I Thessalonians 4:1 – Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.
Welcome back, readers! I’m so glad we can study the scriptures together today! I hope you find today’s post beneficial and encouraging. 
In the first part of his letter to the Thessalonians (chapters 1-3), Paul used discourse/logical reasoning to refute the lies and false doctrines that had been presented to the church by the unrepentant Jews and the Greeks.
He ends that section of the letter with a prayer that the Thessalonians will be ‘established blameless in holiness at the coming of our Lord Jesus’.
Now he switches gears and begins to offer practical advice for daily Christian living.
Finally – This is a word of transition which Paul often uses in his letters (Ephesians 6:10 Philippians 4:8, etc). The literal translation is ‘as to what remains’ or ‘for the rest’. It acts as a bridge connecting the two parts of this epistle.
The idea is that he has corrected any false beliefs or doubts that were plaguing the church because of the Jews and Greeks. Now that they have a firm grasp on the sound doctrines of Christianity, they can move forward with confidence. The only thing left to do is to put those doctrines into practice in their daily lives.
Ask and Urge - To ask is to make a polite or friendly request. The implication is that the person being addressed will obey/grant the request because they understand it as being proper, suitable or appropriate under the circumstances. In this case, Paul assumes that the Thessalonian believers will adhere to the moral laws of Christianity, because that would be the reasonable thing to do:
Romans 12:1 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
However, he not only asks, he urges them to do so. ‘Urge’ is a stronger, more emphatic word. It implies that the rules for holy living, which Paul is about to discuss, are not to be taken lightly. They aren’t really optional. They should be regarded as duties of great importance. The Thessalonian Christians should strive to live by these rules in a serious, zealous, and determined manner.
What about us? Well, considering the fact that God chose us in him before the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34), that Christ redeemed us by his own blood (I Peter 1:18-19), that he made us new creatures (II Corinthians 5:17), that we profess to be his followers, and that we are to be conformed to his image (Romans 8:29, II Corinthians 3:18), we too should be diligent to obey God’s moral code. In light of the sacrifice of Christ, how can we do anything less?
However, if you’re still not convinced, carefully consider the words of the apostle:
In the Lord Jesus – Paul’s insistence on obedience to the moral commands of scripture is based on nothing less than the name and authority of Jesus Christ. Since there is no higher authority, there is no stronger reason to walk in holiness.
News flash - Jesus hasn’t changed in the last two thousand years (Malachi 3:6). He still possesses all power and authority. Therefore, the moral commands in scripture apply to us in the same way they applied to the Thessalonians – they aren’t to be taken lightly or cast aside on a whim. They are not optional. They are duties of profound importance and we should strive to live by them.
You received from us how you ought to walk and please God – This indicates that the Thessalonians were systematically instructed in the moral code of the gospel. In other words, they knew what God expected of them.
So do you, if you’ve been a Christian for any length of time.
Let’s be brutally honest for a moment – it is one thing to know what scripture teaches about living a holy life. It’s a completely different thing to crucify our flesh and live by these commands (more on this in a moment).
Obviously, none of us are perfect. However, when we, to the best of our ability, adhere to the whole moral code of Christianity it is pleasing to God.
But shockingly, there are many Christians today who pick and choose which moral laws to obey. This has some very negative results:
- When one is in rebellion to the commands of God, it opens up a door for Satan to enter your life and bring heartache, chaos, destruction and death.
- Those who choose to flagrantly disobey God’s commands bring dishonor to the name of the Savior they claim to serve. They no longer have an effective witness to the world; they smother the fires of revival instead of fanning them.
- God is a perfect and loving Father to his children. Defiance of his commands and authority open you up to receiving his correction/chastisement (Hebrews 12:3-11).
Just as you are doing, that you do so more and more - Paul acknowledges that the Thessalonian believers were already walking in a holy manner. The words and deeds of their daily lives were pleasing to God (I Thessalonians 1:2-3). This was in contrast to the Jews, who did not please God (I Thessalonians 2:15).
Yet, Paul encourages them to not only continue, but to abound in grace and holiness by means of greater care and fidelity to the moral laws of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1 - Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
As I am sure you know, none of us have achieved perfect holiness. Therefore, we have more work to do. The truth is that we will be working towards perfect holiness our entire lives.
It is the duty of every Christian to continually strive to be holy as God is holy, and to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.
I Thessalonians 4:2 – For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
Paul makes it clear that his appeals for holy living were nothing new. They are the same requirements/commands he set before them when they first accepted the gospel. Although he does not list them for us, the Thessalonians certainly knew the commands Paul was referring to. 
