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Living Holy Lives
“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy
life” (1 Thessalonians 4:7, NIV).
Our lesson reiterates the fact that what we are breaking apart
on a weekly basis what was a letter written by Paul to the Thessalonians in his
time. We will see that the author of our
lesson agrees that the letter builds on what was said previously. So it is important to keep the context. We will read from Sabbath and Sunday. According to our lesson,
The three opening chapters of 1
Thessalonians focused primarily on the past. In chapters 4 and 5, however, Paul
turns to the future. There were things that were lacking in the faith of the
Thessalonian believers (1 Thess. 3:10), and he wants to help them remedy these
deficits. The letter would begin the process, but more could be done only after
Paul and the Thessalonians could get together again.
Beginning with 1 Thessalonians 4:1,
Paul builds on the friendship he had affirmed in the first three chapters to
offer practical advice for the Thessalonians’ everyday life.
Paul’s prayer in 1 Thessalonians
3:11-13 contains a number of key words that anticipate the content of 1
Thessalonians 4:1-18. The prayer is about “abounding” in “holiness” and mutual
“love” in light of the second coming of Jesus. All of these themes point to
specific passages in chapter 4.
In our text for today (1 Thess.
4:1- 2) Paul picks up on the language of “abounding” in 1 Thessalonians
3:12…there is a parallel between 1 Thessalonians 3:12 and 1 Thessalonians 4:l;
Paul invites the Thessalonians in both places to “abound more and more” in
their love for each other and for everyone.
Paul began the work of building
their Christian framework while he was with them, but now he is impressed by
the Holy Spirit to fill in the gaps (1 Thess. 3:10) and clarify their
understanding. The result would be “more and more” of what they were already
attempting to do, which is live a life worthy of their calling.
Paul begins chapter 4 with,
“Finally, then” (NKJV). In chapters 4 and 5 he is building on the previous
chapters, where his friendship with them is the basis for the practical counsel
he will now give. They had made a good start. Now he wants them to continue
growing in the truths that they had learned from him.
Two mentions of Jesus in this
passage (1 Thess. 4:1, 15) are particularly interesting. They indicate that
Paul was passing on the teaching of Jesus’ own words (which were later
preserved in the four gospels). Paul was offering more than just good advice.
Jesus Himself commanded the behaviors that Paul was encouraging. Paul, as Christ’s servant, was sharing the
truths He had learned from Christ.
Now, this behavior that Paul was encouraging would be the
outcome their continual abounding in holiness and mutual love. What is the behavior or conduct? Paul encouraged sexual purity, living a quiet
life, to be kind to one another, mind their own business, and work with their
own hands. All these would distinguish
them from those who did not know God.
The latter did not abound in holiness and mutual love. So, Paul tells them that the way to do this
is to allow God to do His will: which is their sanctification or holiness. We find this in verses 3 and 7. Now, according to our lesson verse 3 builds
on verse one. Let us read the two
verses,
1 Thessalonians 4: 1 As for other matters, brothers and
sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you
are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and
more.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 It is God’s will that you should be
sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;
According to our lesson: Paul reminded the Thessalonians of
how they were to “walk” (NKJV)-“live” in many translations-a Hebrew concept
used to describe daily moral and ethical behavior. In verse 3 he uses another Hebrew concept to
describe spiritual life and growth, “holiness” or “sanctification.”
We should interject here that it is only by faith that we
please God (Hebrews 11:6). Paul was
telling them to continue to live by faith even more. So, this means that sanctification is by
faith. Our lesson continues to further
define the use of the word sanctification in verse 3 and 7. Let us read verse 7,
1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God did not call us to be impure,
but to live a holy life.
Our lesson states that a typical definition of holiness is
“set apart for sacred use.” But Paul gives the term a more specific meaning in
this letter. Holiness is the condition the Thessalonians will be in at the
return of Jesus (1 Thess. 3:13). But in chapter 4 Paul chooses a form of the
concept that emphasizes process rather than outcome. It is a noun of action:
“sanctifying” more than “sanctification.” It is the will of God that we be
engaged in this process (1 Thess. 4:3).
So, if it pleases God that we remain engaged in this process, this means
it must be by faith.
So, what is this process of sanctification? Before, we answer the question we should
establish that any contemporary study of "holy living" must include
the context of the unique Seventh-day Adventist doctrine of the cleansing of
the heavenly sanctuary. To understand
the heavenly sanctuary God has given us the earthly sanctuary and its services
and sacrifices. Because, what happened
in the earthly is a representation of what happens in the heavenly. Every day ceremonies of sacrifices were made
for forgiveness of Sin. By faith and
figuratively all the sins forgiven daily were accumulated in the sanctuary for a
year. Once a year other ceremony of
sacrifice was made to cleanse the Sanctuary from these Sins. The Sins were blotted out. This event pointed to the time – of age -
when all the Sins of the World, placed on the Heavenly Sanctuary, would be
cleansed. The Sins are blotted out. We are living in this age now: the Cosmic Age
of Atonement.
However, the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary is a work
that includes the people and extends to them.
(The earthly sanctuary also represents what happens in us). It provides
for the perfection of their character in Christ on the one hand; and on the
other hand in the final destruction of sin and sinners and the cleansing of the
universe from all taint of sin. It is Christ fully formed in each believer. The
sanctuary itself cannot be cleansed so long as God's people continue to pour
into it a constant stream of sinning. The stream will be stopped at its source
in the hearts and lives of God's people. The ministry of Christ in the Most
Holy Apartment does make "the comers thereunto perfect" (Heb. 10:1)
and does perfect "forever them that are sanctified" (vs. 14). This is the work of the Holy Spirit in
us. Blotting out all self from us and in
it stead writing in our hearts and mind the commandments and statutes of God. For this to happen we must permit it to
happen. And, I pray we do.
