Romans: Law, Obedience, and Sanctification: Walking With God

3 Sanctification & Sexual Purity

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2007-10-22

Synopsis: John Weaver expounds 1 Thessalonians 4:3, emphasizing that sanctification—specifically sexual purity—is the clearly revealed will of God. He distinguishes between God's secret and revealed will, defines sanctification as holiness, being set apart, prepared for God, and moral purity, and explains positional versus progressive sanctification. Weaver argues that sanctification is central to salvation, inseparable from justification, and that those truly saved will pursue holiness. He concludes with applications urging believers to obey God's plain will and pursue a sanctified life.

[John Weaver] 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, beginning with verse 1. Furthermore, then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus that as you have received of us how you ought to walk and to please God so you would abound more and more. For you know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication, that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel and sanctification and honor. not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles who know not God, that no man go beyond and defraud his brethren any matter, because that the Lord is the avenger of all such as we have also forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us to uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth not man, but God, who also hath given us his Holy Spirit."

[John Weaver] this series two weeks ago, in which I'm just simply entitling it sanctification and sexual purity. But I want you to note, first of all, in verse one, which we've already covered, you have an exhortation. And this is three points that are attached to verse one. First of all, a practical necessity. He says that you have received of us how you ought to walk and to please God. Secondly, a personal application. You ought to walk in to please God. And then thirdly, a progressive reality, for he says, so you would abound more and more.

[John Weaver] So he exhorts them then to receive the teaching, to apply the teaching and to continue to grow in the teaching. And then last week we looked at verse two, which is an explanation. He says, for you know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. So how they received from the apostles, how they ought to walk in to please God. was basically teaching from the law of God. And of course, I showed you last week how the law of God actually is a phrase not just for the Ten Commandments, but for the entirety of Scripture. Because in one sense of the word, a king rules by his law and all of God's word is law, because it issues forth from him. But specifically, What the apostle Paul was doing was making application of the law of God in different situations. Now today we come to the third point, and we're going to be on this point for several weeks in all probability, and that is an exposition because when you get to verse three, Paul actually begins to expound the truth that he's been exhorting these Thessalonians to live by, and of course explaining how

[John Weaver] he taught them. So let's look at the exposition in verse 3. He says, For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication. Now the exposition goes on down to verse 4 anyhow, but I want to point out the fact that verse 3 is so loaded With truth, there's no way that we're even going to be able to finish verse three today, so we'll probably on verse three today and next Lord's Day as well. So in the exposition, the Apostle Paul begins to expound the truth of his teaching, the point of his instruction and the purpose of his message. Now listen carefully. The way to walk pleasing to the Lord is to obey his commandments and in walking pleasing to the Lord. in obeying his commandments, we're actually doing the will of God. He says in verse 3, for this is the will of God.

[John Weaver] Now, in many areas, when we discuss the will of God, The will of God is something that we meditate upon. It's something that we study. It's something that we ponder. It's something that a lot of people say, well, I'd really like to know the will of God, but sometimes it is very difficult to know the will of God. Well, in some rare instances, that may be true, but this is not one of those instances, because in this instance, we are not left. Questioning we're not left to wonder, he tells us in very plain, readable and understandable words exactly what the will of God is. He says, for this is the will of God, even your sanctification. And then he goes on to say that you should abstain from fornication. So the will of God, then, in the area of sexual purity, is that we be pure. Now, let me just very quickly tell you that when you discuss the will of God, there are two things that you need to consider. First of all, there is the revealed will of God, which we know as the Bible, which is the word of God.

[John Weaver] And secondly, there is that secretive will of God. Now, the secretive will of God refers to God's eternal purpose, which he purposed in Jesus Christ before the world ever began. Now, the only way that you and I can ever know the secretive will of God is when that will comes to pass in time and in history. Until then, we will not know it, and until then, we need not know it.

[John Weaver] If you would hold 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, but look back in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 29 and verse 29, and you will see exactly what I'm talking about. Deuteronomy 29 and verse 29. Note what the Word of God says. In this passage, God declares, the secret things belong to the Lord our God. That is, his eternal counsels, his secretive will, the secret things belong to the Lord our God. Now, what's the distinction? But those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the works of this law.

[John Weaver] Now, what is it that we're to be concerned about? The secretive will or the revealed will? Very clearly, the revealed will. That's what God has given us to do. He's going to work out His secretive will. We have no idea concerning it, and we'll not understand or know what it is until it comes to pass. But He's given us His revealed will, and He said that's what we're to live by.

[John Weaver] Now, look back in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 and verse 3. He says, for this is the will of God, so we're talking about the revealed will of God. We're talking about the plain, evident word of God. This is the will of God, even your sanctification. Let me just stop momentarily and tell you that the word for sanctification is hagiasmos. That's the Greek word. It literally means consecration. purification or sanctification. So you could read that this is the will of God, even your consecration or even your purification, as well as your sanctification. I want you to just think for a moment.

[John Weaver] Here is a very unique opportunity. Here is an opportunity to please God, to walk according to his commandments, to actually do his will. As I said earlier, the will of God may not be plain in some areas, but in this area, the will of God is unmistakably clear and plain. To me, in one sense of the word, it's absolutely exciting to think that we have the actual opportunity to please God. Have you ever stopped to think about that? And we have an opportunity to please, to satisfy, to honor the very heart of God. He says this is the will of God, even your sanctification. So many times the will of God may be very general and we may have to meditate and ponder on it, but here it's very specific and God has told us exactly what his will is.

[John Weaver] Now let's begin to look at verse three and I want to cover Just about two points under the exposition. My first point is, first of all, an affirmation. Look what he says in verse three for this is the will of God. So Paul then is affirming the will of God in our lives. In regard to sexual purity now, I want you to hold first Thessalonians 4 and I want you to turn with me to several passages. The first one is Romans chapter 12 verses 1 and 2, which I hope that everyone in here can quote. If you can't, you ought to memorize it, but I want to point out in this passage. Regarding the will of God. Look what he says in Romans 12, 1. I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God. And by the way, let me just stop there. The mercies that the Apostle Paul is talking about.

[John Weaver] He's already discussed in the previous chapters, he's talked about our calling, our election, our justification, our redemption, all of those things. He says, I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, watch that you present your bodies a living sacrifice. Now watch. holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service, and be not conformed to this world, but that ye transform by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. I want you to tie the word holy and acceptable in verse 1 to the will of God in verse 2. He says that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God, and the way to prove it is by yielding your bodies, he says, a living sacrifice unto holiness. that which is acceptable unto God, that which is our reasonable service. Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 8. 2 Corinthians 8. Look at verse 5 and go ahead and find the book of Galatians 1.