Based on the sum of Paul’s writings to the churches, we can safely assume the list included all laws/ordinances relating to the gospel such as baptism, observance of the Lord’s supper, the worship and service of God, prayer, their conduct in the world, their behavior towards one another, and the practice of Christian graces such as faith, love, etc. Paul’s instructions also included directives for holy living.
Again, it is important to note that the instructions/duties Paul lays upon believers did not original with him; they came from God. As such they should be regarded as the commands of the Father, dictated by Holy Spirit, and delivered by the authority of Jesus. The commands for holy living should be implicitly received and obeyed.
Those who refuse to submit to the will of God in areas of holiness are walking in rebellion.
I Thessalonians 4:3 – For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;
Let’s start by discussing sanctification.
To sanctify is to make sacred or holy; to set apart for holy use; to consecrate, to make free from sin; to cleanse from moral corruption and pollution.
There is no question that God has called his people to a life of sanctification/holiness; in fact, he requires it (I Peter 1:15-16). Scripture tells us that without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).
On a personal level, to be sanctified is to conform our natures to the nature of God and to conform our lives to his will. That sounds like an impossible task, and indeed it is – if we are operating in our own power and strength. But there is no need to worry. Holy Spirit is here, and he is longing to be an active partner with you in the process of sanctification. He makes it possible for you to succeed. Let me explain:
Sanctification is both internal and external.
The internal part occurs first. This portion of the process is completely done by the power of the Spirit. Through the word, he brings divine spiritual light and understanding to your heart and mind, causing you to recognize your sin, which in turn causes you to feel conviction.
He then brings a desire for your will to submit itself to the will of God and for your affections (feelings, desires, emotions) to conform to what is divine, pure and holy. He provides the truth/instruction, the motivation and the power for you to perform the second step – external sanctification.
External sanctification arises from (and is powered by) internal sanctification. It manifests itself in holy living. This holiness is reflected in all that you do, all that you say and all that you think. It is how the world recognizes you as a servant of Christ.
External sanctification is almost never instantaneous (sigh). It takes conscious, consistent effort. You must work at it. You must practice it before it becomes second nature (and it will, just stick with it!). You will experience failure, but that is okay. God’s grace and mercy are at hand when you stumble. The key is not to give up! Eventually you will conform your conduct, speech and thoughts to those of the Father, Son and Spirit. You WILL grow in holiness.
And remember, you are not alone! All Christians are engaged in the labor of sanctification. All struggle, all fail, but through Holy Spirit all will eventually be victorious!
Now, let me offer you a word of caution: If you try to manufacture external sanctification first, you will be operating in your own power and you will ultimately fail. 
Think about it… have you ever said to yourself, ‘I will NEVER do [blank] again, as long as I live’, but a week later there you are, doing that thing again! All you are accomplishing is making yourself frustrated and angry.
So remember - true, lasting change must take place in the heart first, before it manifests in your outward conduct. Don’t get the steps out of order! If you think there is an area of your life that needs to be sanctified, pray about it and ask Holy Spirit to assist you.
There are some practical steps you can take to help prepare for your journey:
Renew your mind with the scriptures. Your actions are first conceived in your mind. For example, a thought may enter your mind about taking a walk after dinner. You then have a choice to make – to take the walk or to stay in the recliner. Regardless of your decision, you had the thought before you took the action.
Because we all have fallen natures, our thinking is corrupt – we automatically tend to do the thing that gives us the most pleasure or comfort, even if it is destructive in the long run. For this reason, our flesh desires to stay in the warm, comfy recliner (and eat junk food, but that’s another issue).
The good news is that we can combat our wrong thinking by training our minds to think in a new way. Scripture describes it as renewing our minds:
Romans 12:-2 – I [Paul] appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your rational service. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
In this case, if you study the habits of healthy people, you will find that doctors recommend walking as part of a healthy lifestyle. They can give you a whole list of reasons why walking is beneficial to your wellbeing. If you’ve been studying these things, then your mind has been trained to think in a new way. As a result, you can make yourself decide to get up and take that walk.
Conclusion: Your decision to do the right thing (take a walk) was influenced by a general knowledge of good health.
A similar thing happens in the spiritual realm. Because we all have fallen natures, our thinking is corrupt – it always tends towards sin. 
However, if we take the time to read, study and meditate on the scriptures, then we are aware of the truth. Holy Spirit uses the truth to convict you of sin. If you partner with him, he will empower you to say ‘no’ to your carnal thoughts. With his help, you can make decisions based on the truth of God’s word.
Each time you make a righteous choice, it forms a new pattern in your life. Eventually, you won’t have to think about it – you will do the righteous/holy thing in a particular circumstance.
Need I stress how important it is to be in the word of God?
