Living to Please God

1 THESSALONIANS 4:1-5

I KNOW this one will make us all look around and think!! Because in todays society moral standards seem to have gotten relaxed and seems like only a few people seem to take GODS word seriously when he says we WILL be punished for our actions. The justice system is relaxing sentencing for crimes commited against others and yet making it where we cant even speak our mind as relating to GODS word that we live by as that becomes a crime against all the people who are openly sinning against our standards that GOD set for CHRISTIANS.

ON THE WAY HOMJE WALK WITH JESUS and make sure you are LIVING TO PLEASE GOD not man!!!

onthewayhomeministries.org by RICHARD DEAN BROOKS

1As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

4: 1-8   Sexual standards were very low in the Roman Empire, and in many societies today they are not any higher. The temptation to engage in sex outside of marriage has always been powerful. Giving in to that temptation can have disastrous results. Sexual sins always hurt someone: individuals, families, businesses, churches, and more. Sexual desires and activities must be placed under Christ’s control. God created sex for procreation and pleasure and as an expression of love between a husband and wife. The sexual experience, therefore, must be limited to marriage. Besides the physical consequences of sexual sin, there are also spiritual consequences. (For more on why sexual sin is so harmful, see the note on 1   Corinthians 6: 18.)

4: 3   It is God’s will for us to be holy, but how can we go about doing that? The Bible teaches that holiness is not a state of perfection that comes with hard work, severe discipline, or good deeds. Instead, if you have accepted Christ’s sacrifice on your behalf and given your life to him, then God already sees you as holy and complete in his eyes, as if you have never sinned. Jesus’ death and resurrection has cleansed you from the ravaging effects of sin, but that doesn’t release you from the call to good conduct as a follower of Jesus. As one of his disciples, you will want to continue to learn, grow, and mature in your faith and life during your time on earth. This is a lifelong process (called sanctification) as the Holy Spirit works in you, conforming you to the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8: 29). The goal is to be more and more like him every day.

4: 4-5   Paul said that lustful passions should not control God’s people. Some argue that if they’ve already sinned by having lustful thoughts, they might as well go ahead with lustful actions, too. But acting out sinful desires is harmful in several ways: (1)   It causes people to excuse sin rather than to stop sinning; (2)   in marriages, it violates a covenant made with God and destroys trust; (3)   it is done in deliberate rebellion against God’s Word; and (4)   it always hurts someone else in addition to the sinner. Sinful actions are more dangerous than sinful desires, so these desires should not be acted out. Nevertheless, sinful desires are just as damaging to righteousness. Left unchecked, unholy desires will result in unholy actions and will turn people away from God.

4: 8   We live in a culture focused on fulfilling individual desires that teaches, “If it feels good, it’s right for me.” But Paul clearly states that premarital sex, adultery, and anything that qualifies as lust is a rejection of God himself. If we engage in these things, we are not simply disobeying rules set by people but are acting as though we know more than our almighty God. As followers of Christ, we have the benefit of the guidance of the Holy Spirit; when you are tempted, ask him to strengthen you and show you what to do next.Tyndale. NIV Life Application Study Bible