[John Weaver] I want to compare these verses. So we're looking at 2 Corinthians 8 and verse 5. And then we're going to Galatians chapter 1, 2 Corinthians 8 in verse 5. The Apostle Paul is talking about these Christians in Macedonia, and he says, And this they did, not as we had hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord and unto us by the will of God. Isn't that interesting? Paul said these Macedonian Christians, the reason they gave so generously for the poor brethren is this. They first gave themselves to the Lord and then to us. Now, the point I want to make is this. We're never going to live rightly for ourselves or for others. Until we first give ourselves to the Lord and live for him. Now, why? Did Christ redeem us? Well, look in your Bibles in the book of Galatians chapter 1 and verse 4. Galatians chapter 1 and verse 4. Look what the Bible says. Who gave himself for our sins? Why?

[John Weaver] That he might deliver us from this present evil world according to the will of God and our Father. So Christ then actually gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from this present evil world. So we're not to be living for ourselves, nor according to this present evil world, but we're to be living for our Lord. So this presenting of our bodies a living sacrifice, this living holy and godly, is not something that is to be done in a mechanical Functionary way, in other words, say, well, this is just my function. This is a role I've got to play and I might as well play it through. And you act just near like a mere machine.

[John Weaver] No, I want to show you. I want you to turn to two passages, Ephesians six and first Peter, chapter four. I look at Ephesians six and verse six. And then we'll go to first Peter, chapter four, just showing you that there should be some real heart. in our sanctification and in our holiness. Notice in Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 6, he makes this statement. Not with eye service as men pleasers, but as servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart. So when we present our bodies, when we live holy, godly lives, when we abstain from fornication, It is doing the will of God from the heart. It's because of our love to God, our regard and our honor for Him, and a desire to please and obey Him.

[John Weaver] Now, let me give you a comparison. Look in 1 Peter 4, beginning there with verses 1 and 2. Look what he says. 1 Peter 4, verse 1. For as much as Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, now watch, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind. For he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin, that he no longer should live for the rest of the time in the flesh to the lust of men, but to the will of God." Now look what he says in verse 1. For as much then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, now watch, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind. Do you think when Jesus Christ came, he said, well, I've got a role to act out. I've got a little Judy to perform. I might as well go ahead and get it over with. Do you think he was mechanical in that area? Do you honestly believe that Christ did not rejoice to please the Father and to do the will of God and to honor Him?

[John Weaver] That's what the Scripture says. He will magnify my love and make it honorable in all things. Christ said, I want to do always those things which please the Father. So it was not just a perfunctory role that he was playing. No! He actually did the will of God from the heart. He was zealously affected by the will of God. And that's exactly what God is telling us. We've got to learn to cry out for holiness and we've got to learn to walk in such a way as to please God.

[John Weaver] Now, listen to what he said. This is the will of God. Even your sanctification. There can be no doubt that this is the will of God for each of our lives.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you just a couple of other specified areas of the will of God. Look in your Bibles, if you would please, to First Thessalonians, chapter 5 and verse 18. By the way, the phrase the will of God occurs a number of times in the New Testament. But there are only several passages where unmistakably and undeniably the will of God is spelled out. One of them is our text, 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. The second one is 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 and verse 18. Look what he says. In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. In everything give thanks. In everything, give thanks, watch, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

[John Weaver] My wife and I have been trying to secure a mobile home for my mother-in-law to live in. She's going to sell her house. And they went and looked at one. and liked it immensely. And we were going to buy it. We even got copies of the title so we could make all the necessary arrangements. And would you believe, in 24 hours, the people had sold it out from others. They sold it to someone else after we had already told them we'd take it.

[John Weaver] And Alice was a little bit upset. And I said, well, don't be upset. I said, because the Lord will give us a better one at a cheaper price. And what, two days later? We found another one that she liked even better. Six thousand dollars cheaper. So in everything, give thanks. So there's no reason to complain about things. God says in everything, give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. It's unmistakable. It's clear. It's plain. Look in first Peter, chapter two, first Peter, chapter two, verse 15. 1 Peter 2 verse 15. Look at what he says. For this is the will of God. That with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. So what is the will of God for our lives?

[John Weaver] That we live doing that which is right and holy and in obedience to him. Look in 1 Peter 3 and verse 17. 1 Peter 3 verse 17. Or is better, if the will of God be so, that you suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing? So the will of God is, then, that if we have to suffer, we suffer for doing what's right. We don't suffer for doing what's wrong.

[John Weaver] Now, just pointing out the fact, here are some very clear specifics. This is the will of God in your sanctification. This is the will of God that we give thanks and everything. This is the will of God that we do that which is right. This is the will of God that if we suffer, we suffer for doing good and not for doing evil.

[John Weaver] Now, look in your Bibles to the book of Colossians chapter 4. Watch carefully this passage, Colossians 4 verse 13. Look what he says. Colossians 4. Verse twelve, it is. Colossians four, verse twelve, a papyrus who is one of you, a servant of Christ saluted you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers. Now watch carefully that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Now, Paul says that a papyrus was praying for these Colossian Christians that they may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Now, here's my question. How can you and I stand perfect and complete in all the will of God if we do not obey him in these specific areas? It's impossible. Now, I've got another question. If you and I will not obey God in these specific areas, for instance, this is the will of God, even your sanctification that you should abstain from fornication. For instance, this is the will of God that you give thanks and everything in Christ Jesus.

[John Weaver] If you and I will not obey God in these specified areas where God has spelled out his will unmistakably in clear and plain language, what makes you think that we will ever obey God in those areas which we're dubious and doubtful about and have a little difficult time discerning the will of God? If we're not going to obey God in that which is clear and plain, most likely We're certainly not going to obey God in those areas that are going to cause us a little difficulty in ascertaining the will of God. You see, you don't have to guess about sanctification. You don't have to guess about sexual purity. You don't have to guess about giving thanks. You don't have to guess about doing good. You don't have to guess about suffering for righteousness sake. God spells it out. God makes it exceedingly clear. God makes it exceedingly plain. The only question is, Are you going to affirm the will of God in your life? Are you going to actually obey God? Are you going to present your body a living sacrifice, doing that which is holy and acceptable unto God?

