Living a Holy Life (1 Thessalonians): What is God’s will for your life? To be sanctified, or made holy, including in the area of our sexuality. Sexual immorality leads to all sorts of problems in life, marriage, parenting, and society. However, avoiding sexual immorality can be very challenging. But God not only calls us to live a holy life, but also gives us the Holy Spirit to heal us and help us remain faithful. Recorded on Jun 1, 2025, on 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 by Pastor David Parks.
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This sermon is part of our series on 1 Thessalonians called Faithful to the End. Being a Christian in the Greek, first-century city of Thessalonica was tough. Thessalonica was a big and prosperous city, but it was full of idols. The Apostle Paul and the first Christians there faced fierce religious persecution and tremendous political pressure to conform. But despite their suffering, they remained faithful. Our culture is different today, but following Jesus can still be very costly. Will we be faithful to the end?
Sermon Transcript
Well, we’re working through 1 Thessalonians in the Bible in a sermon series called Faithful to the End. And we’ve said that Thessalonica was a tough city for Christians. But thankfully, despite persecution and severe suffering, the early church there remained faithful. And there are many lessons for us in how we can remain faithful from this brief letter from the Apostle Paul to the Thessalonian church. We’ve learned a number of lessons so far, including last week when we saw both what faithfulness looks like (faith and love), and we considered a big reason why we should stay faithful — that is, that faithfulness is contagious; our faithfulness encourages others to remain faithful as well. If you missed any of the sermons in our series so far, you can always go back and watch or listen to the audio podcast if you’d like. Let me ask you this: Have you ever worked with someone, or gone to school with someone, or met someone at some event, and then found out later that they were a Christian? (Oh! I didn’t know you’re a Christian! Wait, you’re a Christian, too? I didn’t know that either!) It can be a fun surprise. But why is it a surprise? Why can’t you just look at someone and tell that they’re a follower of Jesus? Well, because the way of Jesus is a different way in many ways than the ways of the world, but it’s still a way of life in the world. There are many things that Christians and non-Christians do pretty much exactly the same way. There isn’t a Christian way to wash your car or fill out a spreadsheet. But today, as we start chapter 4, we’re going to consider the first of two examples of how our lives do need to be different, how the way of Jesus is different than the ways of this world, especially in the areas of sexuality and our work. If you have your Bible/app, please open it to 1Th 4:1. We’ll unpack it as we go.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 (NIV), “1 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. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.” Paul had already reminded the Thessalonians about how he lived and ministered when he was there among them (the “how” mattered). But this wasn’t for Paul alone; this was a pattern or an example for the Thessalonians. This was part of his discipleship. You see, Christianity isn’t just a set of truths that need to be learned and believed. It’s a way of life; it’s a way to walk through life that we call following Jesus. It’s this way of life that is pleasing to God. Now, some think that Paul is bringing up their way of life and then moving on to give some instructions on sexuality, work, and reputation because there was a problem that needed to be corrected in Thessalonica. That was certainly true in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. There were some in the church who were not living in a way that pleased God. They needed a gentle but forceful correction. While that might be the case here, I don’t think Paul is addressing a problem. I think he’s reiterating a teaching that he had already made — the instructions in vv. 1 and 2, Paul says he gave them by the authority of the Lord Jesus. If he were writing to correct someone, that is not in view here. What he says is that they are pleasing God with how they are living, and that they should only do this more and more. To continue along the same path that they are already on. But what does Paul have in mind? What does this way look like?
