1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

1 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.

aresko- cause to feel happy and satisfied.

the root word of aresko means fit together.

So you could say

“Live a life that fits together with God.”

“For you know what instructions...”

1 Thessalonians 4:2-

1 Thessalonians 4:2–8 ESV

2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Instructions for households

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Virtue/vice lists

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Theological

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What Truly Pleases God

Proclaiming the Gospel, not just in words, but in living as well

1 Thessalonians 2:4 ESV

4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.

1 Thess

1 Thessalonians 2:4–6 ESV

4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.

A life lived like this Fits together with God

1 Thessalonians 2:4-6

Specifics

1 Thessalonians 4:3 ESV

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;

1 Thess 4:

1 Thessalonians 4:3–8 ESV

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

1 Thess 4:3-

God’s Will?

“…be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

“…doing the will of God from the heart.”

“…that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.”

You don’t find the will of God, you live it.

HOW? Glad you asked

Sanctification

“being made holy or purified”

Why Sexual Immorality?

Pagan culture viewed sexual behavior differently than Jews and Christians. It was acceptable to have mistresses, sex outside the covenant of marriage was common practice and permissive.

It seems Paul wanted to warn this new church to avoid this cultural land mine. Why is this important? We have the same struggle today. Look at what Paul told the Corinthian church which was dealing with the same issue.

1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV

18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

1 Corinthians 6:12–20 ESV

12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. 13 “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Control One’s Own Body

1 Thess 4:4

1 Cor 6:18

1 Thessalonians 4:4–8 ESV

4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

1 Cor 6:

1 Corinthians 6:13–16 ESV

13 “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.”

Paul was refering to the Corinthian view of the body. They had a saying/slogan

Slogan: Food for the stomach and the stomach for food. v.13

The body is... meant... for the Lord... and the Lord for the body

Fit Together

A life lived set apart from this world “Fits Together” with God.

GIVE THEM JESUS

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