Question

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HOW TO LIVE TO PLEASE GOD

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Key Verse: 4:1

1. Read verse 1. What was the purpose of Paul’s previous instructions? Why did he ask and urge them to “do this more and more”? On what authority did Paul instruct them, and why is this important (2)?

2. How did Paul emphasize the importance of sanctification and what did he deal with specifically (3)? How should they be different from the pagans (4-5)? Why is sexual immorality such a serious matter, especially in the Christian community (6)?

3. What further reasons does Paul give for living a holy life (7-8; 1Pe 1:16)? Why is it so serious to reject instructions about impurity? In terms of living a holy life, why is it important to remember that God gives us his Holy Spirit?

4. In regards to loving one another, how did Paul complement and encourage them (9-10)? What was the scope of their love (2Co 8:1-4)? Why did Paul urge them to do so “more and more”?

5. What kind of daily life should Christians living in a pagan culture aspire to (11-12)? What is the outcome?

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Attachment

• 1Th 040112.que (1).docx

Message

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A Holy and Honorable Life

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Key Verse: 4:7 “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”

Last week we studied about Paul’s deep affection for the believers in the Thessalonian church and his prayer topic - for them to live a life worthy of God’s grace. Paul encouraged them by calling, “You are our glory and joy.” The saints in the church was the objects of Paul’s glory and joy. They were fruits of Paul’s prayer and preaching. We were born to be objects of God’s glory and joy. We were created in God’s image and likeness. So, we are God’s glory and joy.

In today’s passage Paul gave them very important instructions as their spiritual father and mentor. Paul warned them to avoid sexual immorality so that they might live holy and honorable lives. He also urged them to love one another more and more. Paul gave these instructions with the authority of Jesus so that they might accept them as messages from God. (4:2,8)

First, Paul encourage them to please God more and more. (1-2) Look at verses 1,2. “As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.” Paul was thankful for their life of faith. The Thessalonians turned from their idols in order to serve the living and true God. They accepted the gospel message with joy in the midst of trials. They were a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. Paul, as their spiritual father and shepherd, was proud of them. Now Paul urged them to live in order to please God more and more. Why was Paul not satisfied with them, but urging them to please God more and more? His urging was not only his personal expectation for them, but also God’s desire for them to grow into his divine character. God wants men to grow more and more toward the level of the Lord Jesus. Someone has said that men are born lazy. If a man has enough food and a proper shelter, he stops working. In the Bible it took more than forty years for the Israelites to overcome their slavery mentality in the desert. For forty years God free of charge fed them with manna in the desert. Then God led them to advance and conquer the promised land. But the Israelites were hesitant, and they complained to God and blamed Moses, who brought them to the desert. They did not want to fight, but just wanted to stay in the desert and eat manna forever.

If we do not live in order to please God more and more, we stop growing and begin degenerating until we become corrupt. In the Christian life, if we are not challenged or motivated, we have a tendency to remain at an elementary level, not growing toward a higher level. As a result, some stop growing spiritually and remain as immature spiritual babies. Paul praised the Thessalonians’ life of faith. Still, he urged them to grow and to live more and more for the glory of God. Our physical body stops growing at certain ages. But our spirit continues to grow into the image of God. Men have the possibility to grow completely into the divine nature of Jesus. Those who have been justified through faith in Jesus must grow into God’s divine character through the process of sanctification by the work of the Holy Spirit. Then we will be glorified. I want my inner self to grow more and more and be holy by overcoming my limitations and idleness. I ask you to grow more and more, too. Amen.

Second, avoid sexual immorality. (3-8) Paul gave them detailed instructions about how to live in order to please God. Look at verses 3-8. “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.” Some people think that their lifestyle depends on their own choices. But Paul said that it is God’s will for men to be sanctified. The word ‘sanctified’ means ‘be holy’. Holy means ‘set apart for the Lord’ and ‘different’ from animals. Men are created in the image of the Holy God, born differently from other animals. Our God is holy, so we should be holy. Being holy is not optional, but absolute. It is not a matter of choice or lifestyle, but of obedience to God’s will and creation order. If a man lives an unholy life, he gives up his right to become a human being. This is the reason why Paul urged them to avoid sexual immorality.

Sexual immorality is not only adultery, but also homosexuality, extra-marital sexual relationships, pre-marital sexual relationships, and all improper sexual conduct, including watching pornography. Why is sexual immorality such a serious sin before God? Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:18, “All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body” Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in us. (1 Co 6:19) That is not all. Sexual immorality destroys all relationships, such as our relationship with God, and relationships with others, especially between a husband and a wife. Sexual immorality destroys not only each person, but also our families, community, society, country, and even God’s ministry. We see many examples of broken families, corruption of society, collapse of nations, and divisions in God’s ministry because of sexual immorality. I don’t have to explain the consequences and tragedy of sexual sins. So God has treats sexual sins seriously. Verse 6 says that the Lord will punish all those who commit such sins.

