1 Thessalonians, Day 4
PAUL’S EXHORTATION
1 Thessalonians 4
What is a life pleasing to God? Many would respond it’s keeping the 10 Commandments. Others might say it’s going to church, reading your Bible, or loving others. These are all ways to live a life pleasing to God.
As Paul closes out Chapter 4, his exhortation urges the Thessalonian church to continue to walk to please God more and more. “To walk and please God is to live a life that is pleasing to God. Their process of growth in sanctification and in their ability to ‘please God’ has not yet been completed” (ESV Study Bible note).
Paul uses one of those “church” words in Verse 3. SANCTIFICATION — The Greek word hagiazo is usually rendered “make holy, sanctify, consecrate.” In the New Testament, this verb expresses the action of including a person or a thing in the sphere of what is holy, in either a ritual (ceremonial) or moral sense. Thus, “to make holy” is to set apart individuals or objects for special use by God. 1
We are still in the process of being made into the form of Jesus. This process will continue until we’re called home.
In 1 Peter 1:14 – 16, Peter tells us to “not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.” It’s not the first time Christians are reminded of this, because it is part of “holy living.” Peter then reminds them of what God has stated in the past: “you shall be holy, for I am holy” (Verse 16). We are to “be holy.” Holy is who we are!
So, sanctification is a growing process for Christians. We all grow in our faith in many diverse manners — some more quickly than others. The point is, Are you growing? Paul wants the church there to abstain from sexual immorality. These are familiar words for Paul. The Corinthian church had the exact same issue. Chapter 10, Verse 8 says, “We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.” This refers back to Numbers 25:9, where the Israelites were punished by God for the same sin. Jump back to Romans 12:2, where Paul states: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” The message is consistent, especially when Paul writes.
The last verse in Chapter 4 illustrates this truth. Verse 7 gives the reason: “For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.” We conclude with a warning, “Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.”
Is your life consistent, and are you living a life pleasing to God? Remember, “Holy is who you are!”
Stand firm!
Tom Dye
1 Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary, Page 433