1 Thessalonians 4:3–6 (ESV) — 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification:
that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of
you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because
the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and
solemnly warned you.
NOTE: I used to
think that verse 6 was separate from verse 3, and adds a second definition for
the will of God which is our sanctification (i.e., becoming more like Christ).
But now I believe that 3-6 are saying the same thing--the whole group of verses
are focused on sexual immorality. When we commit sexual immorality it has an
effect on our brother (and grammatically our sister in Christ too). Our lust
can wrong others. Not only does it do something spiritual to the relationship,
it can create divisions and hurts. Relationships are not built on sexuality.
Only one relationship, that of our spouse, is designed for sexuality. All other
relationships are wronged. Verse 8 makes it clear that if you disregard this
teaching, you are not disobeying man but God himself.
PRAYER: Father, I
live in a world that vehemently opposes this idea and denies it truth. But the
world does not believe it was designed and created but came about randomly and
through chaos, therefore there are no "rules." Forgive us. Open our eyes
to our sin. Convict us so that we repent.
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