Another helpful tip is to keep yourself out of situations where you are likely to be tempted. This may require you to avoid certain people and places for a period of time. For example, if Holy Spirit is convicting you about drinking, don’t go to a bar, even if you plan to order coffee and just listen to music. You’re only asking for failure!
The fact is, there are things we should avoid even in the privacy of our own homes. Ask yourself this: What am I watching? What am I reading? What do I look at on the internet?
Remember, we are not ignorant of Satan’s tactics. He uses a common pattern to ensnare us in sin – he uses our senses (mostly eyes or ears) to implant a sinful thought in our minds.
James 1:14 - …every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
At that point, we can and should banish that evil thought from our minds by quoting the truth of scripture. If we do, we win the fight.
If we don’t, then our mind will dwell on that sin until it takes root in our hearts. Once it takes root, it is much more difficult to weed out. In fact, at some point it will be impossible. Left unchecked, that weed will eventually come to fruition in our lives as sin, and sin results in spiritual death:
James 1:15 - Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.
Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
So take this friendly advice: Don’t give Satan a foothold in your life; don’t give him access to your heart or mind through the things you see, hear, read, watch or think about.
You must fill the void left by sinful habits. Scientists tell us that nature abhors a vacuum; if a spot in the universe is left empty, something will rush in to fill it. We find a similar truth in the spiritual realm. If you stop engaging in sinful or questionable activities, you are going to have an empty spot. You need to fill that vacuum with righteous things.
Fill your mind with books, shows and entertainment that are wholesome and spiritually beneficial. Cultivate friendships with other Christians. Find activities, hobbies and entertainment options that will promote godliness and holiness.
At this point in the chapter, Paul goes on to mention a handful of specific areas which the Thessalonians are to pay strict attention to. However, today’s post is going to end here. We will look at these specific areas in our next post.
Let me offer you some encouragement and relief:
Personal sanctification and holiness are requirements for a life that pleases God. Yet, we often fail to pursue these goals. Why is that?
Let’s be honest with ourselves for a minute – we want what we want. We like/enjoy some of the sins we commit, and we don’t want to give them up.
On occasion, we may have tried to give up a particular sin using our own strength, only to find ourselves in failure and frustration. We convince ourselves that victory is impossible so there is no point in continuing to struggle. We give in and accept that sin. We even make excuses for it or find reasons to justify it.
[Side note: That is what the children of Isreal did when they conquered the Promised Land. They failed to drive out some of the heathen tribes within their territories and it resulted in terrible problems for them. Plus, it displeased the Lord.]
There are other sins which we inherently recognize as being too powerful for us to conquer, so we don’t even try!
For these reasons, many people dread and avoid the Christian discipline of holiness.
But let me give you some encouragement and relief - what if I told you that we are looking at the sanctification process in the wrong way?
God’s purpose is not to make you miserable or to set you up for failure. He never does that. We know that God loves each one of us beyond measure:
Romans 5:8 – But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Plus, we know that we love him, he is worthy of all our trust, and we desire to please him. Therefore, we know that when God requires something from us, it is for our eternal good.
With this in mind, how should we view the process of sanctification?
First off, you need to recognize that God did not design sanctification to be some kind of a punishment. He intends it to be a journey, which we undertake in relationship with him. We should view the process as an opportunity to partner with him in a more intimate way, knowing that in the end our transformation will be for our good and his glory. 
He initiates the process by convicting us. We should view this as a personal invitation from the God of the universe. He desires to have one-on-one fellowship with us, which will result in something amazing. How can that be a bad thing? Who wouldn’t be honored by that opportunity?
We RSVP to his invitation through the intimacy of prayer where we can fully open our lives to him, laying our concerns, fears, sins and failures at his feet. He will gently lead us through his word and by direct revelation/instruction.
As we renew our minds with his word, he teaches and empowers us to defeat sin and become more like him in our everyday lives. During this process, our relationship with him grows. Our trust in him increases. Our faith multiplies.
He responds by revealing more of himself to us. He shows us the greater and better things that are available to us, if we will get rid of the sin that is holding us back from him and his blessings.
At the appropriate time, God will present us with opportunities to exercise our holiness. He walks with us through the learning process, lavishly offering forgiveness when we need it.
In the end, we will be closer to him, more like him and better able to please him. We will be a vessel of honor, set aside for his use. Done correctly, the process of sanctification will be rewarding and amazing.
Let me offer you some strength:
Satan wants you to believe that sanctification is impossible. In a way, he is right – it is impossible for you to sanctify yourself using your own wisdom and power. But fortunately, as we have discussed, that is not the case.
Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Nothing is impossible with God; we can do all things through him. Between now and our next post, why not meditate on the state of your own personal sanctification/holiness?