1Thes4:3-12 Growing in Purity and Love

# Growing in Purity and Love
## 1 Thessalonians 4:3-12

[Saxon, Switzerland. Artem Sapegin](https://unsplash.com/photos/e2uTOpgW5Ec "caption")
---

# How should we handle **sexual temptation**?

>>>
+ Range from what seems **harmless**: 
 + e.g., indulging in **porn** / fantasy
+ to **hurt** how **see** / interact w/others:
 + e.g., seeking **revenge** (e.g., reput)
 + won't give **atten** how we want
+ to **actions** w/long-term repercus: 
 + e.g., extra-**marital** sexual relation
+ Sexual **desire** powerful force:
 + we need to **talk** about it
+ Scrip offers much **guidance**:
 + Behold **Lamb** of God
______
+ **[ PRAYER ]**

---

# Growing Together, While Apart

| *1* | Impact of **Faith** | 
|---|---|
| *2a,b* | Toil of **Love** |
| *3* | Accountability with **Hope** |
| *4* | **Growing in Purity + Love** |
| *5a* | **Hope** of Salvation |
| *5b* | Acts of **Faith** |

>>>
+ Theme of 1Thes: encouragment in **FHL**
+ 1st half: Thes' **rl** w/Paul 
  + and **response** to gospel
+ 2nd half: addr 4 specific **Qs** / issues:
  + 1: How to deal w/**sexual** temptation
  + 2: How to show godly **love** to others
  + 3: What happens after we **die**
  + 4: **When** is Christ returning

---

## Purity and Love [(1Thes4)](# "ref")
1. The **Will** of God [(v3-6a)](# "ref")
1. Our **Identity** in Christ [(v6b-8)](# "ref")
1. From Selfishness to **Service** [(v9-12)](# "ref")

---
## 1. Will of God
+ A. **Flee** Immorality
+ B. Honour Toward Own **Body**
+ C. Honour Toward **Others**

For this is the will of God, your **sanctification**:

[1 Thessalonians 4:3a (ESV)](# "ref")
>>>
+ "sanctification": He **is** our holiness
  + not: God stands apart, **demands** we be holy,
+ but: HS **dwells** in us
  + is why we're **deemed** holy:
+ So live **worthily** of that calling
+ God's **will** for us regarding sexuality:
  + 3 **infinitive** phrases

---

that you **abstain** from **sexual immorality**;

[1 Thessalonians 4:3b (ESV)](# "ref")
>>>
+ "sexual immor": various **practises**
+ diff **cultures**: diff practises "immoral":
  + **adultery** (extra-marital affairs)
  + **prostitution** (exch. sex for money)
  + pedophilia + sexual **slavery** 
    + (**coerce** those w/less power)
  + **Spartans** strict on adultery but open w/homo
+ Truth as **bullseye**: many diff ways to be wrong
  + "but: porn not **same** as rape/pedo!"
+ Creator's **design**: sex in **marriage**:
  + 1M1F **covenant** eq partner for life
  + e.g., **gas** in car
+ God sanct. us: **defines** immor vs holy
  + so "abstain": **hold apart**, keep away from

---

**Flee** from sexual immorality.

Every other sin a person commits 
is **outside** the body,

but the sexually immoral person 
sins against his **own body**.

[1 Corinthians 6:18 (ESV)](# "ref")
>>>
+ Christ paid **price** to redeem us
  + We **belong** to Him: 
  + spirit, heart, mind, **body**
+ To be place where HS **dwells**
+ So do I have **freedom** to
  + do what I **want** w/own body?
+ 2nd **infinitive**:

---

that each one of you know how to 
**control** his own **body** 
in **holiness** and **honor**,

[1 Thessalonians 4:4 (ESV)](# "ref")
>>>
+ "control": acquire for self, **possess**:
  + **ownership**, responsibility
+ "my body, my **choice**"
  + what will I **do** w/that choice?
+ "**Consenting** adults": consent is **necess.**
  + but not **suff**!
+ "body": vessel w/purpose, **utility**: wife
  + what is **purpose** of body?
+ "**holiness** + honour": 
  + not that body is dirty / **shameful**
+ Not **ashamed** of sexual function
  + but **protect**, treasure

