ABSTAIN FROM SEXUAL IMMORALITY

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

#712 Jesus is coming soon, morning or night or noon, many will meet their doom, trumpets will sound. All of the dead shall rise; righteous meet in the skies, going where no one dies, heavenward bound.

If you will glance down toward the end of chapter 4 here, more specifically verses 16-17, you will recognize that the words for this song find their basis in those verses.

Jesus is coming; No one knows when…but He will come.
That is the underlying theme all the way through the book of 1 Thessalonians.
It is a theme that Paul uses to encourage us, and to motivate us…and even to warn us.
Because when He does come many will meet their doom…but the righteous will be heavenward bound.

The question then is: Which are you and I? Do we number among the doomed? Or do we number among the heavenward bound?

Now most people will say, “I am a Christian. I believe in Jesus. So, I am heavenward bound” and I hope for their sake that is true.

But one of the things that the apostle Paul says in this passage that was read is, just calling yourself a “Christian” doesn’t make it so.
Just because you and I have been baptized does not mean that we are automatically going to heaven.
Baptism is where it all begins…but that certainly is not where it ends.

So, what more is there that we must do if we want to be “heavenward bound” when Jesus does come back?

Let’s look at these verses and let God tell us what we must do in order to be ready when He comes again.

Now keep in mind that Paul is writing to a group of new Christians.

These people have been Christians for less than a year.
And notice what he says in verse 1.

Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you may excel still more.

Apparently this was part of the first principle teachings of Paul and Silas.

Normally we think of the first principle teachings on becoming a Christians as : Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, and be Baptized.

But Paul says that these people also received “instructions as to how they ought to walk and please God.”

And if you will notice, these people were “walking” in a way that was pleasing to God.
And Paul is “requesting and encouraging” them to do even better.
Evidently instructions as to how they ought to “walk and please God” were first principle instructions as requirements necessary for salvation.
Yes, we need to hear the word, we must believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and we must confess Him as Lord; we must repent of a sinful way of life, and be baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…but just as essential as those things are so to is “walking in a way that pleases the Lord.”

Now, this is counter to what so many have in mind when it comes to being a Christian.

You know, as Church of Christer’s, we don’t believe in the doctrine of “Perseverance of the Saints” or “Once saved always saved.”
That is a denominational doctrine that says, “Once you have named Jesus as Lord and have been saved…no matter what you do, you cannot be lost again.” (John Calvin)
As “Church of Christer’s” we don’t believe that.

And yet, we practice it.

You see, most other groups don’t believe that you must be baptized into Christ in order to be saved.
We do…and rightly so.
But then, just like them, a lot of people who have been baptized into Christ practice the doctrine of “once saved always saved” because we think “I have been baptized…I am automatically going to heaven…no matter what I do.”
I can drink, cuss, cheat, lie, steal…and forego the assembly of the saints from now on…but I have been baptized…therefore I am going to heaven.

That is not what Paul says here.

Paul says that they “received instructions”…past tense…
This is something that Paul taught them during the short time he was in Thessalonica.
It wasn’t, “hear, believe, confess, repent, and be baptized…and live how you want to.
He taught them “how they ought to walk and please God…from the very beginning.
And they were doing it…and now he wants them to excel even more.

Being a Christian not only requires hearing, believing, confessing, repenting and being baptized…it also requires a “continuous walk that is pleasing to God.”

Look at this verse found in 1 John 1: 6-7:

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

And now Romans 6:4:

Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin;

We can go out here and baptize hundreds of people…and some have.

But if we do not teach them that they “must walk and please God” afterwards…we have wasted our time.

Satan doesn’t care if you call yourself a Christian. All he wants is for your walk to be dirty.

Jesus is coming back…and if you are going to rise and meet Him in the air…just having been baptized is not going to be enough…you must be walking in a way that pleases God.

In fact, look at verse 3: For this is the will of God, your sanctification…

“Sanctification” means “holiness”…or “to be set apart.”
God wants us, as His people, to live “holy” lives…sanctified lives.
Lives that “set us apart” from the world…and all the ungodly things the world does.
When people see us they should be able to tell that we are truly followers of Christ by the way we live.

Now, Paul is going to get specific here. Notice verse 3 again:

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; (Your version may say, “fornication.”)

Christians, young and old, are a “set apart” people and one of the things that sets us apart from the world is saying “NO” to what the world so openly and frequently endorses…and that is sexual immorality.

In the world of the Thessalonians illicit, immoral sexual practices were common…much like our world is today.

