Yes, Paul's 'sweet savor' is the gospel message of Christ, which brings life and confirmation to believers while offering the opportunity for salvation to the perishing.
Paul's ministry carries the knowledge of God everywhere, impacting both groups. For the saved, it is a sweet savor because they have embraced the gospel. For the perishing, it is also a sweet savor as they still hear the gospel and can respond — the outcome depends on their response, leading to life or death.
2 Corinthians 2:15-16 — This is the key passage where Paul describes being a sweet savor to both the saved and the perishing, showing the dual effect of the gospel.
Paul writes that through Christ, God leads believers in triumph and spreads abroad the fragrance of His knowledge everywhere. Believers are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the perishing, this aroma is the smell of death leading to death; to the saved, it is the fragrance of life leading to life. This shows that the same gospel message produces different outcomes based on the hearer's response. The message itself is life-giving, but rejection results in spiritual death.
Les emphasizes that Paul's constant focus was on lost people — those for whom Christ had already died. For Paul, the gospel was a sweet savor to both the saved and the perishing because it is the power of God unto salvation. The saved experience it as confirmation of their faith, while the perishing still have the opportunity to hear and respond. Being 'saved' means being rescued from eternal doom, and the gospel is the means of that salvation. Les also teaches that believers must 'keep in memory' what was preached — understanding the gospel is essential, lest they believe in vain.
Les explains that 'saved' is another term for salvation, used in everyday language to describe rescue from financial ruin or other dire situations. Spiritually, it means being saved from the eternal doom that awaits those who do not believe. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation, not works or anything else.
Les highlights that Paul's overriding thought was for lost people — those for whom Christ had already paid the sin debt. Paul did not seek his own profit but the profit of many, that they might be saved. This reflects the heart of the sweet savor: sharing the gospel so that the perishing can respond.
Les uses Paul's own conversion as an example of grace. Paul was a rebel and a renegade, but God saved him by grace. This is the same for all believers — we were lost and condemned, but God saves us by His grace. This grace is the foundation of the sweet savor message.
Why Paul Said "We Are Not Ignorant of Satan's Devices" — 2 Corinthians 2:11
Asia. In other words, back to the east. After they had come to Mysia, they had intended to go into Bithynia. Now if you look at your Bible map, Bithynia lays right up there along the Black Sea, and that�s where Paul had evidently intended to take a route, and then back to probably Antioch in Syria.
Preaching of the Cross
Les explains that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to the perishing but the power of God unto salvation for the saved, and that 'saved' means being rescued from eternal doom.
Being Saved Through the Gospel
Les emphasizes that the gospel makes salvation possible and stresses the need to 'keep in memory' what was preached, lest one believe in vain.
Paul's Concern for Lost People
Les highlights Paul's overriding concern for lost people — those for whom Christ had already died — and that he sought their salvation, not his own profit.
Receiving the Dispensational Truth
Les stresses that believers must know and understand what they believe about the gospel, which is the foundation for experiencing salvation.
Paul as Epitome of Grace
Les uses Saul of Tarsus's salvation as an example of grace, showing that God saves rebels by grace, just as He saves all believers.
The Gospel as Power of God
Les affirms that the gospel, not works, is the power of God unto salvation, and salvation is more than just a better way to heaven.
Did the Disciples Understand the Cross? Luke 18 Explained
We stand in our assurance of Christ's presence in our life, in this earthly life, and we also stand in the assurance that we're his in the life to come. It's positional. All right, read on. Verse 2, by which also you are, what, saved. I'll never forget, years ago, I hadn't been teaching very long, and we were having our coffee break, and one of the ladies sat down next to me, and she said, Les, I …
2 Corinthians 2:15-16: For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
This is the primary verse about Paul being a sweet savor to both groups.
1 Corinthians 1:18: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Les references this to show the differing response to the gospel.
Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Les uses this to explain that the gospel is the power unto salvation, not works.
1 Corinthians 15:2: By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
Les uses this to stress the importance of knowing what you believe.
In the Bible, 'sweet savor' refers to a pleasing aroma. Paul uses it to describe the gospel message as a fragrance of Christ that God finds pleasing, even though it has different effects on different people.
According to Les Feldick, the gospel is a sweet savor to the perishing because they still have the opportunity to hear and respond. Paul's preaching brought good news to both groups, offering salvation to those who would believe.
For the saved, the gospel is a sweet savor of life unto life, confirming their salvation and giving them assurance. For the perishing, it becomes the savor of death unto death if they reject it.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul Said "We Are Not Ignorant of Satan's Devices" — 2 Corinthians 2:11