Obligated By The Facts
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
In Bible reading and study, it is necessary to see how things
are connected. For example, it is essential to recognize how obedience is
connected to faith (Jas. 2:14-26). Likewise, we need to understand how sin and
consequence are connected (Rom. 3:23). There is no convoluted, mysterious
process you have to learn to see these connections; no formula you acquire
through academic training. You just read and study and think, using the mind God
gave you; applying that mind to the Word He gave you. In Bible reading and study
we will not get the point and not be in position to respond properly, if we
neglect to see how things are connected. {The word "context" relates to how
words and phrases are connected.}
Here is a connection we ought to see: there is a connection between facts and
obligations! In His Word, God generously responds to our need to be
informed, by giving us facts; truth from God, stated in factual expressions.
Then, in His Word, God
directs us to engagement in obligations. It is essential for us to see how the
facts and obligations are connected. We will never get
serious about the obligations, until we learn and accept the facts. Facts from
God obligate us to respond as He directs. Observe this in 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8.
Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should
abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to
please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain
from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own
vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles
who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his
brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also
forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in
holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has
also given us His Holy Spirit.
Look into the passage for facts.
Fact #1 - "You received from us how you ought to
walk and to please God."
Keep in mind this is Paul, writing to the church in Thessalonica. They had
received apostolic instruction (Acts 2:42), about how
to walk and to please God. Today, in book stores and libraries, you will find a
whole section of books about how to do various
things. They are sometimes referred to as "how to" books. They are considered to
be practical, providing instructions about how
to build various things or learn behaviors. The New Testament is the book we
have about how to respond to God; how to be a disciple of Christ; how to think;
how to feel; how to speak; how to act and react. Put this down as a fact
revealed by God through the apostles. Paul said, "you received from us how
you ought to walk and to please God."
Fact #2 - "You know what commandments we gave you
through the Lord Jesus." This is repetitive but the purpose is to emphasize, God
has revealed through the apostles the instruction we need! "Commandments" are
orders given by authority; what we ought to do; what we should not do; how we
should behave to please God and honor Christ. We have - on the pages of the
Bible - commandments given through the Lord Jesus. He has the authority to issue
orders, for God gave to Him "all authority," (Matt. 28:18). Our duty is to learn
those commandments, and live by those orders from Deity.
Fact #3 - "God did not call us to uncleanness, but
in holiness." This is in verse 7: "For God did not call us to uncleanness, but
in holiness." When you think of the gospel, think of God calling sinners. When
the gospel is faithfully proclaimed, God identifies our problem, which is sin.
When the gospel is faithfully proclaimed - God tells us of His provision to
forgive us in Christ. When the gospel is faithfully proclaimed - God tells us
what we should do to respond; to obey the gospel - to come out of sin, into the
waters of baptism, into fellowship with Deity. Now, why would God call us out of
sin and into fellowship with Him? That we might be holy (1 Pet. 1:15,16). God
calls us to respond to Christ, that we might live to please Him; to walk in His
ways. So when I accept God's call and after I'm baptized - if I participate in
any uncleanness, God didn't call me to live that way! God "did not call us to
uncleanness, but in holiness." This is a fact. When people who have been
baptized fall back into sin and thus, participate in uncleanness instead of
holiness - they are not living as God called them to live! When I participate in
anything that is not in harmony with God's will, I am not responding to His call
. . for His call is "in holiness."
Fact #4 - "He who rejects this does not reject man,
but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit." Notice the pronoun "this" in
verse 8. Include everything from verse 1 through verse 7 in "this." Concerning
the teaching written by Paul in this passage - "He who rejects this" is
guilty of more than just rejecting what men say. He is rejecting God, who gave
His Holy Spirit to the apostles
to write this! {There is an interesting grammatical construction here. Look
again at 1 Thess. 4:8, where it says - "He who rejects
this..." Do you recall some other verse in the New Testament that has this same
kind of construction? "He who...," followed by
instruction - then, a result is stated. Jesus said, in Mark 16:16, "He who
believes and is baptized, shall be saved." This is the
same construction in 1 Thess. 4:8, but the behavior and result is negative. "He
who" rejects this teaching; he who does not accept
these facts - has rejected God.}
Four facts are given by Paul in 1 Thess. 4:1-8. "You received from us how you
ought to walk and to please God." "You know what commandments we gave you
through the Lord Jesus." "God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness."
"He who rejects this, does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His
Holy Spirit."
Now we need to shift gears. You remember, when we read and study the Bible, we
must observe how things are connected. Facts are given, and based on those facts
from God, obligations enforced. Notice how obligation is firmly set in the
passage: "We urge and exhort." "You should." "You ought." "You should abstain."
"You should know." "No one should."
What do these words and phrases signal? Obligation. What is "obligation?" It is
what should be done. The constraint of conscience, by which we do what we should
do. We are obligated by the facts!
