Introduction Wisdom is practical knowledge, it is is knowing what to do. And true wisdom comes from listening to God's instruction from His word. God has taught us how to live in His joy, He teaches us how to remain spiritually healthy, and He warns us what will interfere with knowing Him. In other words, knowing God--not just knowing about God--is directly tied to our own joy and well-being, and this is by God's design. Jesus taught that eternal life is knowing God (Jn 17:3). Ignorance of God, conversely, robs people of joy, results in pain, and ultimately leads to death. In Paul's letter to the Thessalonians he gives instruction for how to walk with God and truly know Him, but he has also warns of a serious threat to our relationship with God: sexual immorality. God's word is very clear that sexual immorality is incompatible with following Jesus, and in 1 Thessalonians 4:5-8 Paul outlines numerous reasons why. The Text
"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. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 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; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 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." 1) Sexual immorality stems from ignorance of God "not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God" -1 Thessalonians 4:5 Paul ties sexual immorality to a lack of understanding about God. He warns about being enslaved to the "passion of lust" that characterizes people who do not know God. Those who do not know God became animalistic--they are reduced to living at the mercy of their own desires without any ability to appropriately channel them. Instead of being served by their various drives and appetites, they are ruled by them (2 Pet 2:9-19). Those, however, who have been taught what is right and good by God are guarded against these temptations. If we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good (Ps 34:8), the inferior promises and pleasures of sin will pale in comparison. This principle reminds us that the best way to fight against our own sin is not to try harder to say "no" to sin; rather, we need to flee to Christ in order to say "yes" to something better. If sin is still attractive, that means there is more of Jesus we need to know. The blessings for those who walk with Christ cannot be exhausted, and the fact there is always more of Jesus to know is good news. No one who truly knows God can ever become bored or dissatisfied with Him. 2) Sexual immorality will be avenged by God "that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you." -1 Thessalonians 4:6 God has established boundaries for human flourishing. He has "fenced the yard" for us and given us tremendous freedom within those boundaries. The point we are to understand is that blessing and safety is enjoyed in God's yard, and forfeiture of blessing and inevitable danger is found outside God's yard. This is why Paul warns that no one "transgress and wrong" his brother or sister in this matter--we cannot step over the boundaries that God has placed without causing harm to ourselves and others, even if it is not immediately obvious how. Furthermore, violations of these boundaries not only bring generic consequences, they also invite the personal wrath of God (Eph 5:3-6)! God is described as an "avenger" of sexual immorality, and this was a term used for someone who executed the punishment of law-breakers. God's law is a reflection of His own character, and the breaking of it constitutes a personal offense against a Holy God. God is no push-over; if someone tries to push the boundaries He has made, He will push back, and the offender will be broken. 3) God has called us in holiness, not impurity "For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness." -1 Thessalonians 4:7 Since God is a holy God, those who want to be with Him must also be holy. This is why we are urged to strive for holiness (Heb 12:14). We were made to enjoy living with God in light, but sin hates the light and avoids it (Jn 3:19-21). As such, the one who loves his sin will not be able to come to God until he repents and turns to Jesus. Unfortunately many believe the purpose of believing in Jesus is to get our "ticket" to heaven and keep living the same way we did before, but this is not the gospel. God did not save us so that we can live in sin without fear of God. Instead, God has saved us so we can be free from sin through the fear of God. Taking God seriously--most gloriously in His promise of salvation for the repentant sinner who trusts in Jesus--is where wisdom starts. As Scripture says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight" (Prov 9:10). And for the person who truly has been made holy, they are happy to living God's ways and personally know the blessings of doing so. 4) God has spoken clearly on the matter "Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God" -1 Thessalonians 4:8 God is the giver of