Abstain from/Avoid Sexual Immorality - Study 10/28/10
Abstain/Avoid Sexual Immorality
I approach our current study of chapter 4 of Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians with utmost humility, trepidation, sadness and with much prayer. Why? You only need to look around and also watch the latest news to understand the reason. In particular, there are all kinds of sexual immorality exposures, confessions and accusations of the hidden practices of men and women in the world-wide Christian community. There is probably one going on and rocking your local church and/or your immediate family at this time. For me personally, I come with this sense of unease having learned recently of a highly respected pastor of a mega church who has confessed to sexual immorality. Though I have never met this pastor, I respected him because he was gifted and taught sound doctrine (including this subject for our study). I would listen to him on the radio. He has been off the air since his confession.
Recalling from previous chapter 3, Apostle Paul said to the Thessalonians, “Night and day, we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith”. He now addresses some of those things – living in purity and holiness in light of the soon return of Christ. Paul said, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality” vs.3. Many of us are praying and seeking God’s will for us. Well, here it is clearly stated. So please stop praying and let’s begin to live it out.
The Thessalonians having received the Gospel of Christ; had put their faith in the living God instead of the gods of their idol worship. Their former idol-gods were actually Greek sex gods that gave them permission to engage in any type of sexual relationships/practices without restraint. After all, in the worship of their gods they had ample supply of temple prostitutes which was part of the worship. You can now appreciate why Paul was worried about the faith of these new believers in Christ. Is that any different from our day? Not really. These days, the sex-gods are around us everywhere from the Hollywood temple to the internet that is in the workplace, school, and bedroom and on the iPhones in our hands. Are you concerned about living out your faith in God and in purity? Well, I am. Only God through the power of His Holy Spirit can help me.
1 Thessalonians 4: 1-12
1Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4that each of you should learn to control his own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, 5not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
9Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.
11Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Paul transitions in chapter 4 to the practical living out of the faith in God and in holiness. He writes the Thessalonians, “We instructed you how to live in order to please God” vs.1. Faith in God implies that we have left everything else to trust, depend and rely on God to live a life that pleases only God. “For without faith, it is impossible to please God” Hebrews 11:6. Again, if it is not faith in God, then it is faith in ourselves – the “me-god”. We cannot please God when our primary goal is to please self or anyone else. This is the root/origin of the sexual lust that Paul speaks about in the subsequent verses.
2. We come across a loaded word here in vs. 3, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified”. What is sanctification? Webster/Bible dictionaries say to sanctify or sanctification include to “reserve for sacred use; consecrate or make holy or purify; set apart; A state or process leading to … inward transformation gradually taking place, resulting in purity, moral rectitude, and holy, spiritual thoughts expressing themselves in an outward life of goodness and godliness”. We get the picture. It is a continuous process and it is the work of the Holy Spirit when we listen and obey the voice of the Holy Spirit.
3. Paul writes again in 2 Thessalonians 2:13, “Brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth”. We have a part to play in daily sanctification – living pure and being set apart for God. Yes for salvation, we have been justified by faith through the finished work of Christ on the cross and through belief in Him, the Truth. However, sanctification is ongoing and involves work on our part.
4. Avoid sexual immorality. Another translation says “abstain from fornication”. Many scholars agree that sexual immorality is more representative of Paul’s intent. Sexual immorality includes all sexual relationships and vices outside of the God ordained marriage relationship. “Abstain” and “avoid” implies that it is available and on our way so we have to do our best not to get involved. Another scripture says, “Flee also youthful lust”. Let’s keeping running and never stop because you can’t handle the pressure like Joseph had to run from Potiphar’s wife. “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people”. Ephesians 5:3.
5. Paul goes on to say how. “That each of you should learn to control his own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, 5not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God” vs. 4-5. The RSV translation says, “that each one of you know how to take a wife for himself in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like heathen who do not know God." I am in agreement with many scholars that the RSV does a better job in bringing out the meaning. Whether it is “taking a wife” or “control one’s own body” nothing we do should be initiated with lustful intent. See 1 Corinthians 7 where Paul gives similar counsel.
6. What about the one who is single? The command applies to all; after all Paul himself was single. The real issue is not so much being married but rather overcoming lust whether single or married. Of course, my single brothers and sisters would say you don’t know the pressure. Yes, I acknowledge the pressure but I would say that lust does not discriminate between singles and married. Lust would consume any married or single person. Look at King David and a host of others who had succumbed to lust.
7. What is passionate lust? In an article by John Piper on this passage titled, “Battling unbelief of lust” he defines lust as “a sexual desire that dishonors its object and disregards God”. (See below link for Piper’s article). Piper says, “The way to fight lust is to feed faith with the knowledge of an irresistibly glorious God”. That is exactly what Paul was saying to the Thessalonians. The way of the heathen, those who do not know and nor have faith in God is to lust. There is no self control whatsoever and anything and everything goes for the one who does not know God. Unbelief which is lack of faith in God brings no fear of God, so the commands of God mean nothing. This is where we are today in our society. Remove God from the society and then you can abolish marriage between a man and woman and any form of sexual relationship is okay. Go to our universities and see for yourself. There is not even a blink and it is normal to shack up together with as many people as you can.
