Family Churchman 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication:… It is God's will, the great purpose that He has at heart, that men should be holy. "Sanctify them through Thy truth," etc. Pardon and all other blessings are means to this end. The Great Sculptor plans and labours only for a torso in room of a statue without this; the Great Builder would never see the top stone in His chosen temple without this; the Great Husbandman would never taste of the fruit of His labour without this. Now, if our sanctification — our growing holiness here and our perfected holiness hereafter — is God's will, then — I. HOLINESS IS A GREAT AND BLESSED CONSUMMATION. "Good is the will of the Lord." There can be nothing so great and blessed for any creature as to have God's will perfected in it. Only in holiness are eternal life and blessedness possible. To have the thoughts pure, the life at. every point and in all its interests set like music to the words of God's law, the soul moulded into the image of Christ, that is to have heaven begun. II. GOD WILL SPARE NO PAINS TO CREATE AND PERFECT HOLINESS IN A MAN'S SOUL. He has spared no sacrifice, in that He sent His Son; for it was the essence and heart of Christ's mission to "purify unto Himself a peculiar people," etc. And still towards and in us He will direct His working to this great end. He will prune this vine, that it may bear more fruit. He will cut, and chisel, and polish, till the fair image of Christ is seen. And as we smart, and weep, and wonder at our heavenly Father's severity, let us think of His great purpose. III. WE ARE BOUND TO COOPERATE WITH GOD IN THIS GREAT END. "God wills it," said the Crusaders, and buckled on their armour for the conquest of the Holy Land. "God wills it" that we should pray, and strive, and fight for a purer and higher conquest. And what a start God gives us in His forgiveness through Christ! He thereby gives us freedom, gratitude, momentum; and in our whole warfare with sin He gives His Holy Spirit to inspire, direct, and sustain. IV. WE ARE ASSURED OF SUCCESS. If it is His will, "who can be against us?" (Family Churchman.) Parallel Verses KJV: For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:WEB: For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, |
    |