A genuine faith makes a difference in how we live. Paul shows how this translates into specific areas of life. Not surprisingly, the first area that he addresses is sexual purity. The gross immorality of Thessalonica was doubtlessly on his mind. Nothing destroys relationships, deepens shame, and destroys witness like sexual impurity, which has no place in the life of the redeemed. Paul addresses three truths that will enable us to avoid such destructive influences: our walk must be our priority, God’s will must be our guide, and God’s approval must be our passion.

Because God has called us to holiness, we must flee from any form of sexual impurity

Additionally then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received instruction from us on how you should live and please God—as you are doing—do this even more. For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you keep away from sexual immorality, that each of you knows how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not with lustful passions, like the Gentiles, who don’t know God. This means one must not transgress against and take advantage of a brother or sister in this manner, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you. For God has not called us to impurity but to live in holiness. Consequently, anyone who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. —1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

I. OUR WALK MUST ME OUR PRIORITY

Additionally then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received instruction from us on how you should live and please God—as you are doing—do this even more. For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus. —1 Thessalonians 4:1-2

II. GOD’S WILL MUST BE OUR GUIDE

For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you keep away from sexual immorality, that each of you knows how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not with lustful passions, like the Gentiles, who don’t know God. This means one must not transgress against and take advantage of a brother or sister in this manner, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you. For God has not called us to impurity but to live in holiness. —1 Thessalonians 4:3-7

III. GOD’S APPROVAL MUST BE OUR PASSION

Consequently, anyone who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. —1 Thessalonians 4:8