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"For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality" (1 Thessalonians 4:3).

Today we continue our series this week on living to please God and consider the first of two specific commands Paul gives the Thessalonian believers and all who want to please God.

"For this is the will of God" In some areas we may struggle in knowing what God's will is regarding a personal matter or course of action. Regardless, we still need to seek His direction on such matters. In other areas His will is perfectly clear, we just need to obey!

Let me illustrate. At times when making a change in life we need to seek His will as we are not clear about the course He has for us. But if I see an attractive woman that leads to temptation I don't need to pray regarding God's will about pursuing a relationship. God's will is clear, I am to abstain from sexual immorality, no ifs or buts about it!

"Your sanctification". The word "sanctification" is related to the word saint; both words have to do with holiness. To “sanctify” something is to set it apart for special use; to “sanctify” a person is to make him holy.  An old definition we recall from Bible College is "Sanctification is separation from that which is evil and dedication to God". The Westminster catechism defines sanctification as “the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness".

That's specific but in our text Paul gets even more specific, "that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality" and he uses verses 4-8 to elaborate on this.

Many have observed the correlation between the removal of prayer and Bible reading from schools to our present increasingly lawless condition as a nation. We should also consider the correlation between “sex education” taught in schools to the increasing moral breakdown during our lifetime. The 1960s saw the beginning of the current wave of controversy over sex-ed in U.S. schools. At that time it was just basic biology (and that was controversial) but now in many school districts it's teaching every form of deviancy and perversion as being good and acceptable, seeking to "normalize" sexual immorality from a very young age.

The faithful Christian and the church needs to be very clear on this matter. Fifty years ago there was still general consensus on what constituted many aspects of sexual immorality even in the world. There was agreement that men were men, women were women, marriage was between one man and one woman, children needed a mother and father, etc. But all that has changed.

A clear stand is needed. I enjoy music from the West Coast Baptist College in California. Yesterday I examined their doctrinal statement and appreciated their very clear statement on human sexuality (* see below). We commend such a bold, unambiguous stand for truth, especially in California!

Today's Scripture passage is a straightforward command. It's a good verse to quote when facing temptation in regard to sexual immorality. I find it helpful to quote in the first person: "It is God's will that I should be sanctified and that I should abstain from sexual immorality".

This command is among the clearest of God's commands, found abundantly throughout all of Scripture. Yet the world's "system" screams at us to violate it. This "system" diligently seeks to obscure the consequences of disobedience. Biblical standards are mocked by many as being restrictive and outdated.

Tomorrow we will consider why this command is so important using the verses that follow this command.

Be encouraged today! Hebrews 3:13