[John Weaver] Let me give you one powerful motivation. Look in your Bibles to 1 John chapter 2. You say, what will motivate me to do so and to obey God from the heart? Well, let me just show you. Look in First John, chapter two. Here is one thing that ought to really motivate you. Let's begin reading there with verse 15. First John two, verse 15. He says this love, not the world, neither the things that are in the world. Go on now. Here's a very powerful verse. If any man loved the world, the love of the father is not any.

[John Weaver] You remember what Paul had to write about Demas? He said, Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present evil world. So he says, love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Now watch verse 16. He describes what's in the world. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father, but of the world. And here it is in verse 17. And the world passeth away and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever."

[John Weaver] Ah, what does he say? The world and all of its lusts are only temporary. But he who does the will of God abides forever. Doing the will of God is eternal. Serving the lust of the flesh is only temporary. So you have been an affirmation by the Apostle Paul. This is the will of God.

[John Weaver] Now go back to verse three in First Thessalonians, chapter four, because I want to spend the rest of my time today on the second point in verse three, and that is an explanation. He gives you an affirmation, this is the will of God, and then he explains that affirmation, even your sanctification. So he tells us then that sanctification is the will of God for each of his children. Now, I want to explain to you what sanctification is. I told you earlier that the word sanctification is the word hagiosmos. It is from the root word hagios, which basically means holy, worthy of veneration. Now let me show you how this word is used in our Bibles. I want you to turn in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of Luke chapter 1 and verse 49. Luke chapter 1 and verse 49. Remember that the word, first of all, means to be holy and worthy of veneration. In Luke 1 and verse 49, the word of God says this in reference to God. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things, says Mary, and holy is his name."

[John Weaver] Chagios is his name. What does that mean? It means that God is holy and that God is worthy of veneration and honor and worship and praise. So the very first way that is used then is in reference to God. Secondly, the word holy means to be set apart for God to be exclusively his own. Look in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 2 and verse 23. Then we'll go to John 17, but Luke chapter 2 and verse 23. The Bible said, as it is written in the law of the Lord, every male that opened the womb shall be called holy to the Lord. Now, what in the world does that verse mean? Every male that opened the womb shall be called holy to the Lord. You remember the Old Testament before the Levites were chosen, the firstborn was always set apart for God in man and in animals. And when he says, every male that openeth a womb shall be called holy, what did they do to that firstborn male ram or that firstborn male ox or that firstborn male sheep?

[John Weaver] They set him aside for God. This was God's exclusive property.

[John Weaver] Now, the word holy does not just simply mean holy and worthy of veneration. It does mean that. But it also means, secondly, to be set apart for God, to be His own exclusively. Look in your Bibles to John 17. Here is the high priestly prayer of Jesus Christ. And look in verse 14 to begin with. John 17, verse 14. Christ says, I have given them by word and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." Verse 16,"...they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."

[John Weaver] Let me ask you a question. Why is it that God's people are not of the world? We have been set apart. exclusively for Christ. Now, just like in the Old Testament, national Israel was God's exclusive people. So in the New Testament, the Christians, the new Israel of God, are God's exclusive people. We have been set apart for God. So the word holy means not only holy and worthy of veneration, it means secondly, to be set apart exclusively for the Lord. Thirdly, The word holy means to be prepared for God.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles to the book of Ephesians chapter 1. We'll come back to these verses a little bit later, but Ephesians chapter 1. And look, if you would, first of all at verse 4. Ephesians 1 verse 4. According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him. Holy and without blame before him.

[John Weaver] So we have been prepared for him. Look at Ephesians 5. I can say we'll come back to these passages. Verses 25 through 27. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify it and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should

[John Weaver] be holy and without blemish. So we're not only set apart for God, we are to be prepared for God in the sense that we're to actually be holy and live for him. And then, fourthly, in the moral sense, and I want you to turn to 1 Peter 1. In the moral sense, the word holy means to be pure. It means to be upright. It means to be holy and sinless. Look what he says. 1 Peter 1, beginning there with verse 15. He says, but as he would call you as holy, so be you holy in all manner of conversation, because it's written, be holy, for I am holy. Now, as God is pure, as God is sinless, as God is upright, so God likewise calls us to be pure and holy and upright. Now, I want you to put all these definitions together. I want you to understand that it is the will of God for each of us, number one, to be holy. Number two, to be set apart exclusively for God's use. Number three, to be prepared for God, for his use.

[John Weaver] And number four, to be sure, to be upright, to be holy, and as much as possible, to be sinless. Now, this is sanctification.

[John Weaver] Now, let me just keep going. I don't want you to confuse justification, sanctification, or glorification. So listen carefully. Justification is the initial change. That is when God saves us. Sanctification is additional change. That's when we grow in grace. And glorification is our ultimate change. That's when we'll be perfect in eternity. Now, between justification and glorification is sanctification.

[John Weaver] Now, let me go a little further. Because in order to understand sanctification, you have to distinguish between two types of sanctification. There is, first of all, what we know as a positional sanctification, which we have in Jesus Christ. And that positional sanctification is absolutely perfect. Look in your Bibles. Let me show it to you. First of all, the first Corinthians chapter one and verse 30. First Corinthians one and verse 30. First Corinthians chapter one, verse 30. Look at what the Bible says concerning us in Christ. He says, 1 Corinthians 1 verse 30, But of him, that is, of God, are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. So Jesus Christ is basically our sanctification. When we are in Christ, we are positionally perfect.

[John Weaver] Nothing can be added to it, nothing can be taken from it. Look in your Bible, John 17, verse 23. Here in his high priestly prayer, look what our Lord requests of the Father. John 17, verse 23. And remember now that our Lord always has his prayers answered. He says in John 17, verse 23, I in them and thou in me. that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me." So we are perfect in one. We are perfect in Jesus Christ. Now, look in Hebrews chapter 2. And let's begin reading there with verse 10. I'm just showing you this positional sanctification that we have in Jesus Christ. Hebrews chapter 2, beginning there with verse 10. Let's look at what it says. For it became him, that is, it became Christ, for of whom are all things, and by whom are all things, and bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering.

[John Weaver] Watch, for both he that sanctified, that is Christ, and they who are sanctified, that is us, are all of one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren. Now Christ, the sanctifier, is perfect. than those who we sanctifies are perfect as well, for we are in Christ. This is known as a positional sanctification. We are in Christ, but let me tell you something. Most of the teaching in the Bible on sanctification is not or does not have referenced our positional sanctification, although the Bible does teach that. Most of the references what you and I would call a practical or a progressive sanctification.

[John Weaver] That is whereby the whole man is renewed after the image of God and we're enabled more and more to die and to sin and to live under God's righteousness. What is progressive sanctification? What is practical sanctification? That is when we are enabled by the grace of God and by the power of God, to die more and more unto sin and live more and more unto obedience unto Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Let me put it plainly. We ought to be more holy tomorrow than we are today. We ought to be more obedient next week than we were this week. That is a practical or a progressive sanctification. Look in your Bibles, the first Thessalonians, chapter 5, At verses 23 and 24, look at Paul's prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5, verses 23 and 24. He says, And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, W-H-O-L-L-Y, completely, totally. And the very God of peace sanctify you completely, totally. And I pray, God, your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless under the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Watch verse 24.

[John Weaver] Faithful is he who calleth you who also will do it. Now what did Paul just pray? That we would be sanctified body, soul, and spirit. In other words, that we would be holy, totally, completely sanctified. This is a practical, it is a progressive sanctification, and then he says in verse 24, faithful is he who calleth you who also will do it. Now if God has called us to salvation, he has also called us to sanctification and to holiness. Those whom God justifies, he sanctifies.

[John Weaver] Let me put it to you like this. There is no such thing as a perfect, inalienable standing in Christ Jesus which is divorced from heart purity and a personal walk in righteousness. Someone says, oh, Brother Weaver, I'm perfect in Christ Jesus. I have my positional sanctification. That means I can live any way I want to live. Oh, no. If you really are positionally perfect in Christ, you will have a personal and a progressive and a practical obedience to Christ walking in holiness and sanctification. Does not necessarily mean that you're going to be perfect in this life, but you will be walking in that direction.

[John Weaver] So the Bible knows nothing, and listen to me carefully, the Bible knows nothing of a justified unsanctified man. Those whom God justifies, he sanctifies. Whomever God saves, he delivers from sin and from the tyranny of sin. May I just quote Matthew 121? Thou shalt call his name Jesus. Why? He shall deliver his people from their sins. He shall. Not hope so, not maybe so. He shall. So those whom he justifies, he sanctifies. You see, justification deals with the guilt of our sins, and sanctification deals with the pollution and the corruption of our sins. So sanctification then, listen to me carefully, is central to the saving purpose of God.

[John Weaver] Now, really and truly, one passage. to prove this to you, I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 6. 1 Corinthians chapter 6. I can quote this passage, but I want you to see it. You see, we have today what is known as the carnal Christian theory.

[John Weaver] Now listen to me carefully. What people mean by that is here's somebody who's made a decision for Christ, unquote, and he's joined the church and he's baptized.

[John Weaver] Now, he's saying he's just living like the devil. He's just carnal. If you were to take carnality or fleshliness, according to First Corinthians, Chapter 3. First Corinthians, Chapter 3, their fleshlessness, they were just arguing over who the best preacher was. In the context, some like Paul, some like Apollos, some like Cephas, some say, well, I'm really spiritual. I like Christ. Their fleshliness was arguing over who was the best preacher. But today, fleshliness or carnality is defined as drunkenness, whoremongering. And we think, well, here's a man been living As an adulterer for 40 years, and he's been a member of Good Standing with the Church, he must be a Christian. No, look what Paul says.

[John Weaver] 1 Corinthians 6 verse 9, That the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God, be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves and mankind, that's sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor violators, nor sorcerers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Watch verse 11, and such were, past tense, some of you, but you are washed. But you're sanctified, but you're justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

[John Weaver] Now, what is Paul saying? Paul says if you think some whoremongering, stealing, effeminate, drunkard is a Christian, you're deceived.

[John Weaver] Now, God might have some folks who used to be that, but he justified them. He sanctified them. He cleaned them up. They're no longer those things. Listen to me carefully, sanctification is central to the saving purpose of God. Look back in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter one. I told you earlier we would come back to some of these passages. Ephesians chapter one, and let's read verses three and four.

[John Weaver] He says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings and heavenly places in Christ, according as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be fully and without blame before him in love. Now, the salvation of sinful men was no accident. It did not just simply spontaneously occur. There was no big bang theory when it came to salvation.

[John Weaver] I want you to understand that. Salvation was purposed by the triune God before the foundation of the world. Now, that same God who chose us unto salvation chose us to be holy, that is, he chose us to be sanctified before him.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look very carefully at verse 4. Here are three very important things to look at. First of all, God's election is central as to the basis upon which he saves men. The Bible says, according as he hath chosen us. Our union with Christ is central as to the means by which He will save those men. He says in verse 4,"...according as He hath chosen us in Him." And then notice thirdly, holiness is central in that. Watch verse 4,"...according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy." God did not choose us and redeem us and save us in Christ that we might be wicked and rebellious and ungodly. He chose us and redeemed us that we might be holy.

[John Weaver] May I remind you, and I hope you know this verse by heart, Romans 8 and verse 29. We went over that passage in great detail a number of months ago, but you remember the Bible said, Then he shows us that we might be what conformed to the image of his son. Sounds like holiness to me. Look in your Bibles if you would, the first Peter chapter one first Peter chapter one. First Peter chapter one. And let's begin reading the reverse one. He says, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, the stranger scattered throughout Pontius, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, now watch, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the spirit. unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, grace unto you and peace be multiplied." Now, he says in verse 2,"...elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit." Now, I told you last week that the agent in sanctification is the Holy Spirit. Here he shows you the same truth again, through sanctification of the Spirit.

[John Weaver] Help me out. Romans 8, 9. Let me quote.

[John Weaver] Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Isn't that plain? Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. So if a person does not have the Spirit of Christ in them, he is not a Christian. But may I ask you, what is the Spirit doing in that Christian according to 1 Peter 1 and verse 2? He is sanctifying that Christian because sanctification is by the Spirit. So wherever the Spirit of God is, there is going to be sanctification. You cannot have the Spirit of God and not be sanctified.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. 2 Thessalonians 2. Watch carefully, and let's begin reading there with verse 13. 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 13. Paul writes, but we're bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord. Why? Because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. whereunto he calls you by our gospel, watch, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." Now, in verse 13, Paul talks about our election in eternity past. And then in verse 14, he talks about our glorification in eternity future, and between election and eternity past, and glorification and eternity future, sandwiched in between there is calling and sanctification. Sounds like to me, if you get to the glorification, you've got the pass-through calling and sanctification. He said in verse 13, He's chosen you from the beginning to salvation through or in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. So those whom God justifies, He sanctifies. Now, turn in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 5.

[John Weaver] Ephesians chapter 5. Let me make a statement. The world and modern day Christendom is consumed with being happy. Everybody wants to be happy. Every time you read or hear something, it's always this super syrupy, sentimental, I'm happy, are you happy? Just so we're happy. Listen, God is not so much as concerned with our happiness as he is our holiness. Now it is true a holy person will be a happy person, but you can be happy and not be holy. Look at what the Bible says, Ephesians 5, watch carefully, verse 25.

[John Weaver] Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it. Why did Christ give himself for the church? Watch that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself, a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. Christ did not give himself to epify the church. He did not give himself to activate the church. He did not give himself to motivate the church. He gave himself that he might sanctify and make it holy.

[John Weaver] Holiness is the number one priority with God. That's why Christ gave himself for us, that he might make us holy.

[John Weaver] Now, look in your Bibles to the book of Titus, chapter 2. I'll show you the same truth. Titus, chapter 2. Titus, chapter 2, verse 10. Look at what he says. Titus 2, verse 10. not purloining, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things." adorning the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us." Now watch, the grace of God that brings salvation teaches us something.

[John Weaver] What does it teach us? It teaches us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, watch, here's why, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous for good works." Isn't that amazing? Why did he give himself for us? That he might purify unto himself a peculiar people. And the grace that brings salvation, according to verse 12, teaches us to live holy, godly, soberly, righteously in this present Now, let's go back. Listen carefully. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4 verse 3, For this is the will of God, even your sanctification.

[John Weaver] Now, let me just ask this question. How central, how significant is sanctification in salvation? Look in your Bibles to Hebrews 12 and verse 14. This will answer the question, and then I'll make some applications. Watch carefully. How central, how significant is sanctification in salvation? Well, Hebrews 12 and verse 14 says this. Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Isn't that powerful? Jesus Christ came to redeem a people and to purify them and to make them whole. He did not come to redeem them and leave them in their sins and leave them in their revenge. Now let me make a couple of applications, and I think the first one should be extremely obvious. Sanctification and or holiness, whichever one you want to refer to it as, it's all the same. Sanctification or holiness is not a side issue. It is a vital, central, important life and death issue. For without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. Sanctification is the will of God for our lives.

[John Weaver] If we have been chosen by the Father and redeemed by the Son, according to the Scripture, we will also be sanctified by the Spirit. Now, does that mean that we're going to be absolutely perfect? No. Does it mean we'll never sin? No. Does it mean we won't make mistakes? No. But it does mean that we're going to be progressively and practically pursuing a life of holiness. It is true that David sinned. But you remember, David was a man after God's own heart. His sin was the exception.

[John Weaver] It was not the rule. Do I make mistakes? Yeah. Do I sin? Yes. Do I want to sin? No. Do I enjoy sinning? No. I want to be holy. But I'm human, and I'm a sinner, and I'm imperfect, and as long as I'm in this flesh, I'm going to sin, but the tenor of my life and the general theme of my life is pursuing holiness and obedience to God and honoring Him and bringing my life into conformity to His Word. You follow what I'm saying? Sanctification is going to be in our lives if the Spirit of God is in our lives. Now, let me just tell you once again what sanctification is. Sanctification is the work of God's free grace whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God and are enabled more and more to die unto sin and to live unto righteousness. Paul said, this is the will of God, even your sanctification.

[John Weaver] Now next week he's going to deal with a negation. I'm going to show you an aspect of sanctification. That is, that we should be sexually pure in every area of our lives. But just write her down. This is the will of God, that we live a holy, sanctified life. Let's pray. Father, we ask that you would help us, build us up in the most holy faith, teach us thy word, and make us pure, and make us holy. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

3 Sanctification & Sexual Purity

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	1022071348212
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Law, Obedience, and Sanctification: Walking With God
Genre	Sermon
Date	2007-10-22
Dictation Name
Book	Book 134: Romans: Law, Obedience, and Sanctification - Volume 1 — Chapter 7
Source Timed Segments	68

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the series on sanctification and sexual purity, covering the exhortation in verse 1 and the explanation in verse 2, leading into the exposition of verse 3.

1 Thessalonians chapter 4, beginning with verse 1.

Scripture Reading — 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

"Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit."

This series two weeks ago, in which I'm just simply entitling it "Sanctification and Sexual Purity." But I want you to note, first of all, in verse one, which we've already covered, you have an exhortation. And this is three points that are attached to verse one. First of all, a practical necessity. He says that you have received of us how you ought to walk and to please God. Secondly, a personal application. You ought to walk and to please God. And then thirdly, a progressive reality, for he says, so you would abound more and more.

So he exhorts them then to receive the teaching, to apply the teaching and to continue to grow in the teaching. And then last week we looked at verse two, which is an explanation. He says, for you know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. So how they received from the apostles, how they ought to walk and to please God, was basically teaching from the law of God. And of course, I showed you last week how the law of God actually is a phrase not just for the Ten Commandments, but for the entirety of Scripture. Because in one sense of the word, a king rules by his law and all of God's word is law, because it issues forth from him. But specifically, what the apostle Paul was doing was making application of the law of God in different situations. Now today we come to the third point, and we're going to be on this point for several weeks in all probability, and that is an exposition because when you get to verse three, Paul actually begins to expound the truth that he's been exhorting these Thessalonians to live by, and of course explaining how

The Will of God Revealed

Paul affirms that sanctification is the will of God, distinguishing between God's secret will and His revealed will, which is plainly given in Scripture for us to obey.

he taught them. So let's look at the exposition in verse 3. He says, "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication." Now the exposition goes on down to verse 4 anyhow, but I want to point out the fact that verse 3 is so loaded with truth, there's no way that we're even going to be able to finish verse three today, so we'll probably be on verse three today and next Lord's Day as well. So in the exposition, the Apostle Paul begins to expound the truth of his teaching, the point of his instruction and the purpose of his message. Now listen carefully. The way to walk pleasing to the Lord is to obey his commandments and in walking pleasing to the Lord, in obeying his commandments, we're actually doing the will of God. He says in verse 3, "For this is the will of God."

Now, in many areas, when we discuss the will of God, the will of God is something that we meditate upon. It's something that we study. It's something that we ponder. It's something that a lot of people say, "Well, I'd really like to know the will of God," but sometimes it is very difficult to know the will of God. Well, in some rare instances, that may be true, but this is not one of those instances, because in this instance, we are not left questioning. We're not left to wonder. He tells us in very plain, readable and understandable words exactly what the will of God is. He says, "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification." And then he goes on to say that you should abstain from fornication. So the will of God, then, in the area of sexual purity, is that we be pure. Now, let me just very quickly tell you that when you discuss the will of God, there are two things that you need to consider. First of all, there is the revealed will of God, which we know as the Bible, which is the word of God.

And secondly, there is that secretive will of God. Now, the secretive will of God refers to God's eternal purpose, which he purposed in Jesus Christ before the world ever began. Now, the only way that you and I can ever know the secretive will of God is when that will comes to pass in time and in history. Until then, we will not know it, and until then, we need not know it. If you would hold 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, but look back in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 29 and verse 29, and you will see exactly what I'm talking about. Deuteronomy 29 and verse 29. Note what the Word of God says. In this passage, God declares,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 29:29

"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God."

That is, his eternal counsels, his secretive will, the secret things belong unto the LORD our God. Now, what's the distinction?

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 29:29

"But those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."

Now, what is it that we're to be concerned about? The secretive will or the revealed will? Very clearly, the revealed will. That's what God has given us to do. He's going to work out His secretive will. We have no idea concerning it, and we'll not understand or know what it is until it comes to pass. But He's given us His revealed will, and He said that's what we're to live by.

Now, look back in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 and verse 3. He says, "For this is the will of God," so we're talking about the revealed will of God. We're talking about the plain, evident word of God. "This is the will of God, even your sanctification." Let me just stop momentarily and tell you that the word for sanctification is hagiasmos. That's the Greek word. It literally means consecration, purification, or sanctification. So you could read that this is the will of God, even your consecration or even your purification, as well as your sanctification. I want you to just think for a moment.

The Affirmation: This is the Will of God

Weaver shows that sanctification is an unmistakable command, and that obeying God's will should be done from the heart, not mechanically, motivated by love for God.

Here is a very unique opportunity. Here is an opportunity to please God, to walk according to his commandments, to actually do his will. As I said earlier, the will of God may not be plain in some areas, but in this area, the will of God is unmistakably clear and plain. To me, in one sense of the word, it's absolutely exciting to think that we have the actual opportunity to please God. Have you ever stopped to think about that? And we have an opportunity to please, to satisfy, to honor the very heart of God. He says this is the will of God, even your sanctification. So many times the will of God may be very general and we may have to meditate and ponder on it, but here it's very specific and God has told us exactly what his will is.

Now let's begin to look at verse three and I want to cover just about two points under the exposition. My first point is, first of all, an affirmation. Look what he says in verse three: "For this is the will of God." So Paul then is affirming the will of God in our lives in regard to sexual purity. Now, I want you to hold 1 Thessalonians 4 and I want you to turn with me to several passages. The first one is Romans chapter 12 verses 1 and 2, which I hope that everyone in here can quote. If you can't, you ought to memorize it, but I want to point out in this passage regarding the will of God. Look what he says in Romans 12:1: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God." And by the way, let me just stop there. The mercies that the Apostle Paul is talking about,

he's already discussed in the previous chapters. He's talked about our calling, our election, our justification, our redemption, all of those things. He says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice." Now watch: "holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." I want you to tie the word "holy" and "acceptable" in verse 1 to the will of God in verse 2. He says that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God, and the way to prove it is by yielding your bodies, he says, a living sacrifice unto holiness, that which is acceptable unto God, that which is our reasonable service. Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 8. 2 Corinthians 8. Look at verse 5 and go ahead and find the book of Galatians 1.

I want to compare these verses. So we're looking at 2 Corinthians 8 and verse 5. And then we're going to Galatians chapter 1. 2 Corinthians 8 and verse 5. The Apostle Paul is talking about these Christians in Macedonia, and he says,

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 8:5

"And this they did, not as we had hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God."

Isn't that interesting? Paul said these Macedonian Christians, the reason they gave so generously for the poor brethren is this: they first gave themselves to the Lord and then to us. Now, the point I want to make is this: we're never going to live rightly for ourselves or for others until we first give ourselves to the Lord and live for him. Now, why did Christ redeem us? Well, look in your Bibles in the book of Galatians chapter 1 and verse 4. Galatians chapter 1 and verse 4. Look what the Bible says: "Who gave himself for our sins, why?

That he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." So Christ then actually gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from this present evil world. So we're not to be living for ourselves, nor according to this present evil world, but we're to be living for our Lord. So this presenting of our bodies a living sacrifice, this living holy and godly, is not something that is to be done in a mechanical, functionary way. In other words, say, "Well, this is just my function. This is a role I've got to play and I might as well play it through." And you act just near like a mere machine. No, I want to show you. I want you to turn to two passages, Ephesians 6 and 1 Peter chapter 4. Look at Ephesians 6 and verse 6. And then we'll go to 1 Peter chapter 4, just showing you that there should be some real heart in our sanctification and in our holiness. Notice in Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 6, he makes this statement: "Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 6:6

" So when we present our bodies, when we live holy, godly lives, when we abstain from fornication, it is doing the will of God from the heart. It's because of our love to God, our regard and our honor for Him, and a desire to please and obey Him.

Now, let me give you a comparison. Look in 1 Peter 4, beginning there with verses 1 and 2. Look what he says. 1 Peter 4, verse 1:

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 4:1-2

"Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God."

Now look what he says in verse 1:

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 4:1-2

"Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind."

Do you think when Jesus Christ came, he said, "Well, I've got a role to act out. I've got a little duty to perform. I might as well go ahead and get it over with." Do you think he was mechanical in that area? Do you honestly believe that Christ did not rejoice to please the Father and to do the will of God and to honor Him?

That's what the Scripture says. He will magnify my law and make it honorable in all things. Christ said, "I want to do always those things which please the Father." So it was not just a perfunctory role that he was playing. No! He actually did the will of God from the heart. He was zealously affected by the will of God. And that's exactly what God is telling us. We've got to learn to cry out for holiness and we've got to learn to walk in such a way as to please God.

Now, listen to what he said. "This is the will of God, even your sanctification." There can be no doubt that this is the will of God for each of our lives. Now, let me show you just a couple of other specified areas of the will of God. Look in your Bibles, if you would please, to 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 and verse 18. By the way, the phrase "the will of God" occurs a number of times in the New Testament. But there are only several passages where unmistakably and undeniably the will of God is spelled out. One of them is our text, 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. The second one is 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 and verse 18. Look what he says: "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." In everything give thanks. In everything, give thanks, watch, "for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Other Specified Areas of God's Will

Weaver cites other clear statements of God's will: giving thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18), doing good (1 Peter 2:15), and suffering for righteousness (1 Peter 3:17).

