Moral Living is Godly Living
“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. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in these matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you” (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8).
This passage says many things concerning our NT (New Testament) brethren. Paul, through the Holy Spirit (1 Thess. 1:5, 6; 4:8; 5:19), taught these Christians methods of living so that they can please God. They were to “walk in a manner worthy of God” (1 Thess. 2:12). But not only did he teach them but Paul, and the Scriptures, teaches all who wish to live the NT Christian life how to do so with godly favor. In fact, God does not want us to please Him just a little bit; rather, we are to improve our godly living more and more as we continue to age and mature in the Lord.
One of the marks of a NT Christian is the desire and ability to abstain from sexual immorality. I find it interesting that Paul had to mention this. Truly, once a person becomes a Christian their desires for immoral living disappear. Yes, I am being facetious. Yet, desire or not, we are to abstain and control our body with spiritual holiness and honor. We are not animals to be found in lust and passion that seeks self above all else. But if we work at godliness can we become stronger over ungodly fleshly living. Yes! Again, Paul says, “For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness” (1 Thess. 4:7).
How serious is God about this? He says that you who have the Holy Spirit in you ought to know that your actions truly have an effect on our relationship with God. “Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you” (1 Thess. 4:8). If it was something that couldn’t be controlled by anyone, debated within our minds, or mastered in our hearts then it wouldn’t be a fair expectation. Yet, you who have the Holy Spirit in you are responsible for your moral living: sexual immorality being just one issue (1 Thess. 5:22). Remember Paul does not speak to please men but God (1 Thess. 2:3-4). So we should live not to please men but God.
John A. Reeves
www.thelordshumbled.com
“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. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in these matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you” (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8).
This passage says many things concerning our NT (New Testament) brethren. Paul, through the Holy Spirit (1 Thess. 1:5, 6; 4:8; 5:19), taught these Christians methods of living so that they can please God. They were to “walk in a manner worthy of God” (1 Thess. 2:12). But not only did he teach them but Paul, and the Scriptures, teaches all who wish to live the NT Christian life how to do so with godly favor. In fact, God does not want us to please Him just a little bit; rather, we are to improve our godly living more and more as we continue to age and mature in the Lord.
One of the marks of a NT Christian is the desire and ability to abstain from sexual immorality. I find it interesting that Paul had to mention this. Truly, once a person becomes a Christian their desires for immoral living disappear. Yes, I am being facetious. Yet, desire or not, we are to abstain and control our body with spiritual holiness and honor. We are not animals to be found in lust and passion that seeks self above all else. But if we work at godliness can we become stronger over ungodly fleshly living. Yes! Again, Paul says, “For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness” (1 Thess. 4:7).
How serious is God about this? He says that you who have the Holy Spirit in you ought to know that your actions truly have an effect on our relationship with God. “Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you” (1 Thess. 4:8). If it was something that couldn’t be controlled by anyone, debated within our minds, or mastered in our hearts then it wouldn’t be a fair expectation. Yet, you who have the Holy Spirit in you are responsible for your moral living: sexual immorality being just one issue (1 Thess. 5:22). Remember Paul does not speak to please men but God (1 Thess. 2:3-4). So we should live not to please men but God.
John A. Reeves
www.thelordshumbled.com
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Published in the blog "The Lord's Humbled" on February 4, 2015