day is related to the time we spend in communion with the Lord. The lack of attention paid to the Lord radically effects the way we think and act. God is propelling me to read and study the bible through Joyful heart. As well God through the study of liberation theology made me aware of the poor and needy. Gradually I am in the process of being sanctified .

Q2. (2 Corinthians 3:16-17) Why is the Holy Spirit essential to help people see truth clearly and be able to grasp it? What enables people to come to Christ at all? What kind of freedom does the Spirit give us when we become Christians? Calvin wrote " It is in the Lord (Christ) that the meaning of all scripture becomes clear. (C K Barrett,2nd Epistle to the Corinthians. Charles Black:London, 1982, 122.) Paul in these verses continues the refrain of the story of Moses and the veil. Here the veil over Moses face is used as a simile for an understanding of the purpose of the commandments that God had given to Moses . Moses veiled his face because of the people's fear of the Glory on his face.The veil on the minds of the people represents their failure to read the old testament in a fashion that would allow them to see Christ in that Testament as Paul did. Ever since there has been a veiling over the understanding of the people. This is only removed by the Lord.(16) [The Lord is really the triune God. Paul never used this term and probably never consolidated the concept in his mind but it seems to be the line of thinking that he follows.) Without the Lord removing the veil of misunderstanding the truth cannot be grasped. It is only God himself, through Jesus the Lord and the enabling of the Holy Spirit that people are able to grasp the full meaning of the Gospel; conversion rests ultimately upon the mercy of God. (122) The freedom the Spirit give us when we become Christians is liberty from reading the written law of the Old Testament without seeing Christ in it and freedom from Satan, the god of this age(who) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.(notes). The work of the Spirit is to replace the authority of the old mosaic law and fulfilling the 'new covenant' prophecy of Jeremiah which is written of people's hearts (123) by the Holy Spirit.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 1:9-10) How does facing a harrowing crisis help us grow in the Lord? How has a crisis helped your spiritual life? What is the value of learning not to rely on ourselves? What does this do to our pride? How does this improve our effectiveness as God’s servants? Question 1.2 The feeling of despair that Paul felt while he was confronted in Asia with a situation which he felt was out of his hands, a situation where he felt that he was somehow going to die was awfully challenging for Paul mentally and physically. Paul had despaired even of life, he was beyond his ability to endure but it enabled him to arrive from in the spiritual lesson that we as humans, as Christians are not to rely on our own resources but are to throw ourselves upon the Lord. When we also met such circumstances we too can rely ourselves on the Lord who raises the dead. (1.9) This Lord who is the Lord not only in this life but Lord beyond death to the resurrection. This Lord with whom all things are possible has delivered Paul and he too can deliver us also. God is the Lord of comfort, he is the heart of all comfort – all comfort flows from him but we cannot demand comfort and deliverance. We can only pray for it as did Paul and yes, God often supplies the comfort needed to get passed a situation. The solution to our dilemma may not be what we would desire but God will get us through. Perhaps not without pain and suffering but he is there with you. ii) Twenty-four years ago I was struck dead with a severe heart attack, however the use of paddles gave me life but I was still a sick person. Two days after the event I was in great pain that day, my daughter continually read Isaiah 55 to me, again and again she would read. I obtained strength both physically and spiritually from the reading. I know that God and the love of Jesus were there with my daughter and I as I lay suffering and she as she read shared in my suffering. Together we suffered , strengthened and abetted by our Lord Jesus as the long day continued. iii) We are only weak humans and we can only handle and endure so much. But with the hope and strength we can not only endure but conquer. For with Christ we conquer death. iv) We have no pride except in pride of the love, kindness and support of the Lord Jesus. v) With Jesus we can accomplish much more than without Christ. Look at Luther, John Wesley and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 3:6a) Why is a Christian’s spiritual health so closely related to his or her involvement in ministry? What are the consequences of dropping out of church – for the believer? For Christ’s Kingdom? Question 3.4 In verse 5 we read that our competence comes from the Lord. If God is wince our competence comes then we are not able to have a healthy Christ centered ministry. Our Christian faith is based upon Jesus Christ our Lord – if we do not proclaim this fact our ministry is for naught. It is God through grace that enables us to declare “Jesus is Lord”. In so declaring we are made with Christ. It is God who gives us our competency, our sufficiency and it is this confidence that makes us ministers of God. Dropping out of church is an individualistic attitude which develops from the Renaissance and the scientific method. In this age we do not appreciate the strength and support that is derived from community. Christianity and the church are community related and we must give our support in order to be a healthy individual and have a healthy church. If we watch a coal fire burning the red glow of the burning coals lasts and lasts. But if one of the coals is taken from the fire and placed on the hearth by itself it soon becomes dark and loses its heat. Similarly for the community of the church; we draw upon each other’s faith and the result is much greater than the sum of all the Christians in the community alone.. Glory be to God for the church. ​Similarly if we drop out our kill set is lost to the church. We also must remember that Paul tells us that we, the church, are the body of Christ. I one of us leaves it is equivalent to lopping of one of the members of the body. The body may not die but it is less efficient and able to its ministry.