8. What is Paul talking about when he says 6”and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him” . I believe some in-appropriate sexual relationships were going on in the Thessalonian Church which needed to be corrected. The same is taking place in some of our own churches these days even as we speak. It must stop. Sex outside of marriage is abuse and dishonor to the individuals involved and a disregard for God’s intent and glory.
9. There are consequences of living an uncontrolled moral life. We only see the immediate consequences such as shattered marriages and families. But God has a day of reckoning for judging immoral lifestyle. “The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you” vs.6. This is what Piper was saying in the article I referenced. It has become a ‘battling of unbelief in lust” even within the Church. Many think that God does not mean what he said about punishment for sexual sins. Heaven and hell is at stake. “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God”. 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 10.
God did not call us to impure life but to live a holy life. A life set apart only for God and not even for ourselves. When we live for ourselves, we are in essence saying we are gods and there is no other God. Many of us in one way or the other are living with the consequences of someone’s and/or self moral failures. Families have been devastated and some may never be repaired. More than even that, heaven and hell are at stake if we believe the Word of God. Are you living in sexual compromises outside of marriage at this time, please stop and ask God for forgiveness and quit this lifestyle. Please seek and get godly help and counsel for recovery and restoration.
Are you tempted to lust like many of us, please hold on to what you believe and pray for the Holy Spirit’s help. Are you a single brother and you are still waiting (unless God has given you the gift of celibacy); there are many wonderful sisters and please get married soon. Are you a single sister, can you trust God just as you trusted Him for your salvation? Are you already in marriage, then let’s relate to our spouses the way God intended without holding back for the marriage bed is honorable. Let’s establish some forms of hedges that can protect us from this evil including guarding against pornography,internet chat rooms and any entangling relationships. “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word…. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee". Psalm 119:9,11. Let’s constantly be in God’s Word.
Hey, I am only a messenger who needs help applying this word, so please pray for me. I now understand why Scripture says, “Pray without ceasing”. I constantly cry out, “Help Lord” and He does. May God help us all to abstain from sexual immorality. Let us also help restore those who have fallen and if you have sinned, please confess and be restored. Amen.
I approach our current study of chapter 4 of Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians with utmost humility, trepidation, sadness and with much prayer. Why? You only need to look around and also watch the latest news to understand the reason. In particular, there are all kinds of sexual immorality exposures, confessions and accusations of the hidden practices of men and women in the world-wide Christian community. There is probably one going on and rocking your local church and/or your immediate family at this time. For me personally, I come with this sense of unease having learned recently of a highly respected pastor of a mega church who has confessed to sexual immorality. Though I have never met this pastor, I respected him because he was gifted and taught sound doctrine (including this subject for our study). I would listen to him on the radio. He has been off the air since his confession.
Recalling from previous chapter 3, Apostle Paul said to the Thessalonians, “Night and day, we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith”. He now addresses some of those things – living in purity and holiness in light of the soon return of Christ. Paul said, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality” vs.3. Many of us are praying and seeking God’s will for us. Well, here it is clearly stated. So please stop praying and let’s begin to live it out.
The Thessalonians having received the Gospel of Christ; had put their faith in the living God instead of the gods of their idol worship. Their former idol-gods were actually Greek sex gods that gave them permission to engage in any type of sexual relationships/practices without restraint. After all, in the worship of their gods they had ample supply of temple prostitutes which was part of the worship. You can now appreciate why Paul was worried about the faith of these new believers in Christ. Is that any different from our day? Not really. These days, the sex-gods are around us everywhere from the Hollywood temple to the internet that is in the workplace, school, and bedroom and on the iPhones in our hands. Are you concerned about living out your faith in God and in purity? Well, I am. Only God through the power of His Holy Spirit can help me.
1 Thessalonians 4: 1-12
1Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4that each of you should learn to control his own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, 5not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
9Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.
11Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Paul transitions in chapter 4 to the practical living out of the faith in God and in holiness. He writes the Thessalonians, “We instructed you how to live in order to please God” vs.1. Faith in God implies that we have left everything else to trust, depend and rely on God to live a life that pleases only God. “For without faith, it is impossible to please God” Hebrews 11:6. Again, if it is not faith in God, then it is faith in ourselves – the “me-god”. We cannot please God when our primary goal is to please self or anyone else. This is the root/origin of the sexual lust that Paul speaks about in the subsequent verses.