Everything in our world seems to promote immoral sex: movies; music; TV shows; books; magazines; commercials; and in some instances our politicians.
And young people are especially vulnerable to what the world promotes.

The world tells our young people, “When it comes to sex outside of marriage…don’t say no, instead just be safe!”

“And be legal…make sure he or she is not under age”.
“Or be discreet…just don’t get caught.”
“And be preventive…don’t want any unwanted children or STD’s.”

And it is not just our young people who are vulnerable to what the world teaches and says.

Adults are told, “As long as you are two consenting adults, well that is ok.”
Paul doesn’t put an age stipulation on this.

Paul says, “As a follower of Christ you are to abstain from sexual immorality.”

Now, the command is not to stay clear of sex. Sex in marriage is ordained by God.

The command here is to stay clear of sexual immorality.
And if you look at vs. 4-6 you get an idea of what Paul has in mind. Let’s read starting in vs. 3:

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.

Now, scholars have some differing ideas on what Paul has in mind here when he says they are to “possess their own vessel” but in the context of what Paul is saying “vessel” evidently is speaking of a man having his own wife (1 Cor. 7).

And a man is to “possess or acquire her in sanctification and honor,

And look what he says next: A man is to possess is own wife in sanctification and honor…not motivated by lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.”

A husband and wife’s relationship is not to be based simply on a sensual or sexual That relationship will not last.
Paul says in Eph. 5:25 that a marriage is to be based on a sacrificial love.
A marriage built on sacrificial love will hold together “for better or worse, in sickness and in health.”
But one built on the “sensual’ is as insecure as a house built on sand.

And look at verse 6. Here he warns against being involved with another man’s wife or being involved in an adulterous relationship.

Paul tells these new Christians and he tells us, “You may be involved in these kinds of activities; but now that you are in Christ that kind of conduct is not only unacceptable but will cause you to be condemned.”

Sexual immorality…sex outside of marriage is not part of the sanctified life that Christians are to live…and it is not part of the walk that will be pleasing to the Lord when it comes back.

Look at this verse found in Eph 5:3-6

3 But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Paul says, “Do not let any one deceive you with “empty words.”

When it comes to “sexual immorality” there are a lot of empty words.
“Everyone does it.”
“Got to sow some wild oats some time.”
“Live together to see if you are compatible.”

Believe the “empty words” if you want…but “do not be deceived…because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”

You cannot and are not pleasing to God…when you participate in sexual immorality of any kind…and it must not be a part of your walk when He comes back again.

Look at verse 6 again. Paul says: Let “no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.”

Do you know what this verse does?
This verse destroys the myth that “If you commit sexual sin you haven’t hurt anyone.”

Sexual immorality always does damage to someone.

It robs another of their innocence and purity.
It brings about feelings of guilt and shame.
It costs them their relationship with God.
It robs children of a home where two parents live in harmony.
It can cost a man his wife…and a wife her husband.
It can cause a child to be raised by a single parent…or in a foster home.

I have sat and listened to men and women sob and try to figure out why their mate cheated on them.

And I have seen the adult that has been molested when they were a child.
And the child who has seen dad’s unfaithfulness to mom.
Don’t you think that no one gets hurt in the immoral sexual relationship.
It is a devastating thing.
And God will not let the individual who practices this go unpunished.

Look at verse 8. Consequently, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

You know, the NT never does what we sometimes do with teenagers when we talk about sex.

The NT never once says, “Be pure so that you do not get a disease.”
That is true and you might…but the NT never says that.

The NT never says, “Be pure so you do not get pregnant.”

It never says, “Be pure so that you don’t ruin your reputation.”
All these and other things are consequences of sin.
But the NT never mentions these.

The NT says, “Be pure because your body houses the Spirit of God (I Cor. 6:18)…and immoral conduct insults the giver of the greatest gift He has ever given you.”

If you/I are sinning sexually as Christians, we are using the house of God to commit that sin.
And God is not and will not be pleased when He comes back.

Now, one last point; Paul is writing this for two reasons.

One, to tell CHRISTIANS that if they are not involved in sexual immorality…then continue to remain that way.
Second, if you are…stop it now…before the Lord comes again.

But what about the NON-CHRISTIAN? Look at 1 Cor. 6: 9-11.

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

All of these deal with sexual sins.

But now, look at verse 11.

11 And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.

God can and will forgive you if you will believe, confess, repent, be baptized…and walk and please God.

Jesus is coming soon…no one knows when…Are your ready?