Growing in Purity and Love
1 Thessalonians 4:3-12
Saxon, Switzerland. Artem Sapegin
uncomfortable topicbut we need to talk about it
bc God cares about our holiness :
How should we handle sexual temptation ?
tempt might seem harmless :
e.g., indulge in porn / fantasy
or might hurt others:
e.g., harming other’s reputation
as revenge bc didn’t get
sort of attention we wanted
or actions w/long-term repercuss:
e.g., extra-marital sex relation
Sexual desire is powerful force
To ignore it is to ignore reality
Aim is not to condemn but seek
practical guidance from Scrip:
Behold Lamb of God
[ PRAYER ]
Growing Together, While Apart
1 Impact of Faith
2a Toil of Love
2b Orphaned but Loved
3 Strength from Hope
4 Growing in Purity + Love
5a Hope of Salvation
5b Acts of Faith
Theme of 1Thes: encour FHL
1st half: Thess’ rl w/Paul
and their response to gospel
2nd half: 4 specific Qs / issues:
1: How to deal w/sexual tempt
2: How to show godly love
3: What happens after we die ?
4: When is Christ returning?
For this is the will of God, your sanctification :
Flee Immorality Honour God with Our Own Bodies
Honour Others
1 Thessalonians 4:3a (ESV)
“sanctif”: God makes us holy: not
stand far off, demand we be holy,
but HS dwells : why deemed holy.
So live worthily of that calling.
God’s will for us regarding sex,
in 3 commands (infinitives) :
Flee sexual immoralityHonour God with our own bodies
Honour God in our rl w/others
that you abstain from immorality ;
1 Thessalonians 4:3b (ESV)
StockSnap
What do we mean by “sex immoral”?
Some cultures: only adultery
Or prostit (xch sex for money)
Or pedophilia + sexual slavery
(coercion of w/less power)
e.g., Spartans : strict on adultery
But God’s truth like bullseye :
many wrongs, only 1 truth
Creator design sex rl w/in marr :
1M1F, lifelong covenant eq partner
So sex immor is anything not that
gas good for cars, but only if in
gas tank , acc to design engine
Hold true to God’s design
Run away from any off bullseye
1Cor6 expands on this:
Flee from sexual immorality.outside the body,own body .
1 Corinthians 6:18 (ESV)
Clem Onojeghuo
Christ paid greatest price to redeem
So we belong to Him:
spirit, heart, mind, and body
Set apart as place where HS dwells
But don’t I have freedom to
do what I want with my own body?
2nd command in v4:
that each one of you know how tocontrol his own body holiness and honor ,
1 Thessalonians 4:4 (ESV)
“control”: acquire for self, possess :
both ownership and responsib
But “It’s my body, my choice !”
Yes, but what will I do w/choice?
But “consenting adults: not your biz!”
Yes, necess : but not suff
“body”: vessel w/purpose, utility
Purpose: for “holiness + honour”
bodies not dirty / shameful
Not ashamed of sex (design by God)
rather, protect / treasure
not in the passion of lust know God ;
1 Thessalonians 4:5 (ESV)
Francesco Ungaro
“passion”: pathos, deep emotion
(not neccesarily a bad thing!)
“lust”: inflamed, consuming desire
ignores all other considerations
(always bad in Bible!)
Ppl of world : w/o God’s law
so just try best, “good” person
Only has vague aphorisms like
“Just be true to yourself “
“Just follow your heart “
Result: do what comes naturally :
i.e., indulging sinful nature
But we must stay centred God’s law
that no one transgress and wrong
1 Thessalonians 4:6a (ESV)
Luis Quintero
“transgr”: overstep bounds, defraud
“wrong”: have more , desire more:
covet , take advantage of s.o.
2 appl : (1) if bro struggles
w/control of own body:
don’t take adv / belittle him
(2) For myself : be warned,
sex imm not “victimless” crime:
Indulging in lust is selfish
even if only fantasy / escape
It steps over bounds God drew
for how we are to treat others
Porn (written or visual) encour
objectification of others:just tool to satisfy own lust
To the married , 1Cor7:
but then come together again, tempt you self-control .
1 Corinthians 7:5b (ESV)
Coercing sex is aggression, so also
Withhold sex: use as weapon
If too tired : real, not excuse!
Support e.o., share burdens
If trust / intimacy issues:
address them, learn to comm
Understand spouse, and
accept that they underst me
Don’t let issues sit unresolved
Work hard to grow rl
Cultivate prayer life:
both individually and together
What is God’s will for us sexuality ?