life, and listening to His word is how we "eat" the bread of life (Jn 6:32-40). God leads His people to blessing and fruitfulness. In fact, the theme of fruitfulness runs throughout Scripture, and it is always the result of listening to God. Those who listened to God enjoyed fruitful wombs, increasingly livestock, and big harvests. Those who rejected the word of God enjoyed barren wombs, diminishing livestock, and disappointing harvests. The point here is this: listen to God and you will be fruitful; ignore God and you will end up with nothing (Ps 1:6). Now some might argue that "their Jesus" is not concerned with sexual immorality. The problem with that idea is the real, biblical Jesus is concerned about it. If you are trying to excuse sexual sin, then appealing to Jesus makes things worse for you, not better. If you just appealed to Moses, you would only be in trouble for the things you actually did. With Jesus, you get into trouble even for what you want. Jesus taught that even to look with lust upon a woman was to commit adultery (Matt 5:27-29). Jesus revealed the real heart of the matter is the heart, and He did not lower the bar set by the law, He raised it! But the good news is that for the person who acknowledges their sin, going to Jesus means things do get better. Jesus came not to save righteous people, He came to save sinful people (Lk 5:32). Jesus also taught that the person who is best qualified to love Him is the person who has been forgiven the most (Lk 7:40-47). This means those who take sin seriously are the ones best positioned to take the love of Jesus seriously. So be honest, thorough, and zealous in your repentance, and you will enjoy the love of Christ that exceeds your sin (Rom 5:20-21) 5) God has given His Holy Spirit "who gives his Holy Spirit to you." -1 Thessalonians 4:8 The final reason Paul gives for sexual immorality being incompatible with following Jesus is that God has given His Spirit to us. According to the prophet Ezekiel, the giving of the Holy Spirit was a critical piece in the fulfillment of the New Covenant . While God had long provided instruction for His people to live holy and blessed lives, His people had consistently failed to make good use of it. During Ezekiel's days Judah suffered the worst consequences God promised for unrepentant disobedience: exile. But even in their darkest days, God promised a future day where He would make a New Covenant with them, and He would wash away their sins, give them a new heart, and put His Spirit in them to cause them to walk in His commandments (Ezek 36:22-32). In Ezekiel 37 God shows Ezekiel a valley of dead, dry bones and gives even more encouragement in an otherwise hopeless situation. God asks Ezekiel if the bones can be made to live, and Ezekiel responds saying, "O Lord GOD, you know" (v3). God then commands Ezekiel to prophesy over the bones, and they are restored to living beings and establish a great army (Ezek 37:5-15). The point is clear: God gives life through His word and Spirit. Also, this "life" includes the ability to walk in God's ways, free from the defiling slavery of sin. How does this transformation occur? The apostle Paul elsewhere describes the process by referring to Moses' time in the tent of meeting. When Moses would go in to meet with the LORD, he would emerge with a glowing face--his time with God visibly changed him. Likewise, believers who behold the Lord with "unveiled face" experience an inner transformation and are increasingly conformed to the image of Christ through the work of the Spirit (2 Cor 3:12-18). In our day, as we look at a culture and church deeply infected with sexual sin, we can ask a similar question as was put to Ezekiel: can something this dead be made to live? According to the gospel of Jesus Christ, the answer is "yes." If we turn to Jesus, we can be healed through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit! Final Thoughts God is a loving Father who has given His children instructions for using His good gifts, including our bodies, for His glory and our enjoyment. The promise of an abundant and fruitful life is available for those who humble themselves and listen to the word of God. If someone is bound to sexual sin, they need to know there is hope in knowing Jesus. As long as sin remains attractive, there is more of Jesus to be known. If someone we know is bound in sexual sin, we need to pray with the confidence that God saves sinners, and we need to persevere in praying for them. And finally, all of us can benefit from a promise to trust when dealing with sexual sin--whether our own, or another's. "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires (lusts) of the flesh" (Gal 5:16).
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AuthorI am follower of Jesus Christ by God's grace, married to Kelsey, father to four children, and pastor of Lighthouse Church (EPC). Archives
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