Sanctification that sanctifies
Read: 1Thes 4:1-12
1) v1: The previous chapter ended on the note that Paul constantly prayed for this church because he was eager ‘to supply what was lacking’ in their faith (3:11). Where did he begin first?
- ‘…how to live and to please God’: What has that to do with faith?
2) vv1-2: Paul saw himself as asking and urging ‘in the Lord Jesus’ and instructing ‘through the Lord Jesus’: Why?
- Why not just say: “And this is what you should do…”? Why refer to instructions through and not just from Jesus?
3) vv3-8 concern our sexuality: Why does God want Christians to ‘abstain from immorality’? Is God a killjoy? Why not?
- Who invented sex? cf Gen 1:27
- What is immorality, and how does it spoil good sex?
- v4 literally states ‘know how to win (gr. ktaomai: acquire, get, buy, win mastery over) the vessel (gr. skeuos) of himself in holiness…’. The metaphor of vessels for bodies/people is borrowed from its use in the ceremonial laws for the temple in the OT (cf 2Tim 2:21). This could mean self-control or (in this context!) to know how to win a spouse: Which one fits the context of v6 (i.e. to not wrong a brother in this matter)?
- What is there to learn from Jesus (and through Jesus) about how to be winsome?
- Hint: This is not just about knowing what is virtue, but how we can be virtuous through sanctification by the Holy Spirit (and thus loveable in character).
- v7: What impurities is he talking about that can wrong a brother?
- How does fooling around outside or before marriage damage people and what they can be for a future life-long husband/wife?
- v8: Why would anyone reject this teaching of Jesus about sex and marriage?
4) vv9-12 contain the essence of the Christian work ethic in a nutshell: What are its marks, and how can you make it your own?
5) Personal & application
- What aspects of such Christian teaching on sex and work ethics do you find attractive (or difficult)? Why?
- Do you remember any of this as particularly challenging or life-transforming in your past? How so?
- Why do you think are laziness/lack of motivation and skill in the workplace, and sexual impurity and marital infidelity such pervasive vices?
- Do you find that these two aspects of life (sex and work) influence each other? How?
- What is the wisdom in Paul’s words here that you would also want your children to understand and embrace first and foremost as a guide for life?
- How can you help them (more) effectively to get this?
- How can you help to more effectively teach and communicate these most foundational aspects about Christian living in your church?
Bibletogetherblog 