Chapter 4
1Thess 4:2-6
For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
Verse 2: “For ye know…” the Thessalonians knew, in that two and a half to three weeks Paul did a serious doctrinal download. “what commandments…” these are not the ten commandments, or any of the 615 commandments and instructions under the Law given to Moses, this is not any new information that was given to the twelve apostles, these were commandments given by the apostle of the Gentiles to the Gentiles. And Paul got them by revelation from Jesus Christ in his risen state to give to the Thessalonians, i.e. the Gentiles. (ref. “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Gal 1:11-12)
Verse 3: “For this is the will of God,…” Good Golly Shazam! We do not need to claim ignorance anymore on what the will of God is for our life – it is clearly stated here! This is part of the revealed will of God; it is plainly stated in words that we can figure out, in the language that we speak and understand (English).
Here it is here in First Thessalonians 4:
“…that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter:…”
So this has to do with our ‘sanctification’; I figured that out because of a few hints in the passage: “…, even your sanctification…” and “…possess his vessel in sanctification…”; every once in a while a blind squirrel finds a nut.
Sanctification has to do with being set apart, holiness: The act of making holy. Now we do not get scared or think we go into this sinless perfection requirement thing to be saved and stay saved. The fact is we are screw ups and we will continue to screw up, we do not have to like being a screw up or just keep screwing up because we are screw ups – but NOW we have the ability to be set apart, separated for a sacred purpose – we can be better than a perpetual state of screwed-up-id-ness.
So there are three (how shall I say it…) states/levels of sanctification: positional, practical and final. In a nutshell: the believer is already sanctified when he puts his trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross:
1Cor 1:30
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
Heb 10:10
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
1Cor 6:11
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
So we have that positionally – but you couldn’t tell by looking at me, because it is something we got by faith.
Future sanctification, this will be realized at the Lord’s coming and our catching up to be with him in the heavens, for ever:
2Thess 2:13-14
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Thess 5:23
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Which will happen: 1Co 15:50-54
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Which makes sense, that we will be with the Lord, out of these ‘vile’ bodies (Phil 3:21) and be “fashioned like unto his glorious body” and have gone through the judgment seat of Christ for the body of Christ (1 Cor 3:10-15), and be the God’s presence for eternity.
I am going to hit he pause button here and pick it up on the next installment: practical sanctification – of which much is said. And if I remember I will circle back to more on the ‘will of God’.
Grace and Peace James
See the will of God has been right in front of our noses the whole time.
Heb 10:10
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
1Cor 6:11
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
So we have that positionally – but you couldn’t tell by looking at me, because it is something we got by faith.
Future sanctification, this will be realized at the Lord’s coming and our catching up to be with him in the heavens, for ever:
2Thess 2:13-14
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Thess 5:23
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Which will happen: 1Co 15:50-54
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Which makes sense, that we will be with the Lord, out of these ‘vile’ bodies (Phil 3:21) and be “fashioned like unto his glorious body” and have gone through the judgment seat of Christ for the body of Christ (1 Cor 3:10-15), and be the God’s presence for eternity.
I am going to hit he pause button here and pick it up on the next installment: practical sanctification – of which much is said. And if I remember I will circle back to more on the ‘will of God’.
Grace and Peace James
See the will of God has been right in front of our noses the whole time.
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