The Motivations of Sanctification
Series: The Motivations, Methodologies, and Rewards of Sanctification.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
1. Be Sanctified to Please God. (Vs. 1-2)
Hebrews 12:14-15, “Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord. Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many.”
2. Be Sanctified to Demonstrate Ownership. (Vs. 3-6, Acts 15:19-20, 1 Cor 6:15-20)
Acts 15:19-20, “Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God, but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood.”
1 Corinthians 6:15-20, “Don’t you know that your bodies are a part of Christ’s body? So should I take a part of Christ’s body and make it part of a prostitute? Absolutely not! Don’t you know that anyone joined to a prostitute is one body with her? For Scripture says, The two will become one flesh. But anyone joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. Flee sexual immorality! Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body. Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.”
3. Be Sanctified to Be Like Jesus. (Vs. 7-8, Lev 11:44, 1 Pet 1:16)
Leviticus 11:44, “For I am the LORD your God, so you must consecrate yourselves and be holy because I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:16, “for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.”
1 Thessalonians 4:1, “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.”