1 Thessalonians 4:1–12 (NKJV)
1 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; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 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. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit. 9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
God wills your sanctification; that is, He desires not only that you grow in faith but that you also steer clear of things that militate against saving faith. And if there’s one thing that poses a very grave danger to faith, it is sexual immorality. The Greek word is “porneia” which sounds exactly like what it is—pornography, filth, immorality—not treating your own body (or that of others) in a God-pleasing way; seeking self-gratification and personal sexual pleasures; putting yourself and your lusts first, therefore making yourself out to be your own god. It is a violation not only of the Sixth Commandment, but the First as well. When the devil gets you to sin in this way, he knows more than you do how powerful and dangerous it is, and he loves it when you side with him. Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 6, “He who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body,” which is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). When you are tempted to sin in this way, flee to Christ, call on Him, run to preaching and Christ’s Sacraments, and trust that He will help.
Of course, all sin is first and foremost against God; and as Paul stated, the Lord is the Avenger of all such sin. Those who reject Paul’s teaching—which is really God the Holy Spirit’s teaching—ultimately reject not Paul but God Himself. For this we are called to repentance.
If this is you in any way, confess your sins. Seek out your pastor to hear your confession in order that he may speak Christ’s forgiveness and grant you release. Remember your Baptism in which Christ put His name on you, called you His own, and rescued you from death and the devil. And run to Holy Communion where Christ puts His real and true body and blood into you for forgiveness, life, and salvation. These gifts of God will strengthen you and help you to “lead a quiet life” to the glory of God and your spiritual health.
Let us pray: I come to Thee with sin and grief, for Thou alone canst give relief. Thy death for me, dear Lord, I plead: O Jesus, help me in my need. O Jesus, Lamb of God, alone Thou didst for all our sins atone; be merciful, I Thee implore, be merciful forevermore. Amen. (TLH 330:2, 5)
