A Belief That Behaves (Part Four): 1 Thessalonians 4 by Dr. Rod Mattoon

Scripture

• 1 Thessalonians 4

About this sermon

Christianity is a belief that behaves. We are ambassadors of Jesus Christ. Because of that truth, we are to live godly lives the best that we can. If we are to live a life that pleases the Lord, then it is essential that the priority of our lives is to find out the will of God for us and do His will. Find God’s purpose for you and fulfill that purpose. Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:3—For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: This verse is a reminder of the fact that we cannot be conformed to this world, especially on sexual matters because God’s standards are totally opposite. In fact, the world today has lost almost all moral standards. Just about anything goes with the blessing of a pagan world. Paul said, “Abstain from fornication!” This was a serious problem in Paul’s time. It was a matter that had to be firmly addressed in the church. In Paul’s day, the Thessalonians lived in a very heathen, sensual environment in which sexual promiscuity was not only practiced openly, but was also encouraged and applauded. In Greek religion, prostitution was considered a priestly prerogative, and extramarital sex was sometimes considered as an act of worship. Gordon D. Fee stated that in Paul's day, marriages in the Greek and Roman world were set up by family arrangements. Young men in their twenties and young ladies in their teens had barely met when they were married. Marriage was simply a legal arrangement for the exchanging of money and goods and the ability to have children. This created an environment in the Greco-Roman world where most people didn't expect husbands to be committed to their marriages. Sexual misconduct and adultery were widespread. Prostitution was a business just like any other source of income. Innkeepers kept slave girls for the sexual entertainment of their customers, and adulterous activity was so widespread that Emperor August established law codes to reform marital conduct. The will of God for every single Christian is to abstain from fornication. This is an important element of being sanctified or consecrated to the Lord Jesus Christ. You cannot be consecrated to the Savior if you are a fornicator. The two don’t go together. We are to be holy in the way that we live and abstain from sexual sin. Immorality has devastating effects upon a person’s life. Paul basically cried out, “Run from it as fast as you can!” * 1 Corinthians 6:18- Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. This message was preached on Sunday night, February 28, 2021 at Lincoln Land Baptist Church.

Topics

• Faith