Monthly Archive for June, 1999

1 Thessalonians 4:6c

Published on June 30, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“…that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified“

because the Lord is the avenger of all such,

An “avenger” is one who exacts a penalty from a person. The Lord will personally punish sexual sins. God always maintains this right.

The word “all such” refers to any kind of sin: adultery, fornication, homosexuality or sex with animals. Those who commit such sins still have God to reckon with. God keeps books on this issue and He is a very good accountant!

“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

We do not have to get even for immorality perpetrated against us. God will do that for us. There is no need for recrimination because God executes vengeance for us. Commit it to the Lord. The Lord will also mend your broken spirit. He will deal with the shame, sorrow, and disgrace.

as we also forewarned you

The word “forewarned” is literally to say before. This is the idea of warning someone of some future serious consequence.

“…envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:21).

and testified

The word “testified” is a strong word for giving a testimony. Literally, this word comes from two Greek words: through and testify – to testify through. Paul thoroughly warned the Thessalonians of God’s judgment of sexual sin. Paul bore solemn witness about what God would do with those who “take advantage” and “defraud.” The solemn warning here may be due to the close tie between religion and sex in Thessalonica.


Principle:

God will deal with sexual wrong against us.


Application:

Sexual sin steals from others. It steals both from the person and from their mate. These sins have negative social impact. Sexual sin violates Christian brotherhood.

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s” (Exodus 20:17).

Not only do these sins damage families but the people who commit these sins. Children suffer, parents suffer and the self suffers. This is why God “avenges” these sins. No one escapes the pain of these choices. There are predictable costs to these sins. People give the excuse, “Well, I just fell in love. I couldn’t help myself.” Ministers who run off with someone hurt their congregations. Those congregations suffer for years to come.

“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4).

God will forgive sexual sins, but He will also deal with these sins just as He did with David’s sin with Bathsheba. David’s scars lasted until he died.

1 Thessalonians 4:6b

Published on June 29, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“…that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified“

and defraud

The word “defraud” carries the idea of seeking to get more. This person takes advantage of others. Paul uses the word “defraud” in describing Satan’s effort to gain an advantage over the church when they did not restore someone who fell into sexual sin (2 Corinthians 12:17,18).

“Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:10-11).

“Defraud” is another commercial term similar to the words “take advantage.” Taking someone else’s partner is like stealing some one else’s goods. Sexual immorality defrauds sisters and brothers of the fidelity they rightfully expect from their spouses. Sex thieves think little of the wrong done. They think only of gratifying their own greed. They have an insatiable lust for more [Greek]. This word can carry the idea of compulsion.

his brother in this matter,

The word “brother” indicates that the person defrauded is a fellow Christian. We make another Christian a victim of our sin.


Principle:

Sexual sin wrongs the partner, the mate as well as the self.


Application:

Someone who defrauds others sexually takes advantage of their trust. They outwit and cheat them of their rightful partner. They claim more than their due. Greed is always the motivation behind robbing someone of his or her partner. This person operates on exploitation.

1 Thessalonians 4:6

Published on June 28, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“…that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified“

In verse six, Paul makes another appeal for sexual purity – the impact sexual sin has on your illicit sexual partner.

that no one should take advantage of

The words “should take advantage” denote to go over, used metaphorically as “transgress.” The context refers to “passion of lust” so the topic is sexual sins. Someone who takes “advantage of” someone else steps over God’s boundaries.

The New Testament uses this term in the commercial sense as well. Violating someone else’s wife is like stealing from them.


Principle:

Adultery is like stealing.


Application:

Many people’s activities fly in the face of God’s boundaries or prescribed limits. Sexual sins transgress God’s standards in dealing with fellow Christians.

This is no different that stealing someone’s property. We have no more right to have sex with someone’s spouse because they are attractive to us any more than we have a right to steal their car because it appeals to us.

1 Thessalonians 4:5

Published on June 27, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“…not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God…“

not in passion of lust,

“Passion” is whatever we suffer or experience in any way. It is an affection of the mind, a passionate desire in either a good or a bad sense. Here Paul uses this term in a bad sense of illicit sexual passion.

“Passion” is the passive side of our sinful capacity. It refers to affections that have the potential for arousal. “Lust” is the active side. It refers to strong drives and intense cravings. “Lust” denotes coveting, desire, craving, longing, mostly of evil desires. The idea is to desire something greatly or strongly.