---

not in the **passion** of **lust** 
like the Gentiles who do not **know God**;

[1 Thessalonians 4:5 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Francesco Ungaro](https://unsplash.com/photos/7A_yfNw528g "caption")
>>>
+ "passion": pathos, deep **emotion**
  + (not necc **bad**)
+ "lust": inflamed, consuming **desire**
  + ignores all other consider (**bad**)
+ w/o God's **law** to keep us centred,
  + try best to be **"good"** person
+ "true to **self**" / "follow **heart**": 
  + what comes **naturally**:
  + indulging **sinful** nature
+ Last **infinitive**:

---

that no one **transgress** and **wrong** 
his brother in this matter,

[1 Thessalonians 4:6a (ESV)](# "ref")
[Luis Quintero](https://unsplash.com/photos/ibWxfQOePt4 "caption")
>>>
+ "transgress": **overstep** bounds, defraud
+ "wrong": have **more** / desire more:
  + **covet**, take advantage of
+ 2 **appl**: if **brother** is struggling
  + w/**controlling** own body:
  + do not take **advantage** / belittle
+ For **myself**: be warned, 
  + sex imm not **"victimless"**:
+ Indulging in lust is **selfish**
  + even if only **fantasy** / escape
+ Steps over **bounds** God drew 
  + for how to **treat** others
+ **Porn** (written or visual)
  + enc. **objectification** of others
  + see others as **tool** to satisfy own lust

---

Do not **deprive** one another, 
except perhaps by **agreement** 
for a limited time, 
that you may devote yourselves to **prayer**;

but then come **together** again, 
so that Satan may not **tempt** you 
because of your lack of **self-control**.

[1 Corinthians 7:5 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Drew Coffman](https://unsplash.com/photos/llWjwo200fo "caption")
>>>
+ To **married**:
+ Inasmuch as **coercing** sex is aggression,
  + **Withholding** sex also uses sex as **weapon**
+ If **trust** / intimacy issues:
  + **address**, communicate
  + understand + **accept** understood
+ Don't let issues sit **unresolved**, drift apart
  + **grow** in rl

---

# What is God's **will** for us regarding **sexuality**?

---

## Purity and Love [(1Thes4)](# "ref")
1. The Will of God [(v3-6a)](# "ref")
1. **Our Identity in Christ** [(v6b-8)](# "ref")
1. From Selfishness to Service [(v9-12)](# "ref")

---

because the Lord is an **avenger** 
in all these things, 
as we told you beforehand 
and solemnly warned you.

[1 Thessalonians 4:6b (ESV)](# "ref")
[© Søren Niedziella, CC-BY 2.0](https://www.flickr.com/photos/albioneurope/8498095661 "caption")
>>>
+ "avenger": comes forth from **justice**,
  + carries out **judgment**:
  + **champion** / defender of city
+ What is Lord **defending**?
  + holiness of our **bodies** whom redeemed
  + honour + value of **others** 
  + whom we would **objectify**

---

For God has not called us for **impurity**, 
but in **holiness**.

[1 Thessalonians 4:7 (ESV)](# "ref")
>>>
+ "impurity": **uncleanness**
  + "holiness": set **apart**
  + w/ special **identity** + purpose
+ "called": God **knows** you, sees, calls

---

Therefore whoever **disregards** this, 
disregards not **man** but **God**, 
who gives his **Holy Spirit** to you.

[1 Thessalonians 4:8 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Łukasz Łada](https://unsplash.com/photos/q7z-AUlHPaw "caption")
>>>
+ Sounds very **severe** + strict,
  + perhaps feel **unreasonable**
+ If **man-made** rules, we'd say to men:
  + "you cannot keep these **yourself**"
  + (probably **repressed**)
  + simply means to **control** / belittle
+ But set by **Creator** who designed bodies
  + and redeemed to be **dwelling** for HS
+ Don't **"disregard"** (set aside)
  + deem **irrelevant** / inapplicable
______
*[ SKIP READ ]*

---

For God has not called us for **impurity**, 
but in **holiness**.

