1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 / Sanctification

1 Thess 4:1-8/

“We are going to close the letter, before we do...”

1 Thessalonians 4:1 ESV

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.

Ask and Urge ...“In the Lord Jesus” (x2)

Not really a command but...

How you ought to walk

walk = moral standards of living

“Right! You want us to live christian lives … like you showed us.”

Your walk should

Please God

do so MORE and MORE

Does this sound too radical?!!!

Legalism vs Relationship

Legalism = Follow God’s laws.

Relationship = Live to please God.

Legalism = Is I’ve followed the rule, I’m done

Relationship = Pleasing God brings you joy, you’re never “done” with that.

Why is Paul talking about this?

Well it actually has something to do with God’s will...

1 Thessalonians 4:3 ESV

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

God’s will for my life is personal, right?

But Paul wrote this...

In a letter!!!!

Written to 100’s of people (at least)

He still proclaimed God’s will.

Your sanctification.

What is sanctification?

basically what we’ve already said.

“The act of becoming more personally dedicated to God.”

This is an ongoing process.

PAUL pointed to ONE SPECIFIC aspect of our sanctification...

“That you abstain from sexual immorality...”

1 Thessalonians 4:3 ESV

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

Why is this singled out?

Possibly due to Greek culture

Still shows the importance. as it should...

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.

Do not believe the bible teaches that all sin is equal.

States that sexual sin is especially harmful.

Paul directly ties their sexual morality with sanctification.

Sexual Immorality - a broad term.

Immorality is anything contrary to the Moral Law established by God.

Sex is a gift from God

integral part of the marriage relationship.

One man and One woman.

Anything sex contrary to that is immoral.

Our culture is trying hard to normalize Homosexuality.

Disney is political propaganda machine.

Jimmy Carter - Jesus Never mentioned it

Jesus never mentioned sins against children.

Jesus spoke mainly to Jews who understood it was a sin.

Jesus DID speak to marriage

Husband leave parents and become one with his wife.

Sexual immorality - is a GROUP of sin that INCLUDES homosexuality.

You cannot appose homosexuality

and be ok with adultery

and be ok with sex before marriage

and be ok with pornography

Sanctification requires we take sexual immorality seriously...

1 Thessalonians 4:4–5 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;

Sanctification is more than just having the right CONCEPT of sexual immorality.

CONTROL your own body

Actual steps we need to take to accomplish.

Control hints - this is not going to be natural for us.

control YOUR OWN Body

Be aware of your desires

Be aware of your temptations/ weaknesses

Goal is holiness & honor

not the passion of lust

1 Thessalonians 4:7–8 ESV

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.

God created us for His pleasure. desires a relationship...

We broke that and He send His son to make it possible again.

SOMEWHERE in your life GOD CALLED YOU to salvation.

GOD DID NOT CALL you for impurity, but HOLINESS

one of my favorite witnessing passages

Romans 10:9 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Jesus is Lord.