“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature” (Romans 1:26).

“For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death” (Romans 7:5).

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24).

like the Gentiles

The “Gentiles” are those without Christ. Unrestrained indulgence in sexual passion is characteristic of those without Christ. The Bible divides people into three categories: the Jew, the Gentile and the church of God.

“Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God…” (1 Corinthians 10:32).

who do not know God

Those who know God overcome sexual temptation because of their relationship with Him. It is one thing to know about God; it is another to know God personally. Once we embrace Jesus as our Savior our attitude toward sex changes. To live without restraints sexually, is to live like a heathen.


Principle:

Personal relationship with God is the parent of purity.


Application:

Christians should never mistake lust for love. Those without Christ often do not know the difference. Hollywood certainly does not for the most part.

“Passion of lust” is mental adultery or fornication as well as the overt act. The battle with sexual sin always begins in the mind. It is as much sin to think it as to act it.

When lusts stir up our passions, we give ourselves over to appetites of the sin capacity. We deny the dignity of that comes from God. We lose all sense of fairness to fellow believers in the family of God.

Overcoming illicit sexual passions begins with a relationship with the Lord. If we allow Him to convict us of these sins and confess them, we have taken the first step toward overcoming. There is far more to conquering these sins but we cannot overcome them without relationship with God.

1 Thessalonians 4:4

Published on June 26, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“…that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honour…“

that each of you should know how

Avoiding sexual temptation requires some “know how.” We learn from the Word of God. When the chips are down and we face temptation, believers should have know how from the Word of God.

to possess his own vessel

Christians should know how to “possess” their “vessel.” The word “possess” means to acquire, procure for oneself, gain. We must know how to apply principles of God’s Word to our experience. The idea is to win mastery over our souls in temptation. In doing this, we will save ourselves from grave danger. We control our sex life by knowing how to submit ourselves to God’s control.

The word “vessel” is a euphemistic way of referring to our sexual life. We must make a clean-cut break with sex sins. Christians must “repent” of fornication.

“…lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced” (2 Corinthians 12:21).

Our “vessel” is how we use our body for the glory of God.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).

in sanctification and honor

Our sex life should be holy and honorable. The antithesis of allowing our sex drive to run uncontrolled is that we operate “in sanctification and honor.” There are privileges and responsibilities in becoming a child of the King. The word “in” refers to the sphere or leading milieu that governs our sexual behavior. “Holiness” and “honour” control our sexual drives.

“Sanctification” is what we do in setting aside our lives unto God. “Holiness” is our willingness to set apart our life to God. We belong to another. We are not our own. When we set apart our lives unto God, we give Him our lives for His exclusive use. We are His — lock, stock and barrel; hook, line and sinker; body, soul and spirit.

Honour is what others see; they see that we live holy lives. “Honour” deems our sexual drive as precious so we deal with it respectfully. A Christian has drastically different attitudes toward sex than non-Christians. For this reason, they carry themselves with “honour.” The word “honour” denotes value, esteem. Some of us do not value the honour of our bodies. We devalue it by sexually defacing it. Jesus paid a great price for our salvation, therefore, our lives have great value to Him.

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price [same word as "honor"]; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).


Principle:

Christians need to learn how to control latent sex drives in holiness and honor.


Application:

Learning how to handle our sex drive is not easy. The sex drive is one of the most powerful drives of our body. The first lesson we must learn is that our body is not our own (1 Corinthians 6:19,20). The Bible says that we cannot satisfy our sex drive just as we satisfy our sleep, hunger or thirst. However, we must control our sleep or eating. If we allow those desires to get out of control, the result is health problems.

The believer is God’s vessel. As God’s vessel, we must treat our bodies with holiness and honour. Our sexual drive is God’s. He has the right to determine how we use it. His standard is two-fold: 1) flee sexual sins, and 2) pursue things of God.

“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:20-22).

If we do only one, we will have done a half job. If we flee, but do not pursue, then we fulfil only half of God’s command. A half job will not deliver us from sexual sin. Do you fully “possess” your body for the glory of God? Only a clear-cut, definite decision will do this. We cannot have compartments in our lives reserved for self. Such compartments will eventually result in blatant sin. If you are reserving certain sins for yourself, deal with them with one fell swoop today. Do not look back.

