Holy and Honorable Life
Paul instructed the Thessalonians while he was with them—warnings against certain behavior and encouraging them toward others. Many of us would love to have been a fly on the wall to hear Paul teaching this church that became so dear to his heart, but, sadly, this is not possible. However, God preserved the words of Paul written to remind them of his teaching. This preserved letter teaches us about the life we are called to live.
In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul reminds them of his teaching in certain details of the Christian life, giving us the opportunity to glean from their harvest. In the opening of the chapter he tells them that he taught them how to live and they have been faithful to this teaching. He encourages them to continue and abound in obedience to this teaching and to build a lifestyle based on this. Paul lays out four descriptions of the Christian life.
The first description says the Christian life is holy. This word should describe our lives and our conduct more than any other. Everything else grows out of our holiness. Our status as those set-aside for a holy purpose inspires us to live in such a way that the other descriptions are applicable. This holiness, as Paul shares it here, is largely tied to our sex lives and the use of our bodies. There is more involved in being holy, but this can be one of the hardest areas to control and surrender. Paul encourages us to learn to control our bodies in holiness and honor. This is central to holy living. Who is the Lord of your life? Is it your body, with its fickle desires and longings?
This is an important question to ask, considering one of the greatest causes of problems in ministry is moral failure and the divorce rate among evangelicals is equal to the rest of the world. The world would tell us that it is natural to satisfy our bodies. In the world’s view, if your spouse is not satisfying to you, go out and find another. I remember in the Army hearing married guys saying: “If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.” This was their excuse for cheating. Many in the church have apparently taken on this same philosophy. Rather than being different from the world they choose to be molded by it.
The Christian life is supposed to involve beating our bodies into submission, not being enslaved to desires of the flesh. This passage implies that such a life is not out of reach. Paul even says that God who calls is faithful and will keep us blameless until the coming of Christ. The power to be holy and to live a holy life is already given; it is bestowed on all believers. The Holy Spirit has been given to lead us to a holy life. He has been given to us to inspire and empower us to live this life. If you are a Christian, then you have received the Holy Spirit. If you have the Holy Spirit then you are empowered to live a Christ-like life. It is tie to stop making excuses.
The question always comes up about addiction? What about those who are addicted to certain behavior? We know people are addicted to alcohol, nicotine and other substances. Many claim that certain sexual behavior or pornographic material are addictive and some research to supports this. The problem is when addiction is used as an excuse. For example, an alcoholic could claim that his addiction makes him unable to control his behavior and stop there, never seeking help. Such a person would die in their addiction, never knowing the deliverance that is available. One could claim the same thing sexually; addiction could be used to excuse sinful behavior. However, just like any other addiction, acceptance is the first step to a cure, not a throwing up of the hands in surrender. It is time, once a person realizes they have a problem, to seek help.
Help with a holy life comes from the power of the Holy Spirit—already given—the accountability of God’s people and the inspiration of God’s word. As we learn what the word says, we can begin to act upon it through the power of the Holy Spirit. In case we stumble we are to be held accountable by our fellow believers. This accountability is not to be taken lightly. Consider the growth of sexual sin in the church since the advent of the Internet. A person no longer has to go out into the world to find illicit materials. Before the Internet they risked being seen by someone they know (accountability) but now they can simply download it in the privacy (no accountability) of their own home.
Privacy does not take away the sin, it strips away the accountability, making sin more comfortable. In our Christian lives we are not to be comfortable with sin. Paul called the Thessalonians to walk away from sexual sin and live a life of holiness. This call is just as viable today for each and every one of us.
