June 27, 2010
Background Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
Devotional Reading: Hebrews 11:1-6

I have found it interesting in studying 1 Thessalonians, that it is much like a piece of serious music in which a number of different themes are interwoven and recurring. In Chapter 1, for example, for the first time Paul expresses thanks for the faith and love of the Thessalonian Christians, a motif to which he returns in chapters 2 and 3.

In Chapter 2 he speaks of living in a way that is pleasing to God, returning to this same concern in Chapter 4. He also deals with “afflictions” in 1, 2 and 3. And so on.

In Chapter 4, however, he introduces two new themes. First, he warns: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: That you abstain from immorality” (4:3). And, although he would include all forms of immorality, he focuses on sexual immorality. The world in which Paul lived, especially in the more cosmopolitan areas of the Roman Empire, was notorious for sexual license.

Added to that is the fact that Thessalonian Christians were accustomed to a society in which sexual promiscuity and license were the norm, not the exception. Essentially, this means not so much that people blithely broke the rules, but that there were few, if any, rules. Like today?

Called for holiness

Just as the problem with gluttony is not eating, per se, so the problem he raised was not sex itself – “that each one of you know how to take a wife for himself in holiness and honor” (44) – but sex without limitations and boundaries.

Sexual attraction is part of God’s design, but “lust” is attraction without self-discipline (4:5).

When he writes that “no man transgress, and wrong his brother in this matter,” he is speaking of adultery, which is not just a sin against another person, but against all who are injured by this surrender to lust. Paul also says that sexual immorality soils our holiness with “uncleanness” (4:7).

All Christians are expected to be holy, totally dedicated and set apart to do the will of God. And God has called all of us to holiness.
Closely linked to “holiness” as an essential Christian trait is that of sanctification. It is in 4:3 that Paul specifies: “For this is the will of God: sanctification.” I don’t know whether this term is so little known and used because we have forgotten what it means and therefore never use it, or perhaps we do know what it means, but don’t like the concept and, therefore, don’t use it.

Like holiness, sanctification means “separateness” or “apartness” – the follower of Jesus Christ must spiritually and morally stand apart from all others. It is the essential difference between one who follows Christ and one who does not.

It may come as a surprise to some that Christians are called to be different. Tryon Edwards defined holiness as “living above the world while we’re still in it.”

Direction or destination?

Sanctification is not a destination, but a direction. To put it simply, to be a follower of Christ means that we are to continue growing toward him. In this life we never arrive, but we are to continue growing toward the goal, as Paul says in Philippians 3:12: “Not that I have already attained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”
So deciding to be a disciple of Jesus is not the end of the process. Where did we ever get the idea that the goal was reached when we were confirmed or joined the church? I’m not sure who said it, but I agree that owning a piano doesn’t make one a pianist. So, wearing a cross doesn’t mean we’ll wear the crown.

A little girl who fell out of bed explained, “I guess I fell asleep too near to where I got in.” That’s true of a lot of people who didn’t even realize they were asleep. Or, like the tombstone that read: “DIED OF OLD AGE AT 21.”

No one grows old; you’re old – and probably no longer a Christian – when you stop growing.

 The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication.