This is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality. – 1 Thessalonians 4:3
Purity is a battle. It always has been and it always will be.
In our culture, we are exposed to temptation through television, social media, the Internet, and casual sexual standards. It would be easy to feel defeated and to start feeling sorry for ourselves, as if other Christians never had to face our battles.
Here is some helpful insight about the culture of the first century Christians in Thessalonica. John Stott says, “It was widely accepted that men either could not or would not limit themselves to their wife as their only sexual partner.”
Stott quotes F. F. Bruce: “A man might have a mistress who could provide him also with intellectual companionship… Slavery made it easy for him to have a concubine, while casual gratification was readily available from a harlot.”
Think about the effect of that culture on the men. Think about the effect on the women. That’s the background from which every one of these Christians came.
So, these young Christians were sexually scarred, with baggage from their past. And Paul says to them, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified!” If they could be sanctified, then so can you.
The Christian life is a battle. The battle will be hard. You will have defeats as well as victories. Surprise attacks will come just when you think you are making progress. Your holiness will never be complete in this life.
If you are experiencing this conflict, be encouraged. The true Christian is at war with sin in his or her own soul. That is what sanctification looks like.
How are you engaged in the battle for purity?
