Bible Passage: 1Thessalonians 4:1-12
Pastor: Joel Jenswold
Sermon Date: February 12, 2023

Bulletin February 12, 2023

In the name of, and to the eternal glory of, Jesus,

One of the potential dangers for the Christian as we live our lives as salt and light in this world is the pitfall we might call “cruise control Christianity.”  You all know what cruise control is.  It’s that option in your car that allows you to accelerate to a desired speed and then engage this control that automatically keeps your car going at that speed.  The car will not go less, and it will not go more, than the speed you set.

So what do we mean by “cruise control Christianity”?  By this we mean that a person comes to a certain point in their sanctified life and they are sort of satisfied to be going at that speed.  They set the “cruise control.”  They don’t want to “decelerate” and revert into former sinful habits.  But they are also happy where they are.  They don’t do lots of the “big sins” and several virtues can be observed in their lives.  They are not the “best” by any means, but they are not the worst either.  Foot off the accelerator.  “Cruise control.”

Paul’s words in our text today have something to say to those who want “cruise control Christianity.”  Paul’s words encourage Christians to keep their foot on the accelerator.  Two times in our text Paul urges Christians, …more and more. (v. 1, 10) Two areas especially come under Paul’s encouragement of More and More.  Paul encourages 1) more and more purity, and 2) more and more love.

The first thing we might notice about Paul’s words to the Thessalonians is the commendation he gives them.  As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. (v. 1)  Paul says, “You are living like Christians!”  But he doesn’t want them to click on the “cruise control.”  He goes on to say,  Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. (v. 2)

Paul gets specific now:  It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality. (v. 3) Here we should realize that Christians in the 1st century were set in the midst of a very immoral culture.  There were practices in the Greek culture that would be questionable today in our open-minded culture, and we are far from Victorian in our morality!  Sexual immorality was open and everywhere.  Paul says to the Christian, “Avoid it…more and more!”

There are a number of things Paul weaves into this encouragement so that the Christian will want more and more purity.  First of all, Paul gives this encouragement in the Lord Jesus (v. 1) and by the authority of the Lord Jesus (v. 2).  Notice, Paul refers to the Lord Jesus.  “Lord” is a word that means “master.”  Jesus is our Lord.  Jesus is master.  He gets to call the shots.  He has the right to address you about any and all parts of your life, whether that be your pocketbook or your morality.

Secondly, Paul says that purity is God’s will (v. 3).  This is what God wants.  This is what makes God happy.  God wants you and me to be as pure as Adam and Eve in the Garden before the Fall into sin, before they realized they were naked, and blushed with shame.  If it makes our dear Father happy, it makes us happy too!

Paul also says that purity distinguishes Christians from those who are not. [E]ach of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God. (v. 4-5)  There are those in society who live in rebellion against God, who are governed only by the wild, ungovernable impulse of lust.  Like animals!  Not so the Christian!  We are to be in control and act holy and honorable.

Paul also adds another element to his encouragement.   And maybe this is something we don’t think about much when it comes to immorality.  In this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister (v. 6).  Sexual sin wrongs and takes advantage of people!  I see signs in people’s yards that proclaim:  “Love is love.”  Of course, the meaning is, “Anything goes!”  And this is called “love.”  It is not.  Sexual sin wrongs and abuses people.  That’s not love.

Paul adds this:  The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before (v. 6).  Why does Paul speak this way?  This sounds harsh and threatening!  He is writing to Christians!  Does he really need to take such a tone?  He does.  We all have a sinful nature.  My sinful nature can only be curbed-in by threats and warnings.

Most importantly of all, and perhaps easy to miss in all of this, is this – Paul gives this encouragement to us in the Lord Jesus (v. 1).  His words draw a circle around us, and the circle is labeled “Jesus.”  When you are in this circle, Paul’s words make perfect sense!  Jesus!  God’s Son who took on flesh so that the devil could tempt him with all the temptations he uses with such success on us!  And this includes temptations to impurity.  Yet Jesus remained pure!  In every thought, word, and deed.  Pure! He never knew the blush of shame! And then pure Jesus went to the cross and became impure with your impurity.  He bled his blood for you.  He died for you.  And this blood redeemed you.  And this blood affects your morality.  Paul wrote to the Corinthians, You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore, honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)  The Christian knows nothing of, “My body!  My choice!”  This body belongs to Jesus!  He bought and paid for it!  Now, with the help and aid of his Spirit, whom our text says God gives, we use this body to honor God.

Paul finishes our text by encouraging the Thessalonians and us to do something else more and more.  Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more. (v. 9-10)  Over against the immorality this world calls “love,” we are called on to really and truly love.  The word Paul uses for love is that word that is used of God’s love.  Love that is giving and selfless and unconditional, that always seeks the welfare of others first.  Yea, that kind of love.  Husbands and wives, love each other more and more!  Moms and dads and sons and daughters and brothers and sisters, love each other more and more!  Fellow members of Lord of Love, love each other more and more!

Now is not the time for us to live our Christian lives on “cruise control.”  Now is the time to hit the accelerator and more and more live in purity and love!  For Jesus’ sake.

Amen.