God's Will - Your Sanctification: 1 Thess Lesson 25

CTW – Romans 6

This Is the Will of God – Your Sanctification

1 Thessalonians 4:2-3

 We saw last week that as we come to chapter 4 of 1 Thessalonians we come to the instruction part of this letter. Paul finally gets to the exhortation and instruction he knows this group of believers needs. He had earlier sent Timothy, God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage them as to their faith. Timothy has returned from that visit to the Thessalonians with a great report of all that was going well among this good church. But there were some things that needed to be addressed. There was some additional instruction to be given. Timothy had evidently identified some things that were concerning. So, Paul writes this letter for the purpose of encouraging and instructing the Thessalonians to excel still more. Let’s read verses 1-8. We looked at verse 1 last week and verses 2-3 will be the focus of our study today.

 We saw the importance of the request and exhortation of Paul from verse 1 to “excel still more.” No matter how long we have been a follower of Christ, or how much progress we have made, doctrine we have learned, or how much Bible we have memorized or taught, we all need to be challenged to excel still more. There is no room for complacency in the Christian life. The threats of sin and Satan and the culture in which we live call us to press on, to continue to grow, to put on the armor of God, and to stand firm. In light of our culture and the evil world, and as we consider our commission to be witnesses and ambassadors for Christ, we cannot afford to sit in comfort. We must press on to excel still more.

 Paul does not just give a general exhortation saying “do better.” Paul had in mind specific areas of need as he requested and exhorted these faithful Christians to excel still more. Based on Timothy’s report, Paul knew that excelling still more would involve greater separation from the world and the filth of the culture and a growing commitment to holiness in their walk. This is why he addresses the issue of abstinence from sexual immorality. This is the theme of verses 3-8. After that, he stresses that excelling still more will also include excelling in the love they had for one another. This is the point of verses 9-10. Then, in verses 11-12 Paul will show how excelling still more will impact the way we live in the world. Beyond that, excelling still more involves our growth in understanding of Christian doctrine. That is going to take us well into chapter 5.

 In verse 3 Paul introduces us to an important theological/soteriological (soteriology is the study of the doctrine of salvation) word that we must understand if we are to know what is involved in excelling still more. As we read verse 3 we saw the word “sanctification.” This word is used three times in verses 3-8 so it is an important and prominent part of his instruction and exhortation to the Thessalonians. Sanctification is the theme of this paragraph. Paul is just applying the doctrine of sanctification to the area of sexual morality. What we see from verses 1-8 is that in order to excel still more, we need to understand sanctification. Sanctification is the work of God by which we are able to excel still more.

 Sanctification is one aspect of the great work of salvation. We understand that salvation is the work of God by grace on the basis of the finished work of Christ. Our salvation is never provided on the basis of human merit or works or worthiness of the one who is saved, but only on the merit of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Some important theological/doctrinal components of salvation are: (As I go through these I am just giving a brief overview with Scriptures we won’t take time to read. You can read the manuscript on the website if you miss these Scripture references.)

• Election: Election is the act of God by which, before the foundation of the world, He chose in Christ those whom He graciously regenerates, saves, and sanctifies. Sovereign election does not contradict or negate the responsibility of man to repent and trust Christ as Lord and Savior. While all may not agree on the timing or reasons for God’s election, the reality of this doctrine is clearly taught in passages like Romans 8:28-30, Ephesians 1:4-11, 2 Thess. 2:13, and 1 Pet 1:1-2.

• Regeneration: This is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit by which divine life and the divine nature are given. This is instantaneous and is accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through the instrument of the Word of God, when the repentant sinner, as enabled by the Holy Spirit, responds in faith to the divine provision of salvation. Regeneration produces a transformation which results in righteous attitudes and conduct. Good works will be the evidence and fruit of regeneration.  See John 3:3-8, Titus 3:5, Eph. 5:17-21, Col. 3:12-17.

• Justification: This is an act of God by which He declares righteous those who, through faith in Christ, repent of their sins and confess Him as sovereign Lord. This righteousness is apart from any virtue or work of man and involves placing of our sins on Christ and the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to us. See Romans 8:30, 33, Acts 2:38, 3:19, Rom. 10:9-10, 2 Cor. 5:21.

• Sanctification: All who have been elected, regenerated, and justified have also been sanctified, and are being sanctified. Every believer is sanctified (set apart) unto God by justification and is declared to be holy and identified as a saint. This sanctification is positional and instantaneous and has to do with a believer’s standing, not his present walk or condition. We know that the believers in Corinth had all kinds of doctrinal and moral issues but Paul addresses them in verse 2 of 1 Cor. 1 by saying, “to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.” See also Acts 20:32, 2 Thess. 2:13, and 1 Pet. 1:2.

