1 Thessalonians 4:3,4 - Avoid Sexual Sin and Be Holy!

1Th.4:3,4; Avoid Sexual Sin and Be Holy!

1 Th 4:3, 4 (NCV)  God wants you to be holy and to stay away
from sexual sins. He wants each of you to learn to control your own
body in a way that is holy and honorable.

"Sexual immorality" translates a Greek word which speaks about a
broad spectrum of sexual indulgence, both illicit and unnatural. The
term would include practices such as premarital sex, extramarital
sex, homosexuality, lesbianism, sodomy, incest, and bestiality. God's
plan of one man and one woman united for a lifetime in marriage has
never changed. Any deviation from this pattern (excluding the gift of
celibacy) constitutes sin. [Believer's SB]

This means either mastery over one's body, keeping it pure, or
refers to an honorable marriage. [Ryrie SB]

To abide in the faith of the gospel is not enough, we must
abound in the work of faith. The rule according to which all ought to
walk and act, is the commandments given by the Lord Jesus Christ....
they are God's commands, and to break them is to despise God.
[Matthew Henry Commentary]

Holiness is within the reach of all who reach for it by faith,
not because of their good works, but because of Christ's merits.
Divine power is provided for every soul struggling for the victory over
sin and Satan. 7BC908

The Christian will feel the promptings of sin, but he will
maintain a constant warfare against it. Here is where Christ's help is
needed. Human weakness becomes united to divine strength, and faith
exclaims: "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ."  GC470

True sanctification will be evidenced by a conscientious regard
for all the commandments of God, by a careful improvement of every
talent, by a circumspect conversation, by revealing in every act the
meekness of Christ. 7BC908

Sanctification means habitual communion with God.  7BC908

Eskimos use a grisly but effective means for killing the wolves
that ravage their traps and dog teams.
First, the Eskimo coats a very sharp knife blade with animal
blood and allows it to freeze. Then he adds another layer of blood,
and yet another, until the blade is completely concealed by frozen
blood.
Next, the hunter places the knife in the ground with the blade
up. When the wolf picks up the scent of the blood with his sensitive
nose, he searches out the bait and begins licking the stick of frozen
blood. The more he licks the blood, the greater his desire for more. He
licks until he is eventually lapping the blade itself.
So great is the wolf's desire for more blood that he doesn't
notice that the razor-sharp knife has cut his own tongue, nor does he
realize that the blood he is licking is his own. His ravenous thirst for
blood causes him to bleed to death. He is usually found dead at the
scene, a victim of his own appetite.
In like manner, our own lusts can consume us to the point where
they become our demise. Consider those things you crave, and be wise.
[God's Little Devotional Bible]