Observe two primary obligations revealed in the passage:
Abounding & Abstaining!! Abounding, in verse 1 - "You should abound more
and more." Abstaining, in verse 3 - "You should abstain from sexual immorality."
The facts put us under obligation, to abound more and more. The facts put us
under obligation, to abstain from sexual immorality.
Abound!
This word "abound" in verse 1 means, to multiply; to increase; overflowing. The
word is used by Paul in Romans 5:20 - "where sin abounded, grace abounded much
more." Sin abounded; that is, sin increased; multiplied (see Rom. 1:18ff). But
grace increased; grace was multiplied by God to provide the remedy for
sin. Now to "abound" in 1 Thess. 4:1 means - to grow in the right direction; to
increase in doing right; to multiply, to overflow in your solid engagement in
the way of life God has directed. Being a Christian is not just something that
happens when you are baptized! That marks your entrance into a way of life that
is right - that you increase in; that has greater expression in your heart and
life from day to day. This means growth in knowledge; growth in participation;
growth in attitude, in devotion, in your plans and priorities. We are obligated
by the facts to grow; to abound more and more.
Abstain!
The facts given by Paul lead to this assertion of duty, of obligation: abstain
from sexual immorality. This is abstinence! The dictionary says: "The act or
practice of refraining from indulging an appetite." In our society and nation
today we are not at a
good place with regard to abstinence. There is a hedonistic interpretation of
freedom, that individuals should be permitted the
indulgence of their appetite (without regard to law, others or
self-destruction). You will hear people talk about their right; their
freedom to smoke, to drink, to engage in the fulfillment of their appetites as
they please. This viewpoint is sometimes given a
patriotic flavor: the personal right to activate your fantasies; to eat, drink
and be merry. And this philosophy seems to have
found its' full application in regard to sexual behavior.
The Humanist Manifesto says:
"We believe that intolerant attitudes, often cultivated by orthodox religions
and puritanical cultures, unduly repress sexual conduct. The right to birth
control, abortion, and divorce should be recognized ....neither do we wish to
prohibit by law or social sanction sexual behavior between consenting adults.
The many varieties of sexual exploration should not in themselves be considered
'evil'
.....a civilized society should be a 'tolerant' one. Short of harming others or
compelling them to do likewise, individuals should be permitted to express their
sexual proclivities and pursue their lifestyles as they desire."
This is the argument for tolerance of behavior God says is wrong and harmful;
destructive. This is the case argued by unbelievers, to let everybody alone in
their sin. Abstinence from sexual activity outside of a legitimate marriage is
considered an abridgement of one's rights! In this atmosphere of promiscuity -
it will be good for us to go back to the facts from God: "You received from us
how you ought to walk and to please God." "You know what commandments we gave
you through the Lord Jesus." "God did
not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness." "He who rejects this does not
reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit." We are obligated by
the facts - revealed by God - to abound in what is right, and to abstain from
what is wrong. Abstain from sexual immorality.
"Sexual immorality" is rendered in some translations, "fornication." May I
remind us of the facts of divine creation. God created
us with the capacity for sexual appetite and sexual behavior. But He put that
privilege in marriage; between husband and wife! To engage in this activity
prior to marriage or outside of marriage is to fail to conform to the law of
God. Hebrews 13:4 affords us clear and factual instruction: "Marriage is
honorable among all, and the bed undefiled . . . but fornicators and adulterers,
God will judge." Look at the verse, in Heb. 13:4. If you find it helpful, think
of this in terms or right sex and wrong sex. Right sex is - the
intimacy of husband and wife, within a God-approved marriage. Wrong sex is -
anything outside of that! ANYTHING, outside of that! "Fornication" is defined as
"every kind of unlawful sexual" activity. Claims of political freedom do not
change this. In Titus 2:11-12, God's grace teaches us to say "no" to worldly
passions; to participate in the generosity of God, by letting His Word
govern our appetites. 1 Cor. 6:18 teaches abstinence: "Flee from sexual
immorality." The Bible story of Joseph shows - you can say "no." The Bible story
of David shows the trouble you get into - when you indulge your appetite. We are
obligated by the facts, by the truth from God - to abound in what is right; and
to abstain from sexual immorality.
This is one of the strongest statements in the Bible for spiritual growth, and
against sexual immorality. Don't miss the warning here: "Therefore he who
rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy
Spirit." If I reject the obligation to grow, I reject God. If I reject the
obligation to abstain from immorality, I reject God. If I reject the obligation
to abound and abstain, I reject God, and verse 6 says, "the Lord is the avenger
of all such..." When I fail to grow, or when I participate in any form of
immorality - I call upon myself, the vengeance of the Lord. Yes, we are
obligated by the facts given by the God of truth.
By Warren E. Berkley
From Expository Files 10.8; August 2003