That is not enough, however. You must “pursue” righteousness, faith, love, peace with a pure heart. We cannot trifle with sin or the Christian life. It takes all that we have and are. It will cost us something in personal gratification. That cost is worth it because of what Jesus did for us on the cross.

1 Thessalonians 4:3c

Published on June 25, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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” For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality…“

that you should abstain from sexual immorality

Three times in verses three to six Paul uses the word “that.” The first “that” expresses God’s purpose concerning sexual purity.

The word “abstain” literally means to hold oneself off from, be distant. The idea is that Christians must avoid sexual temptations. They should put a lot of distance between themselves and temptation. If there is an area where Christians need to know their limits, it is this one. We should not try to come as close to the fire as we can without being burned. It is interesting that the Bible’s solution to sexual sin is to “flee.”

“Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18).

“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).

“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:11-12).

The words “you should” indicate that it is our responsibility to do the abstaining.

“Sexual immorality” means prostitution, fornication and of every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse or sexual lust. This term can refer to any form of sexual sin such as adultery, premarital and extramarital intercourse, homosexuality, sex with animals, pornography or any other kind of sexual sin. We cannot practice sexual indiscretion and become more holy.

“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. “These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man” (Matthew 15:19-20).

“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife!” (1 Corinthians 5:1).

“Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:13-18).

Sex in itself is not sin. To the contrary, God gave sex for His creatures to enjoy (Proverbs 5; 1 Corinthians 7:1-9). Sex outside the bounds of marriage is sin.


Principle:

The onus is upon believers to not put themselves in situations where they might be tempted sexually.


Application:

The Bible is very clear on how God wants us to behave sexually. He sets forth unmistakable ground rules for living. There is such a thing as “fouling out” sexually. If Christians enter sexual sin, they disqualify themselves from fellowship with God. They disqualify themselves from God’s service (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). God put the rules of the game in His Word. There is no debate about the will of God when it comes to sexual sin.

It is never too late to walk with God. Many of you have already sinned sexually. It is God’s will that you move on. He will welcome you into His fellowship. God makes it clear that He will restore us to fellowship. As we trusted the finished work of Christ for salvation, so we trust His finished work on the cross for our sin (1 John 1:9-2:2).

“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).

1 Thessalonians 4:3b

Published on June 24, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality…“

your sanctification:

The idea “sanctification” means separation to God (1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13). This is the conduct of separating ourselves from sinful things. This separation befits those separated to God. The Holy Spirit is the agent in sanctification (Romans 15:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2). The Christian’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. We should separate our bodies to the Holy Spirit. The emphasis here is upon one’s dedication or consecration to serve God.


Principle:

A sanctified person puts himself or herself at the complete disposal of God.


Application:

There are three kinds of sanctification in the Bible: positional, progressive and ultimate. Positional sanctification is our eternal status quo with God as completely set apart as His forever at salvation (Acts 20:32; 26:18; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30; Hebrews 2:11; 1 Peter 1:2; Jude 1). Christ provided for salvation from Hell at the cross (Hebrews 10:10,14). God sets us apart in an eternal, infallible, unalterable position in Christ.

The second kind of sanctification is progressive sanctification. This is our relative growth in becoming more and more like the Lord Jesus. There is a progressive dimension to Christianity.

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

This is the process whereby the Spirit of God takes the Word of God and makes the child of God like the Son of God. We do this by walking in the Spirit and applying God’s Word to our experience. This continues as long as we live. If we progressively improve, there will be development and growth toward maturity.

“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:16-17).

The third phase of spirituality is ultimate sanctification, our final glorification. When we get to Heaven, we will be free from all sin and the capacity to sin.

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Romans 8:29-30).

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

“Sanctification” is God’s will. God wants us for His exclusive use. A sanctified person is a person who is at the complete disposal of God. He can do with us as He pleases. Because we are His, He does not need to check with us first.

1 Thessalonians 4:3

Published on June 23, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality…“

For this is the will of God,

Paul declares the will of God in unadulterated terms. There are many areas where we do not know the explicit will of God but this is not one of them. We know the will of God when it comes to the boundaries of sex. Here we know clearly what God wishes. Christians can yield themselves to God’s sovereign will or assert their own independent will.

