Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you. [1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 NASB]
The first century Roman world known for it sexual amorality. The typical Roman man had a wife to manage the household, plus mistresses and prostitutes for pleasure. The women were also expected to have lovers.
In the brief time that Paul spent in Thessalonica, he made it clear that this was contrary to God's will. The word "commandment" is used sparingly in the New Testament, and in only two contexts; that we love one another, and that we abstain from sexual immorality.
The will of God is our sanctification. "Sanctification" means that we are set apart for God; that we are holy and purified. A very big part of that sanctification is sexual purity.
When we commit a sexual sin, we sin against God, acting contrary to His will. We sin against Jesus, as we are taught;
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.” But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. [1 Corinthians 6:15-17 NASB]
We also sin against ourselves. Paul goes on to say;
Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. [1 Corinthians 6:18 NASB]
And, as today's passage states, we sin against others when we engage in sexual immorality.
In the 2000 years since the days of the Roman Empire, society has not progressed in this regard. Pornography is pervasive. Sexual immorality and perversion are promoted in popular entertainment as normal and desirable. Young people are ridiculed if they decide to take a stand and save their bodies for marriage.
Society's attitude has also invaded the church. I have known Christians who think it is perfectly okay to live together and/or have sexual relations outside the bonds of marriage. They do so in open defiance of God's word, giving in to the demands of the world, rather than the command of God.
Do not be like the world. We are in the world, but we are not of it. Our citizenship is in heaven, and we are answerable to God. Therefore honor God with your body. As Paul also said;
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. [1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NASB]
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me Your Spirit to empower me to live as You command. I pray that You will keep me free from sin.
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