Called to Holiness: Purity, Love, and Quiet Living

As a Christian, god predestined you to be conformed to the image of his son. God is working that process in your life. And you know what he wants from you? He wants you to cooperate with him in that process. For instance, he says, this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality. It is a process of leaving behind old patterns. We're gonna see a little more about that specifically for the Thessalonians in just a moment. Leaving behind old old habits, old patterns in your life. [00:39:21] (46 seconds)  #CooperateWithGod

In fact, Paul says that again in first Corinthians in first Corinthians chapter 10 verse 13. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape that you may be able to endure it. Do you hear that? That means every temptation that comes to me as a Christian, every temptation that comes to you as a Christian, God provides a way of escape. [00:54:50] (43 seconds)  #GodProvidesAWayOut

To aspire to live quietly and to mind your own affairs and to work with your hands as we instructed you. Paul talks about minding your own business and taking part in honest work. Do you see what he's saying? He he he he he gives a dignity to manual labor, the the kind of labor that most people are involved in. But he here honors it by what he says. Live quietly, mind your own affairs, and work with your hands. [01:04:20] (35 seconds)  #LiveQuietWorkHonest

That idea of more and more is a theme that comes through in Paul. He's always encouraging the people to whom he's ministering to not only do what the lord wants them to do but to keep doing it more and more, to keep growing in their faith, to keep keep growing. We're gonna see this a little bit later. More and more growing in their love for one another. That's the best time to encourage somebody to do something more when they're doing it already. [00:34:31] (34 seconds)  #KeepGrowingInFaith

We're still in this process. That's why Paul can do this. Remember, this is the will of god, your sanctification. Sanctification is a process of being made more like Jesus. And part of that being like Jesus is to love one another. A new commandment I give to you that you love one another as I have loved you. To be like Jesus, we love one another and we keep growing more and more like Jesus. We keep growing in our love for one another. [01:01:23] (33 seconds)  #LoveLikeJesus

That's the primary thing for the Thessalonians. It is the primary thing for us that we want to live our lives in such a way that we are pleasing to God. Amen? Amen. And so he encourages them to please God. Yes, they ought to want to please Paul. That's a good thing. It's a good thing to want to please your pastor, your church leaders. But more than that, the highest motive is always to please the lord. [00:31:29] (28 seconds)  #LiveToPleaseGod

And thirdly, through the presence of the holy spirit. God, the holy spirit indwelling us. Therefore, whoever disregards this, disregards not man, but god who gives his holy spirit to you. God, the holy spirit is dwelling inside of us. So, when we're committing sexual sin, we have god there with us dwelling in us and we're sinning against him and his presence in us. God teaches us. He calls us to be like Jesus. He teaches us to be holy and sexually pure and he gives his spirit to us. [00:53:38] (41 seconds)  #HonorTheHolySpiritWithin

Let me say it and let me say it loudly and clearly. Sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman is sin. I've talked to some young adult Christians over the last few years who somehow have adopted this idea that it's just normal and natural and there's not really anything wrong with it. That is so so bad. Sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman is sin. [00:49:49] (38 seconds)  #SexIsForMarriage