My wife and I have been trying to secure a mobile home for my mother-in-law to live in. She's going to sell her house. And they went and looked at one and liked it immensely. And we were going to buy it. We even got copies of the title so we could make all the necessary arrangements. And would you believe, in 24 hours, the people had sold it out from under us. They sold it to someone else after we had already told them we'd take it.

And Alice was a little bit upset. And I said, "Well, don't be upset." I said, "Because the Lord will give us a better one at a cheaper price." And what, two days later? We found another one that she liked even better. Six thousand dollars cheaper. So in everything, give thanks. So there's no reason to complain about things. God says in everything, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. It's unmistakable. It's clear. It's plain. Look in 1 Peter chapter 2, verse 15. 1 Peter 2 verse 15. Look at what he says: "For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men." So what is the will of God for our lives?

That we live doing that which is right and holy and in obedience to him. Look in 1 Peter 3 and verse 17. 1 Peter 3 verse 17:

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 2:15

"For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing."

So the will of God is, then, that if we have to suffer, we suffer for doing what's right. We don't suffer for doing what's wrong.

Now, just pointing out the fact, here are some very clear specifics. This is the will of God in your sanctification. This is the will of God that we give thanks in everything. This is the will of God that we do that which is right. This is the will of God that if we suffer, we suffer for doing good and not for doing evil.

The Necessity of Obeying Clear Commands

If we will not obey God in plainly revealed areas like sanctification, we will not obey in more difficult matters; obedience in clear things is essential.

Now, look in your Bibles to the book of Colossians chapter 4. Watch carefully this passage, Colossians 4 verse 12. Look what he says. Colossians 4, verse 12:

Scripture Reading — Colossians 4:12

"Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers."

Now watch carefully:

Scripture Reading — Colossians 4:12

"that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God."

Now, Paul says that Epaphras was praying for these Colossian Christians that they may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Now, here's my question. How can you and I stand perfect and complete in all the will of God if we do not obey him in these specific areas? It's impossible. Now, I've got another question. If you and I will not obey God in these specific areas, for instance,

Scripture Reading — Colossians 4:12

"this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication."

For instance,

Scripture Reading — Colossians 4:12

"this is the will of God that you give thanks in everything in Christ Jesus."

If you and I will not obey God in these specified areas where God has spelled out his will unmistakably in clear and plain language, what makes you think that we will ever obey God in those areas which we're dubious and doubtful about and have a little difficult time discerning the will of God? If we're not going to obey God in that which is clear and plain, most likely we're certainly not going to obey God in those areas that are going to cause us a little difficulty in ascertaining the will of God. You see, you don't have to guess about sanctification. You don't have to guess about sexual purity. You don't have to guess about giving thanks. You don't have to guess about doing good. You don't have to guess about suffering for righteousness' sake. God spells it out. God makes it exceedingly clear. God makes it exceedingly plain. The only question is, are you going to affirm the will of God in your life? Are you going to actually obey God? Are you going to present your body a living sacrifice, doing that which is holy and acceptable unto God?

Let me give you one powerful motivation. Look in your Bibles to 1 John chapter 2. You say, "What will motivate me to do so and to obey God from the heart?" Well, let me just show you. Look in 1 John chapter 2. Here is one thing that ought to really motivate you. Let's begin reading there with verse 15. 1 John 2, verse 15. He says this:

Scripture Reading — 1 John 2:15-17

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world."

Go on now. Here's a very powerful verse:

Scripture Reading — 1 John 2:15-17

"If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

Motivation: The Eternal Reward of Doing God's Will

1 John 2:15-17 teaches that the world and its lusts are temporary, but he who does the will of God abides forever, providing motivation for holiness.

Scripture Reading — 1 John 2:15-17

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world."

Go on now. Here's a very powerful verse:

Scripture Reading — 1 John 2:15-17

"If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

You remember what Paul had to write about Demas? He said, "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present evil world." So he says, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." Now watch verse 16. He describes what's in the world: "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." And here it is in verse 17: "And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." Ah, what does he say? The world and all of its lusts are only temporary. But he who does the will of God abides forever. Doing the will of God is eternal. Serving the lust of the flesh is only temporary. So you have been an affirmation by the Apostle Paul. This is the will of God.

Now go back to verse three in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, because I want to spend the rest of my time today on the second point in verse three, and that is an explanation. He gives you an affirmation, "This is the will of God," and then he explains that affirmation, "even your sanctification." So he tells us then that sanctification is the will of God for each of his children. Now, I want to explain to you what sanctification is. I told you earlier that the word sanctification is the word hagiasmos. It is from the root word hagios, which basically means holy, worthy of veneration. Now let me show you how this word is used in our Bibles. I want you to turn in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of Luke chapter 1 and verse 49. Luke chapter 1 and verse 49. Remember that the word, first of all, means to be holy and worthy of veneration. In Luke 1 and verse 49, the word of God says this in reference to God: "For he that is mighty hath done to me great things," says Mary, "and holy is his name."

The Explanation: What is Sanctification?

Weaver defines sanctification (hagiasmos) as holiness, being set apart for God, prepared for God, and moral purity, and distinguishes positional from progressive sanctification.

Ah, what does he say? The world and all of its lusts are only temporary. But he who does the will of God abides forever. Doing the will of God is eternal. Serving the lust of the flesh is only temporary. So you have been an affirmation by the Apostle Paul. This is the will of God.

Scripture Reading — Luke 1:49

Hagios is his name. What does that mean? It means that God is holy and that God is worthy of veneration and honor and worship and praise. So the very first way that is used then is in reference to God. Secondly, the word holy means to be set apart for God, to be exclusively his own. Look in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 2 and verse 23. Then we'll go to John 17, but Luke chapter 2 and verse 23. The Bible said, "As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord." Now, what in the world does that verse mean? "Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord." You remember the Old Testament before the Levites were chosen, the firstborn was always set apart for God in man and in animals. And when he says, "Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy," what did they do to that firstborn male ram or that firstborn male ox or that firstborn male sheep?

They set him aside for God. This was God's exclusive property. Now, the word holy does not just simply mean holy and worthy of veneration. It does mean that. But it also means, secondly, to be set apart for God, to be His own exclusively. Look in your Bibles to John 17. Here is the high priestly prayer of Jesus Christ. And look in verse 14 to begin with. John 17, verse 14. Christ says, "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." Verse 16, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."

