Discover the will of God for you – Part 24

Read I Thes 4. Living to please God
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality” (1 Thes 4:3)
“this is the will of God.”

Although they lived in a society where sexual immorality was commonplace and an acceptable lifestyle, the apostles did not compromise God’s holiness and truth. Paul never lowered the holy standard of God to accommodate the values or trends of the society where believers lived. Whenever he found low moral standards in some of the churches (cf. 1 Co 6:12-20), he rebuked and sought to correct them. In the light of today’s prevalent low morals, apostle-type leaders are still needed to call the church back to God’s standard of righteousness.

4:3-7 “abstain from sexual immorality.” God requires all believers to live by the high standards of purity and sanctification with regard to sexual matters.
Standards of Sexual Morality: An overview

“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge,” (Heb 13:4).Believers are called to be morally and sexually pure (2 Cor 11:2; Tit 2:5; 1 Pet 3:2). The word “pure” (Gkhagnos or amiantos) means to be free from all taint of that which is lewd. It suggests refraining from all acts and thoughts that incite desire not in accordance with one’s virginity before marriage or one’s marriage covenant after marriage. It stresses restraint and avoidance of all sexual stimulation or activity that would defile one’s purity before God. It includes controlling one’s own body “in sanctification and honour” (1 Thes 4:4), and not in “lust of concupiscence” (4:5).

This scriptural instruction is for both those who are single and married. With regard to sexual morality and purity, the Bible teaches the following:
• Sexual intimacy is reserved for the marriage relationship and is approved and blessed by God only in that state (see Gen 2:24, Sol 2:7; 4:12). Through marriage the husband and wife become one flesh according to God’s will. The physical and emotional pleasures resulting from a faithful marriage relationship are ordained by God and held in honour by Him.

• Adultery, sexual intercourse before marriage, forbidden sensual activity, homosexuality and degrading passions are considered grave sins in God’s sight, since they are a transgression of God’s moral law (see Ex 20:14) and a defiling of the marriage relationship. Such sins not only are condemned in scripture (see Prov 5:3) but also place one outside God’s kingdom (Rom 1:24-32; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21). Read Rom 1:18-32 on God’s wrath on unrighteousness.

• Sexual impurity includes not only forbidden intercourse or consummated acts, but also involves any act of sexual gratification with another person other than one’s marriage partner, achieved by uncovering or exploring the nakedness of that person.
• Email:mercyolumide2004@yahoo.co.uk. www.thebiblicalwomanhood.com Mobile: +234 803 344 6614; +234 808 123 7987