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Paul was now ready to deal with what he meant by “blameless and holy”. Paul was writing to new Christians who came from living a very different pagan life. Their morals were totally opposite to their new life. How did they transition from paganism to Christianity? How could Paul speak to people who were doing wrong, while keep the faithful encouraged? Paul’s letter addresses these issues.
How to live in order to please God
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 (NIV) “As for other matters, brothers and sisters, 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. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit. Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” Here Paul’s letter turns toward teaching the Christian doctrine of sanctification. He goes into details about living in order to please God.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 (NIV) “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God;” What a change the Thessalonians had to make with the help of the Lord. They had probably lived most of their lives in a community where there was sexual immorality. Most things were allowed and without restrictions. Paul needed to teach sanctification because not everyone had made a clean transition to Christianity. Paul spoke to the situation and the consequences that come from disobedience.
1 Thessalonians 4:6-8 (NIV) “and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.”
He instructed them that the “Lord will punish all those who commit such sins.” He had been teaching them to live as Christians. Paul was filling in the gaps between a pagan life and a God pleasing life.
Gordon Fee outlined the paragraph this way page 144:
This is the will of God
(a) That you be holy
(b) = Abstaining from sexual immorality
(c) = Each one knowing how to possess his own “vessel” in holiness, not in lust
(d) = No one overstepping the boundaries and cheating his brother or sister in this matter;
(e) Conclusion: For the Lord is the avenger regarding all these things
Paul was sensitive to the fact that he was writing to new believers. He showed that God will meet us anywhere.
Reflection:
How has God met you in certain situations?
How do believers correct a known wrong in their lives?
What do you think about the Lord as the avenger when Christians have been wronged?
What tools do you use to help maintain a Christian life? Do you recognize any gaps in your daily walk?
Let the Holy Spirit teach you as you grow into a mature Christian and eliminate any gaps in your spiritual life.
God Bless you,
Pastors Willie and Rochelle McIntosh
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