[1 Thessalonians 4:7 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Alex Jones](https://unsplash.com/photos/p0W9Q9gei4g "caption")
>>>
+ To **singles**:
+ Sexual desire is **powerful** force:
  + yes, want **intercourse**
+ But **more**: not unthink **beasts** reprod:
  + physical **intimacy**
  + **touch** (esp in pandemic!)
  + companion: **understood** + accept
  + need for **love**
+ Cannot **ignore** the desire: recog
  + not immoral / shameful to **want** sex
+ God-given, part of **glue** in marriage
  + need for **love** ult is need for **God**
+ If **tempted** when alone at night:
  + **get up**, housework, walk, exer
  + phys act grounds in **reality**, not fantasy
+ Remember **identity** in Chr for **holiness**

---

# What role does **sexuality** play in our **identity** in Christ?

>>>
+ not **core** of who we are:
+ God's **elect**, **sons/daug** of King
  + **forgiven**, redeemed,
  + called to **holiness**
+ sex **precious** / sacred, reserved for marriage

---

## Purity and Love [(1Thes4)](# "ref")
1. The Will of God [(v3-6a)](# "ref")
1. Our Identity in Christ [(v6b-8)](# "ref")
1. **From Selfishness to Service** [(v9-12)](# "ref")

>>>
+ instead of selfish fantasy, generous action
+ instead of satisfying own desires,
+ do own work quietly so as to
+ provide generously for others
  + esp fellow believers in Christ

---

you yourselves have been 
**taught by God** to **love one another**, 
for that indeed is what you are doing 
to all the brothers throughout Macedonia.

[1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Nancy, France. Rémi Walle](https://unsplash.com/photos/UOwvwZ9Dy6w "caption")
>>>
+ **Care** for fellow believers in Christ
  + exhibited in **useful** aid + gifts
+ Taught not by inner **conscience**
  + but by **HS** dwelling within them,
  + **prompting** them to show love to others
+ Did not **wait** for Paul/others to remind
+ But extended love **within church** at Thes
  + and **outward** to sister churches in area

---

But we urge you, brothers, 
to do this **more and more**,

and to aspire to live **quietly**, 
and to mind your **own affairs**, 
and to work with your **hands**, 
as we instructed you,

[1 Thessalonians 4:11 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Ian Espinosa](https://unsplash.com/photos/oXo6IvDnkqc "caption")
>>>
+ **increase** in love for fellow believers
+ "aspire": love what is **honourable**
  + zealously **pursue** that which 
  + has great personal **value**
+ deem this as **honourable** / worthy,
  + and **enjoy** pursuing it
+ "live quietly": be silent, still,
  + opp. restless, raucous, draw atten to self
+ "mind own affairs": practise (make habit): process
  + concern for others should not be 
  + excuse to neglect own responsib
+ "work w/hands": labour to accomp: "I made that"

---

so that you may 
**walk properly** before outsiders 
and be **dependent** on no one.

[1 Thessalonians 4:12 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Helsinki, Finland. Thomas Drouault](https://unsplash.com/photos/IBUcu_9vXJc "caption")
>>>
+ "walk": walk around (in circles): daily conduct
+ "properly": good schema / form: respectable, becoming
  + outward appearance (God knows heart)
+ "dependent": have need of no one

---

You will be **enriched** in every way 
to be **generous** in every way, 
which through us will 
produce **thanksgiving** to God.

[2 Corinthians 9:11 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Neven Krcmarek, Popovec, Croatia](https://unsplash.com/photos/M4KpA7NC-l0 "caption")
>>>
+ live **quietly**, tend to **own** work,
  + **produce** sth
+ So can **share** generously w/need

---

# How can I **abound** in love for fellow **believers**?

>>>
+ Own quiet **work**, productivity
+ Tangible, useful **aid** to needy
  + w/in own **church**
  + out to **sister** churches
  + out to **world**

---

>>>
+ Creator, You are **love**
 + made us to love + be loved
+ Created w/strong sexual desires,
 + precious + holy
 + so easily tempted
+ **Flee**, own our **bodies** for holiness,
 + not take advantage of others
+ Remind us **identity** in You, redemeed
 + clean dwelling for HS
+ Move from **self** to **service**
 + work quietly to provide generously