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]