A sweet-smelling incense. "We are by our preaching a sweet-smelling incense which Christ offers to God!" This is still the symbolism of the victory parade. The incense announced both death to the prisoners and life to the victors! In the same way, the Good News which Paul preached had differing results on the ones who heard it. Being saved. being lost. Paul uses present participles to show continuing action. Men in this world are either FOLLOWING the way of life or the way of death. But their eternal destiny is not finalized until death calls them away (but see Revelation 22:11 and note). Free will holds BOTH the possibility of falling away and of turning from sin!

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Old Testament