God Calls Us To Holiness And Honour — 1 Thessalonians 4:3–8
Aug 19, 2026 66
Christians are people who know God, so we seek holiness and honour rather than simply going along with the culture around us.
[3] For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; [4] that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, [5] not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; [6] that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. [7] For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. [8] Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. (1 Thessalonians 4:3–8 ESV)
When Paul applies God’s call to holiness, he begins with sex and sexuality.
The word “abstain” is strong. Paul is not telling us to work out how close we can get to sexual immorality without crossing the line. Have nothing to do with it. Flee from it.
God’s plan is that the proper place for sexual intimacy is between one man and one woman in the context of marriage. Anything outside God’s plans – including our actions, what we watch and even our thought life – is something from which we are called to abstain.
[Watch this week’s video devotion with Dave Miers]
This teaching was countercultural in Thessalonica, and it remains countercultural today. But Christians are people who know God. We know the Creator who gives life and breath and everything. He knows why we were made. He knows how things are supposed to work in a way that honours him and is good for us.
So we seek holiness and honour rather than simply going along with the surrounding culture.
In verses 6–8, Paul gives a serious warning. God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness. To disregard this teaching is not merely to disregard a man-made rule; it is to disregard God.
But Paul also reminds us that God gives us his Holy Spirit. We are not left to pursue sexual holiness in our own strength. We can ask God to fill us with his Spirit and enable us to obey him.
The Good News Is…
Sexual sin and shame do not have to be the end of anyone’s story. Jesus lived the pure and holy life we have not lived. At the cross, he died for our sin and took our shame upon himself. Everyone who comes to him can be washed, sanctified and justified (see 1 Corinthians 6:9–11). In Jesus there is forgiveness for our past, strength to obey today and a safe place for the sexually broken.
Reflection
Is there an area of sexual temptation from which you need to flee? Ask God’s Spirit to help you trust that his word is good, true and for you today.
Rev. Dave Miers
President, Good News Unlimited