Your Sanctification

Introduction

Paul has exhorted the believers at Thessalonica to live according to his previous instructions to them by the Lord Jesus Christ.

He has encouraged them that they should live their live in a manner that is pleasing to God.

Now he begins to speak to them concerning their sanctification in greater detail.

There is much that can be learned about sanctification from this portion of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians.

The Definition of Sanctification (Vs. 3 & Vs. 7)

Sanctification is defined as the process by which the believer is set apart for the purposes of God.

Sanctification is personal and is to be the personal pursuit of every believer as evidenced by Paul’s reference to “your sanctification.”

Sanctification is also a part of the “will of God” for every believer. It is God’s desire that every Christian engage in the pursuit of holiness and separate themselves from that which would bring defilement or impurity into their lives.

The Details of Sanctification (Vs. 4-6)

Paul next moves into a detailed description of the practical implications of the believer’s sanctification.

He begins by instructing the believers at Thessalonica to “abstain from fornication”, a broad term used to describe all manner of sexual immorality.

A vital part of the the process of sanctification is the abstinence from anything outside the boundaries of God in regard to sexuality. God’s intent is that sexual involvement would be limited to a man and woman united in the bond of marriage. Anything outside of this is stepping outside the boundaries that God has set for us and is encompassed in the terminology of fornication.

Paul’s instruction is that every believer must learn to exercise self-control and restraint against the lusts of their flesh in order that they might make progress in sanctification.

King James Version Chapter 9

1 Corinthians 9:25

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

King James Version Chapter 9

And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

He contrasts this with the passionate carnal desires of the Gentiles that “know not God”. The individual who does not know God is controlled by carnal fleshly lusts. This would have been a truth that these new converts understood from their own first hand knowledge of their former lives before they came to know Jesus Christ.

We should no longer be controlled by fleshly desires but instead we are to be controlled by the Spirit of God and a desire to please the Lord.

Paul also instructs them to refrain from exploitation in “any matter” this would certainly have been directly tied to his instruction regarding sexual sin but may also have been applied more broadly to all their dealings with men.

The term defraud literally carries the meaning of crossing a preset boundary. Paul is instructing the believers not to cross the boundaries that God has set forth for their treatment of one another.

Paul is instructing the believers not to cross the boundaries that God has set forth in their treatment of one another.

He also warns the believers that if they choose to cross these preset boundaries the Lord will take responsibility for avenging those who have been exploited.

The Design of Sanctification

Why is it that God calls us out of uncleaness and to holiness of life? What is the purpose underlying our sanctification?

The design is that we may be used of God in a greater capacity!

- God is preparing us for service

The more diligent that we are in pursuing personal sanctification the greater the opportunity we have to be a vessel that God can use to bring glory and honor to His name.

God’s desire is not that we would be lifted up with pride in our pursuit of holiness but that we would be prepared to be used of God to a greater degree.

The Director of Sanctification

The sanctification of the believer is a work of the Holy Spirit of God. It is He that will lead us to progress in our personal sanctification.

Paul was careful to clarify that if they rejected his teaching the believers were in reality rejecting God and the work of the Holy Spirit.

The instruction that you receive through the teaching and preaching of the Word of God will be personally applied to your life by the Spirit of God which indwells you.

When you refuse to accept as valid the plain teaching or preaching of the Word of God you are not rejecting the teacher or the preacher but God Himself.

God has given us His Spirit to guide us through the process of personal sanctification if we will yield to His promptings we can become a vessel unto honor ready to be used by the master!