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 3:7-11) Why did Moses’ face glow? Why did he cover it when he was out with the people? Why didn’t more people’s face glow in Moses’ time? What’s the difference between the spread of God’s glory in Moses’ time when compared to our own time? (i) Moses face is radiant "... because he had spoken to the Lord" Exodus 34.29. (ii) Moses covered his face with a veil because the people were afraid to come near to him. (iii) No one else had seen the Lord. (iv) The difference between the spread of God’s glory in Moses’ time when compared to our own time has been the resurrection of Jesus Christ is given by Paul's argument:, "that however glorious its origins, the law didn't bring life to God's people as the Spirit does. In Paul's analogy, the glory of the law fades or passes away, while the Spirit of God continues with us to this day." (notes) Paul is interpreting Exodus 34.29-35 from a christological point of view. Paul is claiming, from a strong Jewish background, that the law received by Moses, a law written in stone is a law that condemns those who do not comply to death. But the law given through Jesus is a law written in the Spirit on our hearts. This new law lasts for eternity whereas the old law had a limited life. The old law promised only death for their was no concept at that time of an eternal life. However in Jesus we are promised eternal life. Glory be to God.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 3:4-6) What is the balance between the need for training in ministry (either in the local church or in schools) and personal submission to the Spirit of God? Are you able to “listen to the Spirit’s voice” in your own life? Why would this ability be so important in being a competent minister? Lesson 3.3 Paul as he wrote these words (3.4-6) was thinking of himself and his own situtation, however they apply equally well to all ages. No doubt there is a link between competent training and guidance by the Holy Spirit. There is little doubt that compotent training has been an important waspect in church leadership. Luther, Calvin and Wesley were all competently and certainly gave a good account of themselves for God. However these three had a burning of the heart which was caused by the Holy Spirit and this lead them forward to great heights. We do not have in our midst, however the likes of these three much of the time but need to rely upon competently trained leaders. Both we and these leaders need to pray often and devoutly for the guidance of the spirit. The notes say it competently “We can have the best training that seminaries can provide, we can have powerful spiritual gifts, we can have great personal charisma, we can have a dynamic work ethic. But none of this by itself will produce spiritual fruit that remains. Only coupled with submission to the dynamic Spirit of God will we see fruit that remains – and that is the purpose of ministry, whether ordained or lay ministry. No one, ordained or lay , can effectively bear the burden of proclaim ing God's gospel that aroma that leads to live in the spirit and leads to a new life in jesus. Only god can equip a person for that job. To a degree I hear the voice of the Spirit. If a minister or lay person does not hear the 'voice' than their is the fear and the ever real possibility of turning a ministry into a person's ministry instead of the ministry of Christ and the Gospel.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 3:2-3) In what sense are we “living letters”? In what way can people “read us”? Why is it so important to be authentic, not phony, in our lives? What happens when people “read” something in you that they admire and mention it to you? How might you respond appropriately? ​Paul is using the imagery of writing a letter of recommendation in these verses. He says that the Corinthians themselves are living proof of Paul's qualifications. In the same way our lives are open books for all to see, to read and to interpret. Jesus said " you will know them by their fruit." We are living letters Not non living tablets of stone. The ten commandments fixed in stone but jesus' commands are written in our hearts. I am never sure how to respond. I just say thank you/

Q1. (2 Corinthians 2:14-16a) In what sense is knowing God fragrant to people who are open to God? In what way is this fragrance repugnant to people who are closed to God? Have you suppressed your “fragrance” because some people are allergic to Christian perfume? If so, how can you regain the fragrance of Christ’s gospel? Lesson 3.1 Paul had great success in preaching the Gospel. Even here where he is anxious over the whereabouts of Titus and the situation in Corinth he cannot help but be buoyed up by the thought of his past success such as in Troas. He cannot help but express his awe of the success given by God. It seems as if the fragrance of the Gospel is spread infectiously through the people. In knowing God there is a certain efference that is infectious and spreads like a fragrance through the crowd in a triumphal. In order for this to happen it seems as if two conditions must be in order. First God must open the nostrils of the people so that they can receive the scent and as well the people must be willing to receive the scent. People can be difficult and are especially so when they have been conditioned through life to the thinking of the scientific method. The imagery Paul uses here is of Jesus leading a triumphal procession through the city. In Paul's mind Jesus was probably riding a donkey with palm branches and his followers giving shouts of joy. This is such a joyous occasion with the Spirit round about- rather a combination of Palm Sunday and the day of Pentecost. The spirit would spread quite easily through the crowd like a pleasan aroma or fragrance. The aroma is pleasant for those who are oprn to the message of Jesus' gospel. However it would be a pongent odour to those who are not open to God. The fragrance of God is the fragrance of the knowledge of God and His kingdom. It seems as if there are two groups of people. Those who accept the fragrance and those who do not. The lives of those who accept give of an aroma which is pleasing to the God's world and to God but is an unpleasant odour to those who do not accept the Word.