Flee immorality: any sex rl
outside God’s design for marr
Honour God w/own bodies :
Control body, not be controlled by passions
Bodies made for holy + honour
Honour God in our rl w/others :
take advantage of another
overstep God’s boundaries
The Will of God (v3-6a)
Our Identity in Christ (v6b-8) From Selfishness to Service (v9-12)
Not just set of rules to
Remind selves of who we are:
And who God is, as our
Creator, Redeemer, and Judge
because the Lord is an avenger
in all these things,
as we told you beforehand
and solemnly warned you.
1 Thessalonians 4:6b (ESV)
© Søren Niedziella, CC-BY 2.0
“avenger”: comes forth from justice ,
and carries out judgment :
champion / defender of the city
What is the Lord defending ?
Holiness of my body He redeemed,
Honour + value of others
For God has not called us for impurity ,holiness .
1 Thessalonians 4:7 (ESV)
“impurity”: unclean , as opp. to
God gives special ID + purpose
We have been “called”:
God knows you, sees you, calls you
Therefore whoever disregards this,man but God ,Holy Spirit to you.
1 Thessalonians 4:8 (ESV)
Łukasz Łada
If these were man-made rules,
we’d say to those making the rules:
“You yourself are unable to keep these
(you’re probably repressed ),
you want to control / belittle us!”
But these rules are not set by man ,
but Creator who designed bodies
redeemed us to be dwelling for HS
So don’t “disregard” His command:
set aside, deem irrelev / inappl
To the singles :
[ SKIP READ ]
For God has not called us for impurity ,holiness .
1 Thessalonians 4:7 (ESV)
Alex Jones
Sexual desire is powerful force:
What we want is beyond intercourse
not unthinking beasts just repro
Want phys intimacy , human touch
Companion: underst + accept: love
Cannot ignore desire, but recog it:
Not immoral / shameful to want sex
God-given, part of glue in marriage
Need for love ult. is need for God
Advice to young men, tempted alone:
Get up , do housework, walk, exercise
phys grounds reality , not fantasy
Remember ID in Chr is for holy
What role does sexuality play in identity in Christ?
Sexuality not core of who we are:
God’s elect ,
sons/daughters of Most High King
We’re the forgiven , the redeemed,
So what role does sex play?
precious and sacred giftreserved for marriage
The Will of God (v3-6a)
Our Identity in Christ (v6b-8)
From Selfishness to Service (v9-12)
Instead of selfish fantasy,
Instead of satisf own desires ,
provide generously for others,
esp fellow believers in Christ
you yourselves have beentaught by God to love one another ,
1 Thessalonians 4:9b-10a (ESV)
Nancy, France. Rémi Walle
Care for fellow believers in Chr,
exhibit in useful aid + gifts
Taught not by inner conscience
but by HS dwelling w/in them,
prompting to show love to others
Didn’t wait to be reminded to do so,
But extended love both w/in church
and outward to sister churches
So Paul encourages them:
But we urge you, brothers, more and more ,
and to aspire to live quietly ,own affairs ,hands ,
1 Thessalonians 4:11 (ESV)
Ian Espinosa
“aspire”: deem honourable ,
of great personal value ,
so zealously pursue
To “live quietly”: silent , still,
not restless , raucous,
not drawing attention to self
We tend not to notice quiet ones:
do we aspire to be ignored?
“mind own affairs”: practise
Concern for others should not be
excuse to neglect own responsib
“work w/hands”: labour to accompl
satisf bldg value : “I made that!”
so that you may walk properly before outsidersdependent on no one.
1 Thessalonians 4:12 (ESV)
Helsinki, Finland. Thomas Drouault
“walk”: daily conduct + habits
“properly”: good form ,
respectable, becoming
outward app: how others perceive us
(remember God knows heart : not fake)
“dependent”: not burden to others
able to provide for our own needs
And even more :
How can I abound in love believers ?
Do I aspire to do own work quietly,
To provide tangible, useful aid
to the needy within our own church ,
out to sister churches, and
out to the world ?
Creator, You are love
made us to love + be loved.
You created us w/strong sexual desires ,
which You made to be precious + holy.
But we are so easily tempted :
Help us to flee from immorality,
to sanctify bodies for holiness,
not to take advantage of others.
Remind our ID in You, as redemeed
to be clean dwelling for HS
Move us from selfish to service
work quietly to provide generously
Growing in Purity and Love 1 Thessalonians 4:3-12 Saxon, Switzerland. Artem Sapegin uncomfortable topic but we need to talk about it bc God cares about our holiness :