Doing the Will of God
Part 5
Sanctification
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. 8 Consequently, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8
Many Christians wander through life wondering what God’s will is for their lives. Many times the problem lies not in our not knowing God’s will but in our unwillingness to obey His will, which He makes known to us through His written Word. As we read in the above Scripture, God’s will for your life is for you to live a sanctified life. To be sanctified is to be set apart from sin to holiness.
As we saw two weeks ago we are to be holy because God is holy (1Peter 1:15-16). We are holy because of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross – He is the one who makes us holy before a most holy God – this is the positional truth of the Christian. However, what is true of the Christian postionally must also become true practically. Who we are positionally because of Christ will be lived out practically through Christ if we have a real of faith in Christ.
As Christians, we are to be set apart from sin because Christ has freed us from the power of sin. To be set apart from sin means that we are no longer under the guiding influences and values of sin – we are to be different from those who are still under the power of sin. The Christian (those who are in Christ) has been freed from the reign, power, and dominion of sin and has, by God’s abundant grace, been given new values, goals, and affections. Because of this “new” life (which really isn’t new life since apart from Christ there is no life) we should be sanctified in our thoughts, activities, goals, lifestyles, and relationships. This doesn’t mean that we are to have a haughty “I’m better than you” attitude. However, we are to realize that we are now under grace and free from sin; therefore we should act like it and help others see and know the power of the gospel.
You may be saying, “This all sounds well and good but how is this daily sanctification to be practically lived out?” Well, my friend, the Scripture passage above gives us a very specific way: abstain from sexual immorality. Now, before you dismiss this by thinking that it doesn’t apply to you, don’t be so sure. Sexual immorality deals not only with the physical but also with the mental. Remember the words of our Lord when He said that if you look upon another so as to lust for them you have already committed adultery in your heart (Matthew 5:27-28). We can look all clean and perfect on the outside while inside there is an ugly mess that we dare not let anyone know about – this should not be! Christ died and rose again not only to free us from the penalty of sin but also from the power of sin. Christian, you can be free from sinful actions and thoughts. The question is, are you willing to do what it takes (and keep doing it consistently) to realize the freedom that He gives? Yes, you are free from the power of sin but you must still deal with the presence of sin and you must be diligent to walk in the grace that He gives to conquer it.
In 1Thessalonians 4:4-5 we read that we are to know how to possess (our) own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion. Here we see that it is the Christian's responsibility to take action and learn how to control our actions and our thoughts through the development of daily habits. The trouble with many Christians today is either they are ignorant of the power of God within them or they are too lazy to appropriate His grace, giving up too easily. Christian, you cannot afford to be passive in this area – you must be aggressive in your pursuit of personal purity. You must learn to appropriate His grace and fight with the spiritual weapons He was given you and you must never stop – you must keep fighting!
It is not enough for us to say that sexual immorality and lustful passions are wrong and we won’t do it. Once we recognize it is wrong (and if you think it’s not then please reread verses 8&9 of 1Thessalonians 4), we must then take steps in the right direction to develop those habits which will help us to live a life of sanctification. Let me give you a few practicals you can do (or start doing again) to possess your vessel (body) in sanctification and honor.
First of all, if you agree with the Word of God that you need to abstain from sexual immorality then determine that you will (not only physically but also mentally). You need to make the choice to lay aside your old behaviors and put on the new (Colossians 3:5-11).
Secondly, replace your old way of thinking with God’s way. Renew your mind with the Word of God – memorize, meditate, and speak the truth. Begin thinking like a new creation – believing and declaring who you are in Christ (victorious, righteous, pure, etc.). Your declaring it is not what makes it true; it’s true because of the finished work of Christ.
Thirdly, if we are to abstain from something we must avoid those things that cause the problem in the first place. This is where we must be disciplined and aggressive in our pursuit for purity (Matthew 5:29-30). Don’t kid yourself by thinking you’re mature enough to handle certain situations – if you struggle with an area then do everything you can to avoid those situations which pour gasoline on the fire of your temptation. Do as the ancient Job did in the Old Testament and make a covenant not to put yourself in tempting situations (Job 31:1).
Fourthly, when you find yourself in a situation where you are being tempted to have a lustful though towards someone, start praying – not for yourself, but for the other person. Pray that God’s blessing would be on their life, pray for their salvation, and pray for their family. It’s hard to continue thinking lustful thoughts when you’re praying.
Fifthly, begin the practice of presenting the members of your body to God, thus learning to appropriate His grace (Romans 5:12-14). You don’t need to ask God for grace – He has given it to you; you need to start walking in it. Each day (and you may need to do it several times throughout the day) verbally present the different members of your body to God by name. You may say in disgust, “I can’t do that. That would be too embarrassing!” Well, I assure you, that if you start this simple practice it will make you stop and think about what you’re thinking about doing! And realize, it’s not embarrassing to God – He made every part on your body and He wants every part on your body to be used for honor. I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship (Romans 12:1).
Lastly, we need to continually look to Jesus Christ who is our sanctification. Possessing our bodies and minds in a way which is holy and honoring to God is not only the Christian's responsibility, but also the most glorious possibility because of the finished work of Jesus Christ. O Christian, you need not be enslaved to lustful thoughts and actions; you have been freed! Just look to the cross for there is where your lustful passions were nailed and there you must keep them. Look to the risen Savior for there is your victory secured! O Christian, may you realize the power of His abundant grace by living practically that which is true of you spiritually – sanctification – and thus do the will of God.
By God's Grace ~ Through God's Word ~ For God's Glory!
Chuck Long
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