Seeking Jesus First Nov. 17, 2025
God’s will is for us to be sanctified by His word.
1 Thes. 4:3-8 “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.”
Sanctification gives us the picture of a vessel that is made for a purpose. The vessel is consecrated and used only for the purpose for which it is created. In the physical tabernacle of the old covenant, these consecrated vessels were not allowed to be used outside of its temple purpose. Using it for anything outside of its purpose made it “unclean” or “unholy”. Holiness is the character of a sanctified vessel. Holiness gives us the picture of a sanctified vessel being used for its specific purpose.
1 Cor. 6:15–20 “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
The body of Christ is commanded by Scripture to remain pure and holy unto God as it pertains to sexual sin.
Eph. 5:1–7 “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.”
If we are to fulfill our God-given purpose as the body of Christ, we must receive God’s sanctifying word and be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This is the will of God for us. This command is for our good and for the good of the body of Christ.