We determine God’s will from God’s Word. We cannot live the Christian life without the Bible. That is the only place we can find absolutes. We can find the will of God in the Word of God.


Principle:

God gives believers absolutes so they can make clear, decisive decisions in the area of sex.


Application:

Christians cannot set their sail as to how the wind may blow. That is relative ethics. We must set our sail according to the will of God, which may mean that we sail against the prevailing winds of opinion. We want to sail in the same direction God is going.

Before we can do the will of God, we must be willing to do His will no matter what the cost. The Christian who is willing to open himself to God’s will unconditionally is the Christian God will use.

“If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority” (John 7:17).

It is possible to understand the will of God. It is no mysterious, ethereal, abstruse will. God reveals His will in very clear terms.

“Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).

It is possible to test the will of God. We do this by a “renewed mind.”

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

Those committed to living carnal lives cannot prove the will of God. We cannot conform ourselves to the world and find God’s will at the same time. These things are mutually exclusive.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17).

It is possible to stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

“Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12).

The motto of one of my alma maters, William Tyndale College, is “The will of God, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.” Getting into the will of God and staying there gives the believer a great sense of satisfaction.

Certain things in the Christian life are not open to debate. We do not rethink our view of sexuality. We do not rationalize sexual sin so that it meets some convenient need that we perceive that we might have.

1 Thessalonians 4:2

Published on June 22, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“…for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus“

for you know what commandments we gave you

The word “commandments” means order, instruction, command, precept, and advice. The idea is that “commandments” are the prescriptions of the Lord Jesus. “Commandments” carry a military connotation. Paul issued orders from his superior, General Jesus, the one ultimately in authority.

Paul taught the Thessalonians divine revelation orally before the close of the New Testament. First Thessalonians was one of Paul’s first epistles. He wrote this letter about a year after he left Thessalonica.

through the Lord Jesus

The commandments Paul’s team taught the Thessalonians came directly from the Lord Jesus. Paul does not preach on his own authority but from the authority of Christ. He does not conjure up his own ideas about life or draw on current philosophies of the day; he speaks from the authority of Christ. His prescriptions were not some arbitrary orders of his own. To the contrary, General Jesus issued these orders directly from headquarters. Paul passed these orders to Christian soldiers on the firing line fighting the battle of purity in a corrupt world.

“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).”You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14).

The “commandments” that Paul taught did not come from Moses. He taught something that transcended Moses — the grace of God as a mode of life.

“And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:16-17).


Principle:

Jesus gave us the principles of grace to face any challenge we might encounter.


Application:

Some Christians want to learn some new thing yet they do not live up to the knowledge they already have. We have precepts or prescriptions directly from our Lord in the Bible. Why do we need anything else?

1 Thessalonians 4:1b

Published on June 21, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God…“

just as you received from us

Paul reiterates what he taught the Thessalonians on his first visit to the city. The team clearly informed them of the nature of the Christian life. Principles are lifeless without application.

how you ought to walk and to please God

Take note of the word “how” here. Christians should have some know how. They should know how to gain victory over sin in their lives.

The word “ought” is the word “must.” There is a logical and moral imperative to walk in order to please God. The Thessalonians lived in a seaport where sin was unbridled. There were many temptations there. No one can be casual about Christianity in the face of temptation. Daily, consistent walk with the Lord is imperative if any victory is going to come their way.

The New Testament repeatedly compares the Christian life to a walk. The Greek word comes from two words: around and to walk. The idea is to walk around as a course of life (Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Galatians 5:16; Colossians 4:5; Ephesians 4:1,17; 5:8,15; 1 John 1:7; 2:6).

The phrase “to please God” explains “to walk.” An acceptable walk pleases God.


Principle:

A prime purpose of the Christian life is to please God.


Application:

A central characteristic of the Christian life is to please God. Christians accommodate themselves to their God. God never accommodates Himself to us. The idea is not that we appease God or conciliate Him. Christ did that on the cross. We please Him because we honour Him. It is a matter of gratefulness. A holy walk pleases God. We want to walk in a way that puts a smile on the face of God. Many of us make Him frown.

“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9).

“And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22).

Wholesome husbands and wives want to please each other. They are not afraid to ask what they are doing that irritates one another. “I want to stay on your right side.” We should ask that question to the Lord.