I Thessalonians 4:1-12
Walk In Holiness (4:1-8)
• “Walk” (vs.1) pres. act. inf. of peripateō
(G4043) – to walk about.
• Walking is a favorite picture of Paul:
– “…Walk worthy of the calling with which you were
called” (Eph. 4:1)
– “…Stop walking as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in
the emptiness of their mind” (Eph. 4:17)
– “…Walk in love” (Eph. 5:2)
– “Walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8) (cf. I John
1:5-7)
• Our walk begins with a step of faith, which
leads to a walk of faith.
– “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (II Cor. 5:7)
• Walking suggests progress (Phil. 3:13-16).
Walk In Holiness (4:1-8)
• The moral climate of the Roman Empire of
Paul’s day was much as that of America
today – Immorality was a way of life.
• They had slaves to give them leisure time,
we have machines to do the same for us.
• It was not easy for this young church to
battle the temptations surrounding them.
• To help them, Paul gives 4 focus points in
vs. 1-8 –
Walk In Holiness (4:1-8)
• Focus Point #1 – Seek to please God (vs. 1)
– Everyone lives to please someone – most live to
please themselves.
– Most people have no sensitivity to the needs or
desires of others.
– Believer’s are not to live to please themselves
(Rom. 15:1).
– Even pleasing others has its dangers (Gal. 1:10;
I Thess. 2:4).
– Pleasing God should be the major motivation in
our lives (cf. Phil. 2:13; Heb. 11:5; John 8:29).
Walk In Holiness (4:1-8)
• Focus Point #2 – Seek to obey God (vs. 2, 3)
– It is possible to obey God, yet not please Him (Jonah).
– We need to obey the will of God from the heart (Eph.
6:6).
– “Commandments” (vs. 2) is a military term referring to
orders handed down from superior officers.
– We are members of the Royal Combat Battalion (Royal
SEALs) – as such, we must obey orders (II Tim. 2:4).
– We must stand against the world system – in this case,
the immorality that we find surrounding us (vs. 3).
– In this instance, God’s purpose is our sanctification
that we might live separated lives in purity of mind &
body.
Walk In Holiness (4:1-8)
• Focus Point #3 – Seek to glorify God (vs. 4, 5)
– “Know” pres. act. inf. of oida.
– “Possess his own vessel” (vs. 4) – how to control his
body.
– Our bodies are the vessels of God (II Cor. 4:7; II Tim.
2:20, 21).
• Focus Point #4 – Seek to escape the judgment of
God (vs. 6-8)
– God must deal with His children when they sin (Col.
3:23-25)
– We are not under condemnation (John 5:24; Rom. 8:1),
but we are not free from the harvest of sorrow that
comes when we sow to the flesh (Gal. 6:7, 8)
– God forgives us, but He does not change the
consequences of our sin.
Walk In Harmony (4:9, 10)
• Because we have God’s nature (II Pet. 1:4)
we are to love (I John 4:7, 8).
• This was a distinctive of the Church at
Thessalonica from the beginning (1:3).
• How does God get our love to increase
more & more?
– By putting us into circumstances that force us
to practice Christian love!
– The difficulties that we as believers have with
one another are opportunities for us to grow in
our love! (Cf. Phil. 1:9-11.)