Thursday 6th March
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8
“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.” (NIVUK)
The ‘matter’ Paul refers to is sexual passion that goes uncontrolled. The offense is not against oneself alone, an argument often used to justify many behaviours. No one else was getting hurt and it is none of anyone’s business.
Paul argues the opposite. He argues that many are wronged. Virtue is stolen. Not simply within a married context with adultery (which Paul likely has in mind) but also before marriage when promises made and expectations associated with them can no longer be honoured.
Paul’s warnings, which extend to the certain judgement of those who are morally loose, would have sounded extreme to the Thessalonians. Perhaps that is why Paul had to repeat them in writing after explaining them in person (v6c). Today they are openly mocked. Christians are often too cowed to declare sexual sins under a divine curse for this very reason. Perhaps we don’t understand the wider good of Paul’s injunction?
