God's Desire for Sexual Purity

## Introduction

While the factors are varied, the result is that in today's world, marriage is on the decline. The National Marriage Project out of University of Virginia has provided us with some cultural information about marriage and couples choosing instead to live together.

In a statistically representative national survey of young adults between the ages of 20 and 29, 43 percent agreed that "you would only marry someone if he or she agreed to live together with you first, so that you could find out whether you really get along."

The practice of cohabitation has grown significantly. As of 2019, almost 60% of young adults between the ages of 18 and 44 had cohabited for a portion of their lives, compared to 33 percent in 1987 and virtually none a hundred years ago.

Even as cohabitation rates have risen, marriage rates have fallen proportionately. What happened to produce such a shift in cultural thought? The answer is complicated. But what is particularly interesting is the current generation (those born from 1996-2015; Gen Z) are engaging in sexual activity electronically rather than physically. Gen Z's are far less likely to have sex before marriage and rates of teen pregnancies have fallen dramatically. However, Gen Z's are far more likely to send sexually explicit material through their phones and to engage in sexually explicit material via the Internet. Today's lesson is an opportunity to call all of us to sexual purity. Today's lesson will demonstrate that God's call is for his children to be a reflection of him — holy.

## The Historical Context

Ancient Thessalonica and modern Thessalonica are two different places. This has allowed for archaeologists to unearth the ancient city and discover the kind of place that Paul visited in the first century. It was a place where there were numerous places of worship to many different gods. Several had one thing in common, they advertised their place of worship as a place for a sexual encounter through a priestess. Stone signs found in the ancient city depict through words and symbols, that a place was for worship of a god and that the worship would include sex with one of that god's priestesses. Is it no wonder that Paul wanted to warn the congregation about sexual immorality.

Paul had a special relationship with the family of God in Thessalonica. Paul helped establish a congregation there on his second missionary journey. He preached only for a short time in Thessalonica before being forced to leave due to mob violence that was instigated by Jewish opponents. Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to check on things and his report resulted in Paul writing this letter. It is believed to be the first letter that Paul wrote. Overall, Paul's quick departure had not had an adverse effect on the new Christians. They remained faithful. However, in a short period of time, Paul didn't have time to teach about all things. One of the areas of struggle was sexual practices.

Paul addresses this significant issue in 4:3-8. Verse 3 is a clear statement of God's desire for his children. God wants us to be holy. This word holy can have various meanings but in this context it is a reflection of 3:13. God wants his children to be holy (morally pure; separated for him). Why? First of all, this holiness is a reflection of God's nature. Paul says the way to demonstrate this holiness is through avoiding sexual immorality. The historical context would include any sexual contact outside of marriage. Paul uses a general word that encompasses all forms of sexuality. It is the word which is used in our language for pornography.

Paul says that as Christians we are to learn to control our body and by doing so we demonstrate this holiness that God wants. Paul says in verse 5 that those who are not in relationship with God act in unholy ways. This passionate lust suggest actively pursuing one's own sexual desires for the only purpose of self-satisfaction. Knowing God means that we control ourselves. Knowing God means that we do not allow our sexual desires to have the final word. We do not act on urges just because we have them.

Second, we avoid sexual immorality not only because we want to reveal holiness but when we engage in sexual immorality we hurt another person. In verse 6, Paul says that we wrong a brother or take advantage of him. Paul says that when we engage in sexual activity which is unholy then we hurt someone else. We hurt someone that may later marry that person. We have deprived that future spouse of that which rightfully belongs to them. God is so displeased by this kind of activity that he will punish. Paul says he has already warned them of God's judgment. This unholy behavior results in God's action to punish.

Paul restates his point. God wants us to live as holy people. He wants us to live sexually holy lives. Lives which reflect his nature and character. And then in a verse which is often overlooked, Paul says in verse 8 that the rejection of this instruction is a rejection of God himself. To engage in sexual activity outside of marriage is to reject God. Thus, Paul places sexual practices and the nature of God on the same plane. Sex is in someway a demonstration of the holiness of God.

## Application

So what are we to do with this. First, I want to emphasize a point which Paul makes in verse 8. To reject this instruction is a rejection of God who gives you his Holy Spirit. This final phrase is an odd phrase. It is odd in the sense that Paul mentions the Holy Spirit when he has not been previously mentioned. Which suggests that Paul is trying to make a particular point. It is found in the order of the words. Our English translations do not pick up on the nuance of the word order. Paul literally writes, "who gives you his Spirit who is holy." The point is this — God calls us to live holy lives. In order for such a life to be lived we must respond determination and dedication. But in order to secure this life God empowers us with his Spirit who is by his very nature holy. God's desire is that we live holy lives. We respond with dedication. But to assist us in our dedication he gives us his Spirit who is the nature of God in holiness. God gives to us the gift of holiness and calls on us to live within that gift rather than discarding the gift to fill our own sexual desires. How wonderful is our God to call on us to be holy and then does not leave it to us to be holy but empowers us with his Spirit who is holy.

Second, God's desire for his children to live and be holy sexually means that we fight against responding to our sexual desires. We learn to control our bodies so that our bodies can be a holy temple for God. This is Paul's point in 1 Cor. 6 but is equally true from this text. But our sexual desires are so very strong. We are not always able to keep our bodies in check. Our determination and dedication gives way to sin.

We look at pornography.

We engage in sexual activity with our boyfriend or girlfriend.

We engage in a sexual affair with someone who is not our spouse.

We live with someone who is not our spouse.

We are fooled into believing that our current culture's acceptance of sexual immorality is okay. We engage in sexual immorality and then blame God's people for being judgmental when called on to repent.

God wants his children to be a reflection of his holiness. To reject his instruction is to reject his holiness. But what I know about God is that he will forgive. If you want to genuinely live a holy life, then repent of your sexual sin and God will forgive.

To repent means that one must stop looking at pornography. One must allow their dating relationship to be holy. One must stop living with a person who is not your spouse engaging in sexual immorality. One must remain sexually committed to your spouse. This is repentance.

There will be struggles because the sexual desires are very strong. But our God wants you to live a holy life. He is ready to forgive. He wants you as his child to reflect him. Sexual immorality means that we hurt another. We may deprive someone of their virginity. We may deprive some future spouse of the virginity which was rightfully theirs. However, God will give you a second chance. Do not give up on him. His is able to forgive. Trust him to let you start again. Invitation.

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