“For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit“
or uncleanness,
The second negative of this verse states that Paul says that his gospel team did not come with “uncleanness” in morals. “Uncleanness” means impurity, dirt. Literally, “uncleanness” means refuse. It came to mean a state of moral impurity (Romans 1:24; 6:19; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 4:19; 5:3; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 2:3). The gospel team did not come to Thessalonica, seeking fame or greed.
Concerning his morals, Paul demanded holy conduct devoid of all uncleanness. This was in contrast to many of the religions of Paul’s day, which not only permitted immorality but also prescribed it in their core rituals by worshipping with sex. Religions that cater to the natural and physical at the expense of divine holiness are always popular.
Principle:
The life of the messenger must be consistent with the message.
Application:
People who communicate God’s Word must live lives consistent with the message they speak. This requires the filling of the Holy Spirit. We cannot live the supernatural Christian life in natural power.
“Depart! Depart! Go out from there,
Touch no unclean thing;
Go out from the midst of her,
Be clean, You who bear the vessels of the Lord” (Isaiah 52:11).
”For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness” (1 Thessalonians 4:7).
God will bless His Word even if a jackass preaches it. Yet, we can measure the impact of the Word of God upon any group of people by the spiritual caliber of the spokesman. Water flows through pipes. If the pipe is rusty, the water may flow, but there will be discoloration and sediment in the water. The water may not flow freely. It will taste of the pipe. The Word of God will not taste right to those without Christ if the messenger is unclean.
“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks” (Ephesians 5:1-4).
