1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

November 1, 2020     Title: Sanctified Marriage               

Often in Paul’s letters, he begins with the Gospel – either an encouragement to continue to hold on to the faith, or an exhortation to return to the Gospel that was preached to them earlier. Either way, he first reminds them of what the faith is – that it must be centered on the grace of God given to us in Jesus Christ. He ensures that the believers are grounded in the truth that we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ, not based on our works or performance.

Then, when the foundation has been laid, Paul usually turns to the question of: having believed, having been justified by faith, how then should we as Christians live? It is a shift from the “what has God done to save me,” that is what we refer to as justification, to the “what should I do having been saved,” what is called sanctification. And often, this section on Godly living starts with a call to flee from sexual immorality. We might wonder, why does God take this so seriously? Why does Paul talk about this so much and with urgency?

I. God’s Plan for Marriage – What does it mean to be Sanctified?

First, Paul takes it seriously because he says this is a command from God, not just his own opinion. He says to live in sexual immorality is to live in disobedience to God himself.  And God takes marriage so seriously because it is foundational to His creation. For God gave His plan for marriage before the Fall; marriage was instituted in the paradise of the Garden of Eden. Marriage is foundational to life today because it was given at the foundation of the world.

First, Marriage and families were the way in which God intended for us to keep that early command, be fruitful and multiply.

Second, Marriage and family were the primary aspect of God’s Order. Family was meant to be the primary authority in this world. Our families are to be the place where we learn how to respect and obey authority, and it was designed to be the place where we learn to honor and respect God. Martin Luther said that those who don’t learn to answer to their parents will answer to the hangman. Meaning that if we fail to teach our children how to obey our authority as parents, they will never learn to obey any earthly authority. That’s how vital it is that our families are strong.

Finally, marriage and family were a reminder that human beings were created to be relational – just as God is relational. For God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and since human being were made in God’s image – as male and female – so, too, we are created to be relational. And in marriage, it was meant to be a three-fold relationship. Husband and wife together in a relationship with God.

Now we need to get this order right. For the most important union we can enter into is not the union between husband and wife, but the most important union we can enter into is the union we are offered in Christ. For the truth is, our fulfillment was never meant to be found in earthly marriage. For we are to find our fulfillment in our relationship with God, and if we get married, to have our relationship with God be the foundation of our marriage, and the foundation of our family.

When Adam and Eve sinned, it damaged their relationship with God, and God points out as He confronts their sin, that this will carry over into their relationship as well. A healthy marriage relationship needs to be founded on both partners having a healthy relationship with God. That is why Paul calls on unmarried believers not to be unequally yoked. That is, don’t intentionally marry someone who is not a believer – for if you don’t have that in common, what do you have in common? He is warning potential husbands and wives not to submit themselves to someone who has not learned how to submit to God.

How we live should be a reflection of God’s order; and this means whether we are married or single. For when we speak of being part of a sanctified marriage; we are talking about being set apart to honor God. And that is true no matter your marital status.

First, be set apart for God; be married to God. The Bible often describes the relationship between Christ and the Church as a marriage. And that is the first marriage we are called to honor. We are to live as part of the church which is the bride of Christ.

And secondly, for those who get married, they are called to be set apart for each other. But that call to be set apart doesn’t just start at the wedding, it is supposed to be our attitude before marriage as well – that we have set ourselves apart 1) for God 2) for our future spouse. And even before the vows, even when we might not know the identity of who that person might be, we should still see ourselves as sanctified, set apart, for our future spouse.

II. As Christians, we are called to live Holy and Honorable Lives

Paul says, “you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans.” What does Paul mean by “passionate lust?” It’s acting exclusively on impulse; it is when we let our desires control our actions. And this is natural; however, God wants us to live supernatural lives. To control our desires must be learned. And this refers not just to sexual behavior, but in all things. We need to learn to control ourselves and not just act out based on what we feel like we want to do. We need to learn to control our tongue, control our bodies, and control our thoughts. We need to learn to live according to the Holy Spirit in all things, but the reason the Scriptures often focus on avoiding sexual immorality is because it is such a powerful thing.

