In the first three chapters of 1 Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul joyfully reminds the church of their foundation in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As we come to chapter four, we see a very direct appeal to not just know the Gospel but to also live the Gospel. Those who are truly born again will live in a manner that is complementary with the Gospel. The Gospel does not just change your destination. The Gospel also changes your behavior. In Chapter four of 1 Thessalonians, we are challenged to walk in holiness, walk in love, walk in honesty, and walk in hope. In verses 1-8, we learn how we are to walk in holiness. The Bible Guide tells us that, “Paul reminds the Thessalonians of the holy lives they are to lead. They are already saints, but they must still work for pure and loving relationships day by day. They have the example of Jesus to follow and the presence of his Holy Spirit to help them.”[1]
Holiness pleases God (v. 1). One of the fundamental realities of life is the desire of a son to please his father. This is played out often in both good behavior and bad behavior depending on the family dynamic. This desire is engrained in us because of the doxological purpose for which we were created. We were made to glorify God. We were created with an innate knowledge of God and a desire to know Him and worship Him. However, just as in everything else, sin messed everything up. Sin skews the purpose for which we were created. Because of our sin, we now possess a desire to please self rather than God. This is also demonstrated in the relationship of a son to his father. Though a son deep down desires to please his father, he will often see his father as a rival. This is what sin does. We are created with a natural desire to please God that has been diluted due to our sin nature which causes us to see God as a rival. Obviously, this affects our behavior. As sin blinds us to our original purpose, we tend to rebel against God rather than desire to please Him. However, when we are born-again, when we are changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our desire to please God is restored. Now we battle between our flesh and spirit. On one hand, in our sin, we desire to please self, on the other hand, because of the Gospel, we desire to please God. The thing that pleases God is holiness. As Paul said, “we ought to live to please God.” Unfortunately, quite often we tend to give in to our flesh and live to please ourselves rather than living to please God. Every issue we face in life is often birthed in the desire to please ourselves. Our selfish desires often spill over into the church. Every problem or issue that arises in the church is rooted in the desire to please self. Imagine if we all live to please God rather than self. What if everyone of us lived solely for the glory of God and out of a desire to please Him? If we all lived that way, there would be perfect harmony and many others would come to know Jesus as they see the difference in our lives.
Holiness is the command of God (v. 2). Paul reminds the church how they were taught the commandments of Jesus. Paul encourages the church to continue on and abound in the things they have been taught. As the Bible Knowledge Commentary says, “Sometimes Christians want to hear new truth when what they need is exhortation to excel still more, to press on to greater experiencing of old truths which they are already practicing to a limited degree.”[2] We should live a holy life not only because it pleases God, but also because we are commanded to do so. One major key in the scriptures is the truth that obedience brings blessing. If we want God’s favor on our lives, then obedience to His Word must be a priority.
Holiness is the will of God (v. 3-6). It is the will or purpose of God that we live holy lives. Paul addresses the most common struggle of mankind, sexual immorality. Let’s be honest, this one area is our greatest struggle. We are bombarded with sexual temptations all around us. Why is this such an issue? It is not the sexual immorality itself that is the issue, rather, the issue is simply ‘self’. Sex is not the issue; the gratification of self is the issue. It is the worship of self. It is putting oneself ahead of God. It is idolatry. It is the will of God that we live within the boundaries of morality that He designed for us. Why did God give us these boundaries? Because without them, we would gravitate toward self rather than toward God. It’s not that God does not want us to be happy or have pleasure. He does want us to be happy and experience pleasure. However, the pleasure and happiness we experience should be that which brings us closer to Him. When we misuse our bodies and seek to glorify the flesh rather than glorify God, we find ourselves further away from Him which leads to death. The Bible Knowledge Commentary says, “Everyone who fears the wrath of God should abstain from immorality because judgment follows such sin as surely as day follows night.”[3] Nothing good ever comes from immorality. Therefore, follow the will of God.
Holiness is the call of God (v. 7). Holiness is not only the will of God, the command of God, and that which pleases God; it is also the call of God. We are called by God to live a Holy life. It is His purpose for us. Just as nothing good comes from sexual immorality, nothing but good comes from obedience to God’s call to live a holy life. “A holy life demonstrates God’s supernatural power at work overcoming what is natural, and it glorifies God.”[4] Do you want to see God’s supernatural power at work in your life? Then, answer the call to holiness.
Unholiness is a sin against God (v. 8). Paul tells the Thessalonian believers that to reject his teaching concerning holiness is to reject God. When we fail to live holy lives, we are sinning not just against man, but against God, and that is serious business! Paul also reminds us of how we have been given the Holy Spirit to help us live holy.
“Lest anyone feel that God is asking more than is reasonable of weak mortals, Paul concluded this exhortation with a reminder that God has also given believers His indwelling Spirit. This Person of the Trinity is so characterized by holiness that He is called the Holy Spirit. The indwelling Holy Spirit has power enough to enable any Christian to learn how to control his own body, even in a pagan, immoral climate.”[5] The exhortation is to avoid sexual immorality. The enablement comes from the Holy Spirit. If we want to live holy lives, we must allow the Holy Spirit to fill us.
[1] Knowles, A. (2001). The Bible guide (1st Augsburg books ed., p. 641). Augsburg.
[2] Constable, T. L. (1985). 1 Thessalonians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 700). Victor Books.
[3] Constable, T. L. (1985). 1 Thessalonians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 702). Victor Books.
[4] Constable, T. L. (1985). 1 Thessalonians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 702). Victor Books.
[5] Constable, T. L. (1985). 1 Thessalonians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 702). Victor Books.
Pastor Chris Noland 