We are called to be holy (part3), that is, pure! (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7)



Read 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 and 

1 Corinthians 6: 12-20


Today's text is a beautiful reminder that we are called to be holy; God wants us to be pure in all we say, think, and do. It is a call to action. We are to flee from sexual immorality because our bodies are meant for the Lord. 1 Corinthians 6:15-17 says, "‭‭Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit." When we have sexual relations with others, we bind ourselves to them. But it doesn't stop there. In all we say, think, and do we are to be pure. That means that crude jokes, lustful thoughts and fantasies, what you wear, and how you present yourself all show what is in your heart. Someone who is pure at heart will not be sexually immoral. If your heart is pure, so will your actions be. Mark 7:15 says, "‭‭Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” As sinful beings, we are far from being pure, but God, in His grace, gave us a way. We can be made pure in Jesus, as our text says, "It is God's will that you should be sanctified." 1 John 1:7 says, "‭‭But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." We can not purify ourselves, but it is through Christ, as it says in 1 Corinthians 1:30, "‭‭It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption."

As Christians we are to try live pure lives, but how? We must study God's Word! By meditating on God's Word we learn what is good and right, and how to please the Lord. Psalms‬ ‭119:9‭-‬11‬ says, "How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." So again, we see that what we hold in our hearts is what will come out in all we do and say.

Ultimately, it is Jesus who sanctifies us. He died for us and triumphed over the grave, but even more, He consecrated Himself, made Himself holy, after taking on our sin. Now, we who are unholy can truly be made holy as well! ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:4‭-‬5‬ ‭says, "For he chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will." As children of God, we are blessed with the gift of salvation, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and made Holy in Jesus. So we must live as ones who have been made holy and pure, not "in passionate lust" for we have been called "to live a holy life." 

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