2. We come across a loaded word here in vs. 3, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified”. What is sanctification? Webster/Bible dictionaries say to sanctify or sanctification include to “reserve for sacred use; consecrate or make holy or purify; set apart; A state or process leading to … inward transformation gradually taking place, resulting in purity, moral rectitude, and holy, spiritual thoughts expressing themselves in an outward life of goodness and godliness”. We get the picture. It is a continuous process and it is the work of the Holy Spirit when we listen and obey the voice of the Holy Spirit.
3. Paul writes again in 2 Thessalonians 2:13, “Brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth”. We have a part to play in daily sanctification – living pure and being set apart for God. Yes for salvation, we have been justified by faith through the finished work of Christ on the cross and through belief in Him, the Truth. However, sanctification is ongoing and involves work on our part.
4. Avoid sexual immorality. Another translation says “abstain from fornication”. Many scholars agree that sexual immorality is more representative of Paul’s intent. Sexual immorality includes all sexual relationships and vices outside of the God ordained marriage relationship. “Abstain” and “avoid” implies that it is available and on our way so we have to do our best not to get involved. Another scripture says, “Flee also youthful lust”. Let’s keeping running and never stop because you can’t handle the pressure like Joseph had to run from Potiphar’s wife. “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people”. Ephesians 5:3.
5. Paul goes on to say how. “That each of you should learn to control his own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, 5not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God” vs. 4-5. The RSV translation says, “that each one of you know how to take a wife for himself in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like heathen who do not know God." I am in agreement with many scholars that the RSV does a better job in bringing out the meaning. Whether it is “taking a wife” or “control one’s own body” nothing we do should be initiated with lustful intent. See 1 Corinthians 7 where Paul gives similar counsel.
6. What about the one who is single? The command applies to all; after all Paul himself was single. The real issue is not so much being married but rather overcoming lust whether single or married. Of course, my single brothers and sisters would say you don’t know the pressure. Yes, I acknowledge the pressure but I would say that lust does not discriminate between singles and married. Lust would consume any married or single person. Look at King David and a host of others who had succumbed to lust.
7. What is passionate lust? In an article by John Piper on this passage titled, “Battling unbelief of lust” he defines lust as “a sexual desire that dishonors its object and disregards God”. (See below link for Piper’s article). Piper says, “The way to fight lust is to feed faith with the knowledge of an irresistibly glorious God”. That is exactly what Paul was saying to the Thessalonians. The way of the heathen, those who do not know and nor have faith in God is to lust. There is no self control whatsoever and anything and everything goes for the one who does not know God. Unbelief which is lack of faith in God brings no fear of God, so the commands of God mean nothing. This is where we are today in our society. Remove God from the society and then you can abolish marriage between a man and woman and any form of sexual relationship is okay. Go to our universities and see for yourself. There is not even a blink and it is normal to shack up together with as many people as you can.
8. What is Paul talking about when he says 6”and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him” . I believe some in-appropriate sexual relationships were going on in the Thessalonian Church which needed to be corrected. The same is taking place in some of our own churches these days even as we speak. It must stop. Sex outside of marriage is abuse and dishonor to the individuals involved and a disregard for God’s intent and glory.
9. There are consequences of living an uncontrolled moral life. We only see the immediate consequences such as shattered marriages and families. But God has a day of reckoning for judging immoral lifestyle. “The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you” vs.6. This is what Piper was saying in the article I referenced. It has become a ‘battling of unbelief in lust” even within the Church. Many think that God does not mean what he said about punishment for sexual sins. Heaven and hell is at stake. “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God”. 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 10.
God did not call us to impure life but to live a holy life. A life set apart only for God and not even for ourselves. When we live for ourselves, we are in essence saying we are gods and there is no other God. Many of us in one way or the other are living with the consequences of someone’s and/or self moral failures. Families have been devastated and some may never be repaired. More than even that, heaven and hell are at stake if we believe the Word of God. Are you living in sexual compromises outside of marriage at this time, please stop and ask God for forgiveness and quit this lifestyle. Please seek and get godly help and counsel for recovery and restoration.
Are you tempted to lust like many of us, please hold on to what you believe and pray for the Holy Spirit’s help. Are you a single brother and you are still waiting (unless God has given you the gift of celibacy); there are many wonderful sisters and please get married soon. Are you a single sister, can you trust God just as you trusted Him for your salvation? Are you already in marriage, then let’s relate to our spouses the way God intended without holding back for the marriage bed is honorable. Let’s establish some forms of hedges that can protect us from this evil including guarding against pornography,internet chat rooms and any entangling relationships. “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word…. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee". Psalm 119:9,11. Let’s constantly be in God’s Word.
Hey, I am only a messenger who needs help applying this word, so please pray for me. I now understand why Scripture says, “Pray without ceasing”. I constantly cry out, “Help Lord” and He does. May God help us all to abstain from sexual immorality. Let us also help restore those who have fallen and if you have sinned, please confess and be restored. Amen.
Comments