God created sex to be a powerful thing, for the marriage relationship was to consist of being joined together physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And it was designed to be permanent – lifelong. And no matter if we honor or recognize that power, it is still there for that is the way we are made. And even secular scientists recognize this – that there is a powerful attachment that is made whenever we enter into that type of physical relationship. It rewires our brains, forming a strong bond, whether you want it to or not, its biology. And because it is so powerful, we are warned to take it seriously. For powerful things used in the right way can be very beneficial, but powerful things used incorrectly can be destructive. For when Jesus says, “What God has joined together, let not man separate,” He is not just talking about marriage and divorce. He is also warning us about entering into a sexual relationship casually. For He has designed us to be joined together, completely, body, soul, and spirit, and when we end that relationship, it is difficult and painful. Why? Because that type of relationship was not designed to be temporary. We are ripping apart what has been joined together by God’s design.

And Scripture shows us that this takes place, not just in marriage when we want it to, but every time we engage in sexual activity, 1 Cor. 6:15-17, “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! ¹⁶ Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” Notice here that Paul uses that verse not to describe just the relationship of marriage, but he says that it is true also for the most casual and carnal of relationships. Even then, the two have become one, even if that was not the intention.

He continues: “¹⁷ But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. ¹⁸ Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. ¹⁹ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

That is what makes sexual immortality so terrible in all its forms. It’s a sin against the nature of our own bodies and minds. It is a sin against God by profaning the bodies in which His Sprit dwells.

III. God is the Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier of Marriage

But the good news is, God isn’t just the creator of marriage, but He is also the Redeemer and Sanctifier of Marriage.

For as Paul concludes that previous section in 1 Cor. 6:9, “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?” But then he continues, “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

God can take us, just as we are, and 1) when we confess our sin, He justifies us – He declares us to be blameless and holy. This is instantaneous. 2) He sanctifies us – He gives us the strength and the power to change how we life; He makes us His new creation. This can be a bit of a process. Sometimes, God might flip a switch and the change can be profound and lasting, other times, it’s a struggle. And with sexual sin, that can be difficult because of those strong bonds that are formed in our minds, but thankfully, God is not only the creator of our mind, and He is the only one who has the wisdom and power to re-create our minds as well.

We see throughout Scripture that God is always more concerned about who we are, right now, than who we were. How is your relationship with Him today, right now? Don’t let past failures define that. Is there sin you need to confess? Confess it, don’t let that sin keep you from God – that’s like saying since I’m sick, I’ll wait until I get better to go to the doctor. God is the only one who can remove your sin, and He desires to do that.

So how healthy is your marriage? Be honest with God. First, how is your marriage to Christ? Are you sanctified, set apart for to live for Him? Second, your marriage to your earthly spouse? Whether you are currently married, or if marriage might still be in your future? Are you sanctified, set apart, for them? Wherever you are, you can know that God is there to redeem and sanctify those relationships. God can bring good things even out of our failures if we are willing to let Him. If we are willing to let Him sanctify us today, to set us apart for Him and His use.

Some might wonder why I’m wearing the collar today. Normally, I wear it only for funerals and weddings, and really that is why I am wearing it today. For on this All Saints Day, first, it is like a funeral. For today we remember all those Saints who have died in the faith. And, as in a funeral, we remember the promise of resurrection, that those who die in Christ, do not really die. Second, it’s like a wedding. Because Jesus has said when He returns, that will begin the wedding feast of the Lamb, when Christ and His bride, the Church will be united forever. And when we celebrate communion, that’s what we are celebrating – the wedding of the Lamb. Here we celebrate in anticipation, at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, we will celebrate the realization of that hope. And as our closing hymn will state, the church on earth not only has union with God, the Three in one, but also shares mystic communion with those whose rest is won.

So All Saints Day is part funeral, and part wedding, and we’ll see that more in the next part of 1 Thessalonians when Paul speaks more about the blessed Hope we have in Christ, in life and in death. Amen.