Give God What He Wants! He Wants to Sanctify You!

1 Thessalonians 4:1–3 NKJV

1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;

I. Remember the Message of Sanctification v 2 (you know what commandments: Love God and love others)

1 Thessalonians 4:2 NKJV

2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

Love God and Love others

A. The Manner of Sanctification v 3b

1 Thessalonians 4:3 NKJV

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

B. The Means for Sanctification vs 4-5

1 Thessalonians 4:4–5 NKJV

4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;

1. The Work of the Savior in Sanctification

The Bible communicates that we are JOINED WITH CHRIST meaning He represented us before JUSTICE. JUDGMENT DEMANDED the punishment of sinners. Therefore, when Christ was crucified we were with Him. When He was buried, we were buried with Him and when He was resurrected we were raised or resurrected with Him.

Romans 6:6 NKJV

6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

Romans 6:4 NKJV

4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:7 NKJV

7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.

Romans 6:8 NKJV

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

Romans 6:11 NKJV

11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

v12 Don’t let sin reign in your body

v13 Don’t present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin but present them as instruments of righteousness to God

v22 Don’t enslave yourself to uncleanness but slave of God and righteousness

New white suit (how does one act) / new car how does one act

2. The Work of the Spirit in Sanctification

1 Peter 1:2 NKJV

2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

1 Corinthians 6:11 NKJV

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

3. The Work of the Scriptures

John 17:17 NKJV

17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Ephesians 5:26 NKJV

26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,

1 Peter 2:2 NKJV

2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

4. The Work of the Saints

Each individual saint works on him or herself. You must work to clean Your Words, Your Ways, and Your Works so that you will be a Witness for Him.

Philippians 2:12 NKJV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

Philippians 2:13 NKJV

13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Philippians 2:14–16 NKJV

14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

Each saint helps to work on other saints.

Romans 15:1 NKJV

1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Galatians 6:1 NKJV

1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

II. Receive the Monitory v 7-8 (you reject God not man)

1 Thessalonians 4:7–8 NKJV

7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

III. Receive the Master of Sanctification v 1, 3a, 7

1 Thessalonians 4:1 NKJV

1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;

1 Thessalonians 4:3 NKJV

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

1 Thessalonians 4:7 NKJV

7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.