1 Thessalonians 4:3-6 (NIV), “3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 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.” Do you want to know what God’s will is for your life? What is God’s will for my life? Paul says, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified.” What does that mean? To be sanctified means to be consecrated, set apart, made holy. It is God’s will that you would be made holy. But this sanctification is a process; it doesn’t happen overnight. Let’s define it. Sanctification: The process that God the Father is working in the lives of his children, transforming them into the likeness of his Son, by the truth of his word and the power of his Spirit. You can be justified/saved in an instant. But it takes the rest of our lives, learning to follow Jesus, to be sanctified. Paul had already heard from Timothy that the Thessalonians were staying faithful; they were displaying faith in the Lord Jesus and love for one another. This was so good and encouraging, but Paul knew their sanctification wasn’t done. He knew they still had room to learn, grow, and mature in their knowledge, in their unity and love for each other, in reaching the lost, in the fruit of the Spirit, and so on. I’m sure Paul was confident that God would continue his pruning/sanctifying work among them, just as he was confident about this for the Philippians. “that he who began a good work in [them] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Php 1:6). But he knew they still had further to go. And one area of life they needed to think about was what holiness meant for their sexuality. Paul says, “…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.” The Greek word for sexual immorality, porneia, formally means having sex with someone other than your spouse. However, in Paul’s day, it came to refer to any sort of sexual sin, from lust to adultery. Today, it would include pornography, sexting, and any sort of unfaithfulness to your spouse. These practices are not ok for Christians. Now, it’s not that sexuality is inherently sinful; sexuality isn’t dirty and shameful on its own. It’s a beautiful thing. It’s a powerful thing. But it’s just that sexuality was created by God and was designed as such only for one context: a marriage covenant between one man and one woman for life. Moses writes in Ge 2:24, “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” Both Jesus and the Apostle Paul quoted this passage when they taught on marriage. But, “one flesh” here speaks of the physical intimacy of marriage, which represents the whole-life oneness that marriage was intended to be. I tell couples who are preparing to be married that the two becoming one means everything becomes one. God wants oneness in your emotional/financial/family life, just as he wants oneness in your sexual life. If you leave parts of your life out of the union of your marriage, if there are things that are hidden in your marriage, that is not good for your marriage. Sin always separates. Sin drives a wedge between us. It’s especially true in marriage. This is why repentance and forgiveness are so important. But, and it’s probably for many reasons, nothing can leave as deep a scar as sexual sin. We must understand this and be aware of it. We must avoid sexual immorality, for our sake, for our spouse’s sake, and for the Lord. Now, another reason this matters, and another reason why sexual immorality is so harmful, is that God intended for human beings, made in his image, to multiply and fill the earth. Sexual holiness is not just vital for the health of your marriage; it also has the power to impact (for good or bad) any children who might come from a sexual relationship. Now, kids are a blessing. But having and raising kids is hard enough by itself, even when you have two loving parents who are trying to follow Jesus! But when you have children born into sexual or relational dysfunction, it is not good. It not only negatively impacts the parents, but also those kids will have a hard life. It’s not that kids can’t grow up and overcome these problems; in many cases, they can and will. And our God is a redeemer; he can take things meant for evil and use them for good. I know sexual sin is part of many of our testimonies. But still, the less sexual sin, the better — especially in the church. In v. 6, Paul says, “…that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.” Sadly, sometimes sexual immorality happens in the church, even between brothers and sisters in Christ. Certainly, there have been wolves among the flock who use the church to find people to abuse and exploit. Whether that’s a pastor or priest preying on a member of their church, a community group leader preying on a member of their group, or a parent preying on one of their own children. And some of these people are not real believers. But again, sadly, sometimes a follower of Jesus can fall or slip into even gross sins. Remember, what unites us as a church is not our perfection, it’s our shared need for a savior. We all need Jesus precisely because we are not perfect. We become Christians when we hear and believe the gospel, the good news that God has already accomplished everything we need for salvation through his son, Jesus. And it is by faith that we go from death to life in Jesus’ name, our sins are forgiven, and we no longer have to fear the judgment of God. This starts the process of sanctification in our lives. But on this side of eternity, Christians are still able to sin. We can still become confused or have blind spots. Or, sometimes, and to our shame, we can knowingly run in the wrong direction. Paul says, “The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before.” This might seem intense, but this is a helpful warning if it’s true. And besides, if there’s something that is harmful to people, marriages, to children, and to the church, would God be good if he simply turned a blind eye to it? Absolutely not. God is good, which is why he will bring justice to bear on those who have committed such sins. This is a consistent part of the message of the apostles. One day, Jesus will return, the dead will be raised, and all will give an account of their lives to God. In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote, “God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.” (Ro 2:6–8). For those who endure by faith in Jesus Christ, our process of sanctification will finally be complete. And we will be the perfected men and women that God intended for us to be from before the creation of the world. Now, our sexuality is only one aspect of life that needs to be sanctified; it’s an important aspect, but it is only one. We see this in the final verses of our passage, but Paul also reveals our greatest source of help for our sanctification.