Paul acknowledged the seriousness of sexual sins. So he warned the Thessalonians to avoid such sins. In the past, the Thessalonians lived immoral lives according to their passionate lust, like other pagans. They did not know God. They did not have moral law. They lived according to their fleshly desire. But now they were different from other lawless pagans. They were a chosen people and a holy nation. (1 Pe 2:9) They were called to live a holy life, leaving their impure desire behind. They had to learn how to control their own bodies in order to live holy and honorable lives. Paul urged them to control their bodies more and more in order to live holy and honorable lives. If they stopped controlling their own bodies, they would be easily tempted and have a tendency to go back to their previous physical lives. Paul didn’t say, “Fight against sexual immorality”, but he said, “avoid sexual immorality”. In 1 Corinthians 6:18 and 2 Timothy 2:22 Paul said about it more clearly, “Flee from sexual immorality”. In the Old Testament, Joseph showed us a good example how he overcame sexual temptations. When Potiphar’s wife tempted him, he ran from her. When she grabbed him and demanded that he sleep with her, he pushed her back and ran away from her. He was not a loser or coward, but a real victor in his spiritual battle against sexual sin. If you are tempted by sexual sin, avoid it and run away from the source of the temptation.

Let us read verse 7. “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.” God did not create men to live like other animals, but to live holy and honorable lives as the crown of God’s creation. Men are objects of God’s glory and joy. Morality goes with human integrity. Moral depravity damages human dignity. We live in an age of moral vacancy and crisis of identity. We confront this so-called ‘crisis of gender identity.’ Recently, gender issues have become more complicated and confusing. In this age of confusion, I pray that we may avoid sexual immorality and live holy and honorable lives as God’s holy nation. Let us live as we were created and as we were born. Amen!

Third, love one another more and more (9-12) Look at verses 9-11a. “Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: …” Paul urged them to love one another. People often misunderstand the difference between lust and love. Lust is a selfish, destructive, and sexual desire. Love is a selfless, encouraging, and noble affection. In the Bible, Amnon, David’s first son, was attracted to his stepsister Tamar. He seduced her, raped her, and then discarded her. (2 Sam 13:1-20) Ammon’s behavior was not love, but lust. Love must be sincere. (Ro 12:9) Paul describes love in this: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others. It is not self-seeking, it is not easily-angered, it keeps no record of wrongs…. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always persevere…” (1 Cor 13:4-6)

Paul urged the Thessalonians to show this kind of love for God’s family, their brothers and sisters in Christ. In Greek, we call brotherly love ‘Philadelphia’. ‘Phileo’ means ‘to love’ and ‘adelphos’ means ‘brother’ in Greek. Brotherly love among the Thessalonians was exemplary. The Thessalonians loved God’s family throughout Macedonia. (10) Paul urged them to do this more and more. (10) In fact, the Thessalonians did so. According to 2 Corinthians 8:1-3, the Macedonian churches collected relief offerings for their suffering brothers and sisters in the Jerusalem church with overflowing joy, in the midst of their severe trials and extreme poverty. And some of them gave even beyond their ability. They were selfless. They were sacrificial. And they were kind. They knew how to love one another with God’s love. God’s love is agape love. God’s love is selfless, unconditional, redeeming, everlasting, and universal. God demonstrated his love through Jesus Christ on the cross. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his One and Only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Lust tears down others, but love builds them up. Lust is destructive, but love is redemptive. Lust makes man’s life no different than a loaf of bread, but love makes man’s life a blessing to the world. (Pro 6:26) Paul urged the Thessalonians to love God and to love others more and more.

Lastly, he warns those who were idle. Look at verses 11b,12. “You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” Paul was a preacher and a tent-maker. He preached and worked in order not to be a burden to others financially. He was a so-called self-supporting missionary. Paul’s self-supporting and hard-working life challenged those who were idle in the church. Paul rebuked them in his second letter, “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat” (2 The 3:10).

Idleness often causes immorality. When King David was idle, he committed the sin of adultery. (2 Sa 11:1-5) This was the reason why Paul wants us to love God and please him more and more. When we struggle to live holy and honorable lives, we are sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and our inner person grows into the beautiful and divine character of Christ. We bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit when we walk with Christ daily. Paul said, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Gal 5:16) May God bless us when we do so. May God heal this country from sin-sickness and restore her to send missionaries to all the nations. Amen.

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Attachment

• Holy and Honorable-message-2.docx