This is a word for every poor sinner. (Lev. 1:4) "And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him." The burnt offering is accepted for anyone that comes to God confessing his sin. Anyone, at any time, in any condition, which repents unto God confessing your sin, you will find acceptance in the death of Christ. Not only is the Father pleased with the death of His Son, but also He is pleased that the fragrance of free grace would pour out to sinners and thereby ascend to Him. We haven't been called to defend a system of religion. We've been called to preach a Person, and to glorify Him in making manifest His fragrance unto sinners. We're not ashamed of the gospel, so we preach it. We don't only preach to the elect; we preach to sinners. We don't only invite the elect to Christ; we invite sinners. We don't only tell saints to trust in the promises of Christ; we tell sinners. {Election and predestination are matters of assurance that you can't know until you've come to Christ. You can't know what it means to be predestinated for acceptance in the Beloved, until you've trusted the Accepted Sacrifice.} In Luke 14:15-24, we're commissioned to seek sinners. When one group rejects the gospel for whatever excuse, go out and find sinners. We preach God is satisfied, and thereby we preach the freeness of grace in Him. Brethren, don't do anything to cloud the gospel, explain away the gospel, or do anything to hide that God bids sinners to Christ. Preach the Gospel, preach it, preach it, PREACH IT!
The fragrance that ascends to God is not, 'Christ died, and now you've got to do something'. The fragrance that ascends unto God is 'Christ died, and now here's everything'. Ruined sinner, do you need righteousness? "… Come: for all things are now ready." Christ died, put your hand upon His head, confess your sin in submission to His cross, and His death will be accepted to make atonement for you. The atonement isn't only the payment of past sins; it is the payment of all sins. The atonement isn't only the payment of sins, but it declares you completely acceptable to God. When God declares the finished work of Christ a sweet smelling savor, He's declaring that He sees the sinner through this finished work and thereby fully fragrant forever. "For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ…(II Cor. 2:15)"
*