1 Thessalonians 4:7–8 (NIV), “7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.” This is God’s word. So first, God doesn’t just call us to holiness in our sexual life, he calls us to holiness in all of life. All of our lives should be consecrated, set apart for the Lord. All of our lives should be holy. “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.” This is God’s will for your life. Holiness, especially in the area of sexuality, is what God wants for your life. God doesn’t just want you to be happy; he wants you to be holy. Of course, true and lasting joy is found in a holy life. This isn’t a commandment against fun. But this is part of the unique way of Jesus. If you follow this way, you will be different than people who are following the ways of this world. The Christian sexual ethic challenged the norms 2,000 years ago in the Roman Empire. And it challenges our culture today. Modern sexual ethics seems to rely solely on mutual consent. So long as all parties consent and no one is harmed (safe!), then anything goes. But this doesn’t work for a number of reasons. First of all, no one can agree on what constitutes harm. Second, consent isn’t the best test of right and wrong. Two people who consent to do something wrong doesn’t make it right; it just means they’re both wrong! A few years ago, the “Me Too” movement highlighted the complexities of consent when varying power dynamics are present. Third, the main test of consent seems to be desire. Are you attracted to someone? Are they attracted to you? Then go for it! But the heart is deceitful. And the desires of our hearts are very often more destructive than healthy and helpful. Have you ever been to the Cheesecake Factory? You know how they put the huge display case of cheesecakes right when you walk in? I’ve eaten there many times over the years. Never once, after walking past that display, have I not had a desire for cheesecake. In fact, never once have I only wanted one small piece of cheesecake, just a bite. Every single time, the only limiting factor on my desire, besides my wallet, was the higher belief/value that unlimited cheesecake might not be the best thing for me. I value my long-term health more than I want four different pieces of cheesecake at once. My point is that all of our desires have to answer to higher beliefs/values. Desire must be run through the filter of an ethical understanding of how we ought to live. If we are only guided by our desires, with no higher story or transcendent values, how quickly will we fall into a destructive pattern of life? Almost immediately! It’s worse, though, because of the power of the flesh. In contrast, Christianity says that there is a higher law, from which higher values come. There’s a higher law because there’s a higher Lawgiver — a divine and transcendent Creator who will hold his creatures accountable for their moral actions in his world. Now, as we close, I want to take what seems to be maybe a negative teaching, or at least a stern warning, and I want you to see that we are not left with just a warning, but with an invitation. What is our greatest help in our sanctification? Who is there to help us with our sexual holiness? It is the Spirit of holiness, the Holy Spirit. Paul says that the same God who warns us, the same God who instructs us on his way that he has designed us to live, the same God who gives us instructions so that we might know how to be holy and how to please him with our lives — that same God gives us what to help us? He gives us himself! His own Holy Spirit! He has poured out his Spirit. He had promised that he would do this through the prophets of the Old Testament, prophets like Ezekiel, who wrote, “And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness.” (Eze 36:27–29a). Friends, I know there are things that some of us have done in this room that make us feel unclean to this day. But there is hope and there is healing and there is forgiveness offered and there is new life on the other side, because God is with us. He has poured out his Spirit so that we might become the people he intended from the beginning. Let us pray.
