God’s Will Is Holiness

Summary: In this passage, Paul urges the believers to continue living in a way that pleases God, just as they had been taught, and to do so more and more. He reminds them that the instructions they received came through the authority of the Lord Jesus. God’s will for them is their sanctification - that they be set apart from sin and live in purity. Specifically, they are to abstain from sexual immorality and learn to control their own bodies in holiness and honor, rather than being driven by passionate lust like those who do not know God. Paul further warns them not to wrong or take advantage of a fellow believer in these matters, because the Lord is the avenger of such sins. He emphasizes that God has not called His people for impurity but for holiness. Therefore, rejecting this teaching is not merely rejecting human instruction; it is rejecting God Himself, the One who gives His Holy Spirit to believers. The passage presents holiness, self-control, and obedience to God's call as essential marks of the Christian life. Teaching: Consider the culture we live in today. There is so much impurity in what we see, hear, and do. Even when we try not to look or listen, we are often exposed to it. As a result, impurity can grow within our hearts even without our intentionally seeking it. The culture of sexual immorality in our day is undermining the faith of many. Therefore, we must flee from it and leave it behind, because we are not strong enough to overcome it on our own. Paul teaches that we should treat our wives with holiness and honor. When we truly come to know the love of God, we cannot hate our brothers and sisters; we are compelled to love them. The Thessalonian church demonstrated a faith that labored in love toward one another. It was a church that had experienced God personally. Those who have experienced God's love long for and wait for Jesus, the Bridegroom. As we wait for His return, we turn away from sexual immorality, refuse to harm our brothers and sisters, and pursue a life of holiness. Excerpt from the sermon by Deacon 진용택 , Jul 13, 2026 Thessalonians 4:1-8