You want to know what God's will is for your life? I have the answer to this million dollar question, but I am going to let you read the scripture for yourself and let's see if you can find the answer.
3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 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. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit. 9 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. 10 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,11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-12
Did you find the answer? Look again, at the very first statement, "It is God's will that you should be sanctified..." There is the answer plain and simple. We are called to be sanctified. Sanctification means to be holy or to have the qualities of holiness. In other words, to become more like Jesus. Jesus was dedicated and set apart for God's purpose. We should live the same way; dedicated and set apart. Sanctification is a twofold term, let me explain. When you accept the gift of eternal life, the Holy Spirit comes and takes control of your life, which makes you holy and righteous.
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21
"...we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Hebrews 10:10)
I see this first part of sanctification as an instant, miraculous work of the Holy Spirit. Once you accept the gift of salvation you are sanctified. Sanctification doesn't stop there, though. The second part of sanctification is an ongoing process of becoming holy. That is where verses 3b-12 of 1 Thessalonians 4 from above comes in. Paul gives us three ways to be sanctified. These are not just an option, but a command from God.
First we see that we are to be sexually pure. Look back to verses 3b-7. I know these days "sex" is a word that is everywhere in the world, but not talked enough about between Christians. By the Christians dodging "awkward" lessons or talks on sex, teens and young adults are turning to the world's view of sexuality. Honestly, why should we blame the world for sexual sin? We should be pointing our fingers at ourselves, as Christians. Instead of young people hearing the lies of the world that tell them it is cool to have sex before your married, let's tell them the truth of living pure lives! Someone in my college group said, "People use the excuse, 'telling people about Jesus can be awkward,' but awkwardness never killed anybody." The same is true for the subject of sex. Yes, it may be a tad awkward, but it is an essential part of being sanctified. We are to be sexually pure until we are married. Paul also talks about lust. Have you ever committed adultery? When we lust after and man or woman Jesus said we have already committed adultery in our hearts. (Matthew 5:27-28). Now have you ever committed adultery? Now we see God's seriousness about sexual purity. We are a temple of the living God and we should not damage it by sexual impurity. Let me add this, if you have fallen into temptation and have been sexually impure, God will forgive you. God can renew purity if you are willing to turn away from your sin and trust him.
The second way we are to be sanctified is by loving others. How many times have we heard this one? It is so easy to say, "I love everyone," but it is another thing to SHOW it. Love is an action. I totally believe that. Let's just take the "good news" or the Gospel for example. We can tell people over and over about the Gospel and share it with people, but if we are not living out the love of Christ in our own lives what would make a lost person want salvation? I am not saying people are not going to get saved by hearing the gospel, because people do! What I am saying, is that when we show the love of God through our actions, people will respond because they see we are different from the world.
Which brings me to Paul's last way to be sanctified; orderly living. We see in verses 11 and 12 that we are called to live quiet and orderly lives. Paul says that if we do, we will when the respect for outsiders. I am not saying that all lost people are going to like you for being a Christian, because they are not. I am saying that more people will have a respect for you when you do so.
These are just three points, but they are packed with a challenge. I know God has spoken to me through this passage and I pray He does the same for you.
This is God's will for you...to be sanctified.
Love,
Hannah
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