• Sanctification also results in an obvious transformation of the sinner into something he or she was not before. 1 Cor. 6:9-11. “Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”

• There is also a work of the Holy Spirit of progressive sanctification by which the state of the believer is brought closer to the likeness of Christ through obedience to the Word of God and the empowering of the Holy Spirit. The believer is able to live a life of increasing holiness in conformity to the will of God, becoming more and more like our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the point of emphasis of Paul in our text today. It is also described in John 17:17, 19, Romans 6:1-22, 2 Cor. 3:18, and 1 Thess. 5:23. 

o This work of progressive sanctification does not mean that the genuine Christian will not struggle with sin which still resides in his yet unredeemed flesh. Romans 7 describes Paul’s ongoing struggle with the flesh. However, the work of sanctification does mean we have adequate provision for victory through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Eradication of sin in this life is not possible, but the Holy Spirit does provide for victory over sin. See Gal. 5:16-25, Col. 3:9-10, 1 Peter 1:14-16, 1 John 3:5-9

I gave you that brief and fairly simple explanation of those important doctrines related to salvation to make sure you understand something very important. Sanctification is part of the work of salvation. Paul calls us to excel still more and the Bible confirms that because sanctification is part of the work of salvation, we are able to, and responsible to, excel still more. The progressive aspect of sanctification will enable us to excel still more. Because it is the work of God, all who are sanctified will be excelling still more in the progressive work of sanctification.

 The Greek word translated “sanctification” in all three places in verses 3-8 is the word “hagiasmos.” The verb form is “hagiazo” and it means “to make holy, to sanctify, to make clean, to render pure, to set apart.” The noun “hagios” means holy, set apart, and consecrated. The Greek scholar, Spiros Zodhiates writes of the word “hagiasmos” or sanctification, “Hagiasmos” refers not only to the activity of the Holy Spirit in setting man apart unto salvation and transferring him into the ranks of the redeemed, but also enabling him to be holy even as God is holy.”

 Peter confirms this reality. He writes in 1 Peter 1:2, “We are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ, and be sprinkled with His blood.” In one aspect of sanctification we are set apart unto God and declared to be holy, sanctified for Him. In the other aspect of sanctification we are called to that which we are enabled to do by the Holy Spirit. We are to be holy in all our behavior. We are to walk in a manner worthy of our calling. We are to obey the commandments of our Lord and abstain from fleshly lusts that wage war against the soul. We are to be holy as God is holy. We are to excel still more. We are to be sanctified.

 Turn over to chapter 5, verse 23. How far is God going to take this work of sanctification? “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This sounds to me like a fairly comprehensive plan. God Himself is going to sanctify us completely. The work will be completely finished at the coming of Jesus. In the meantime, it will be becoming an ever growing reality if we are truly saved.

 How does the work of progressive sanctification happen? It happens as the word of God does its work in the lives of those who have been regenerated and have been sanctified and are being sanctified. John 17:17 records the prayer of Jesus to His Father. “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” Ephesians 5:25-27 tell us that Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, “so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”

 The word of God should be causing us to excel still more in cleansing us from sin and informing us regarding how we live for the glory of God. We are part of the bride of Christ He intends to have no spot or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. When we come to worship we open the word of God and we explain what it says, what it means, and how it applies to life. We don’t do this for informational purposes. We do it for transformational purposes. We are sanctified in the truth of God’s word. According to Ephesians 4:15, Paul spoke the truth in love to the Ephesians, so that they would “grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ.” The supernatural result of preaching the word is the sanctification of genuine Christians.

 We know what sanctification is. We know how it happens. We know the extent to which it is to transform us. Consider this question. How important is it for us to take seriously our part in the process? Look at verse 2. “For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.” Sandwiched in between this exhortation to “excel still more” and this statement of verse 3 regarding the will of God being our sanctification is this statement regarding the commandments Paul gave by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

 We don’t know specifically what those commandments may have been, but we know that both Paul and the Thessalonians acknowledged that these were given by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. I thought about this. I asked myself, “Is there anywhere Jesus commands His people to grow, to excel still more, to be sanctified?” Jesus clearly indicated that sanctification, growth, and increasing fruitfulness are part of our life in Him. The parable of the Vine clearly indicates this. We bear fruit as we abide in Him and He in us. The parable of the soils teach us that we bear fruit as His word works in our hearts.

 Verse 2 reminds us that progress toward Christlikeness, the work of sanctification, the duty to excel still more is commanded to us by the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul adds the word “Lord” here for a reason. The word means “boss.” The word “commandment” is the Greek word that refers to a strong, authoritative directive issued by a commanding officer to his subordinates. The Lord reveals Himself to us in His truth in order that we may become more and more like Him. His expectation as Lord is that we obey His commands.

 Strongly and clearly indicated here is the fact that excelling still more, and experiencing the progressive sanctification that brings us in every way into a walk that pleases God, is very much a part of what the Lord Jesus Christ commands for His people. Then, if there was any question in the minds of the Thessalonians, or in our minds, Paul comes to verse 3 where he makes the clear and indisputable statement regarding our sanctification. He says “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.” How are we going to argue with that? How are we going to get around that?

 We might wish Paul had written something else. For this is the will of God, your happiness. For this is the will of God, your financial success. For this is the will of God, your perfect health. For this is the will of God, your trouble free life. For this is the will of God, your perfect spouse, or perfect children, or perfect job. For this is the will of God, all your dreams come true. There are plenty of false teachers out there that will tell you those things are God’s will for your life, but you will never find the Apostle Paul saying anything like that. What Paul does say is that sanctification is God’s will for you.

 Does the “your” in this verse speak only to the Thessalonians? It was first written to them but we know the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write it knowing that this letter would be included in the canon of Scripture so that we would all know it pertains to us as well. These words are intended for every Christian in every age. The will of God is your sanctification. Have you ever acknowledged that truth to yourself? I don’t do this often, but I think it might be beneficial. Repeat after me. “For this is the will of God…” “my sanctification.” Your sanctification is the will of God.

 Clearly, your positional sanctification is the work of God. He saved us and set us apart. Our practical sanctification is also the work of God. He transforms us. He washes us with the word. He sanctifies us in the truth. Our sanctification is revealed in our walk with God. We saw this word “walk” last week in verse 1 and we didn’t say anything about it. I think we understand that it refers to our manner of life. Our manner of life will be the way we will know that we excel still more, that we are pleasing the Lord, that we are experiencing the work of sanctification.

 How important is the will of God? Ephesians 5:17 says this, “so then, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” That is pretty straightforward is it not? We are to understand what the will of the Lord is. Is it difficult to understand from 1 Thess. 4:3 that the will of the Lord is our sanctification? It is not difficult to understand. 

 Ephesians 6:6 tells us that we are to be doing the will of God from the heart. In order to do the will of God we must know the will of God. Paul prays in Colossians 1:9 that these believers would be filled with the knowledge of His will. Epaphras, Paul companion, prayed for the Colossians that they would “stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.” Peter tells us in 1 Peter 4:2 to live the rest of our time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of the flesh but for the will of God. 1 John 2:17 tells us that the world is passing away, and also its lusts, but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

 For this is the will of God, your sanctification. I must be honest with you. There are some people who claim to be Christians in whom there is an ongoing concern regarding this claim. It is justified concern because there is insufficient evidence of a transformed life. They do not excel still more. The commandments of the Lord are optional in their lives. They don’t do the will of God from the heart. There is no compelling evidence to convince anyone that they have been positionally sanctified or are being progressively sanctified.

 How do people end up being convinced of a salvation for which there is not sufficient compelling evidence in their life that they have been soundly converted? This is always the result of embracing a theology of salvation that cannot be supported biblically. For example, many people are convinced that the only thing one must do to become a Christian is to believe in Jesus, or more vaguely, believe in God. Now don’t get me wrong. A genuinely converted person believes in Jesus. But not all who believe in God, or even in Jesus, are genuinely converted.

 I’ve continued to point this out for years and I believe it necessary to continue to point out that there were many who believed in Jesus who were not converted. Interestingly enough, it is John’s gospel that brings this to light. John’s gospel is where we find the most memorized verse in the Bible. John 3:16 is loved by people because, taken all by itself, it paints an incomplete picture of a God who is so loving that He gave His only begotten Son and will unconditionally save all who simply profess to believe in Him. But it is this same gospel that reveals in 2:23-25 that there were many who believed in His name because they were observing His signs which He was doing. But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them because He knew all things and He knew what was in their hearts.

 John 8:31says, “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine.” Jesus was never impressed with a simple belief. He knew genuine conversion produced much more. I don’t want you trusting in the fact that you have believed in Jesus, or believe in God, unless that faith has resulted in the evidence that you were chosen, regenerated, justified, and sanctified.

 Another way people are deceived into believing they are Christians even though their lives lack credible evidence of the genuine work of salvation is through an evangelistic approach that encourages people to “make a decision for Christ” or “pray to receive Christ.” The fact that you made a decision for Christ proves nothing. The fact that you have prayed to receive Christ isn’t sufficient evidence of genuine conversion. I’ve talked to many Christian parents over the years whose children have walked away from the faith and they are convinced these children are Christians because they “made a decision for Christ” when they were young. They saw their children walk the aisle, pray the prayer, and get baptized.

 Making a decision for Christ proves nothing. If the life is barren, and produces no fruit, gives no evidence of regeneration, and shows no signs of sanctification, there is no salvation.

 If this is you, I pray that you will see the truth and turn from your sin and turn to Christ in faith. I pray that the grace of our merciful God would do the work in your heart to transform you, save you, regenerate you and justify you and sanctify you.

 If you are a true follower of Christ, I pray that you will excel still more, that you will know that God’s will for your life is your sanctification, and that in every area of your life you are solidly and faithfully committed to that great work of God in your heart and mind. I pray that the God of peace Himself will sanctify you entirely; and your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 Next week we will come back and begin to see the areas where Paul knew that the sanctifying work of God needed the most attention and application. Next week is going to be just a little PG rated. 

 Let’s pray.