Let me ask you a question. Why is it that God's people are not of the world? We have been set apart exclusively for Christ. Now, just like in the Old Testament, national Israel was God's exclusive people. So in the New Testament, the Christians, the new Israel of God, are God's exclusive people. We have been set apart for God. So the word holy means not only holy and worthy of veneration, it means secondly, to be set apart exclusively for the Lord. Thirdly, the word holy means to be prepared for God.

Look in your Bibles to the book of Ephesians chapter 1. We'll come back to these verses a little bit later, but Ephesians chapter 1. And look, if you would, first of all at verse 4. Ephesians 1 verse 4: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him." Holy and without blame before him.

So we have been prepared for him. Look at Ephesians 5. I can say we'll come back to these passages. Verses 25 through 27:

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 5:25-27

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

So we're not only set apart for God, we are to be prepared for God in the sense that we're to actually be holy and live for him. And then, fourthly, in the moral sense, and I want you to turn to 1 Peter 1. In the moral sense, the word holy means to be pure. It means to be upright. It means to be holy and sinless. Look what he says. 1 Peter 1, beginning there with verse 15. He says, "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." Now, as God is pure, as God is sinless, as God is upright, so God likewise calls us to be pure and holy and upright. Now, I want you to put all these definitions together. I want you to understand that it is the will of God for each of us, number one, to be holy. Number two, to be set apart exclusively for God's use. Number three, to be prepared for God, for his use.

And number four, to be sure, to be upright, to be holy, and as much as possible, to be sinless. Now, this is sanctification. Now, let me just keep going. I don't want you to confuse justification, sanctification, or glorification. So listen carefully. Justification is the initial change. That is when God saves us. Sanctification is additional change. That's when we grow in grace. And glorification is our ultimate change. That's when we'll be perfect in eternity. Now, between justification and glorification is sanctification.

Now, let me go a little further. Because in order to understand sanctification, you have to distinguish between two types of sanctification. There is, first of all, what we know as a positional sanctification, which we have in Jesus Christ. And that positional sanctification is absolutely perfect. Look in your Bibles. Let me show it to you. First of all, 1 Corinthians chapter 1 and verse 30. 1 Corinthians 1 and verse 30. Look at what the Bible says concerning us in Christ. He says, 1 Corinthians 1 verse 30: "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." So Jesus Christ is basically our sanctification. When we are in Christ, we are positionally perfect.

Nothing can be added to it, nothing can be taken from it. Look in your Bible, John 17, verse 23. Here in his high priestly prayer, look what our Lord requests of the Father. John 17, verse 23. And remember now that our Lord always has his prayers answered. He says in John 17, verse 23: "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." So we are perfect in one. We are perfect in Jesus Christ. Now, look in Hebrews chapter 2. And let's begin reading there with verse 10. I'm just showing you this positional sanctification that we have in Jesus Christ. Hebrews chapter 2, beginning there with verse 10. Let's look at what it says: "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."

Watch: "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren." Now Christ, the sanctifier, is perfect. Then those who are sanctified are perfect as well, for we are in Christ. This is known as a positional sanctification. We are in Christ, but let me tell you something. Most of the teaching in the Bible on sanctification is not or does not have reference to our positional sanctification, although the Bible does teach that. Most of the references are what you and I would call a practical or a progressive sanctification. That is whereby the whole man is renewed after the image of God and we're enabled more and more to die unto sin and to live unto righteousness. What is progressive sanctification? What is practical sanctification? That is when we are enabled by the grace of God and by the power of God, to die more and more unto sin and live more and more unto obedience unto Jesus Christ.

Sanctification Central to Salvation

Sanctification is not optional; those justified are also sanctified. Scripture teaches that without holiness no one will see the Lord, and Christ died to purify a people for Himself.

Let me put it plainly. We ought to be more holy tomorrow than we are today. We ought to be more obedient next week than we were this week. That is a practical or a progressive sanctification. Look in your Bibles, 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, at verses 23 and 24. Look at Paul's prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5, verses 23 and 24. He says, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly," W-H-O-L-L-Y, completely, totally. "And the very God of peace sanctify you completely, totally. And I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." Watch verse 24.

"Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." Now what did Paul just pray? That we would be sanctified body, soul, and spirit. In other words, that we would be holy, totally, completely sanctified. This is a practical, it is a progressive sanctification, and then he says in verse 24, "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." Now if God has called us to salvation, he has also called us to sanctification and to holiness. Those whom God justifies, he sanctifies. Let me put it to you like this. There is no such thing as a perfect, inalienable standing in Christ Jesus which is divorced from heart purity and a personal walk in righteousness. Someone says, "Oh, Brother Weaver, I'm perfect in Christ Jesus. I have my positional sanctification. That means I can live any way I want to live." Oh, no. If you really are positionally perfect in Christ, you will have a personal and a progressive and a practical obedience to Christ walking in holiness and sanctification. Does not necessarily mean that you're going to be perfect in this life, but you will be walking in that direction.

So the Bible knows nothing, and listen to me carefully, the Bible knows nothing of a justified unsanctified man. Those whom God justifies, he sanctifies. Whomever God saves, he delivers from sin and from the tyranny of sin. May I just quote Matthew 1:21? "Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." He shall. Not hope so, not maybe so. He shall. So those whom he justifies, he sanctifies. You see, justification deals with the guilt of our sins, and sanctification deals with the pollution and the corruption of our sins. So sanctification then, listen to me carefully, is central to the saving purpose of God.

Now, really and truly, one passage to prove this to you, I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 6. 1 Corinthians chapter 6. I can quote this passage, but I want you to see it. You see, we have today what is known as the carnal Christian theory.

Now listen to me carefully. What people mean by that is here's somebody who's made a decision for Christ, unquote, and he's joined the church and he's baptized. Now, he's saying he's just living like the devil. He's just carnal. If you were to take carnality or fleshliness, according to 1 Corinthians chapter 3, their fleshliness, they were just arguing over who the best preacher was. In the context, some like Paul, some like Apollos, some like Cephas, some say, "Well, I'm really spiritual. I like Christ." Their fleshliness was arguing over who was the best preacher. But today, fleshliness or carnality is defined as drunkenness, whoremongering. And we think, well, here's a man been living as an adulterer for 40 years, and he's been a member in good standing with the church, he must be a Christian. No, look what Paul says.

1 Corinthians 6 verse 9: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind," that's sodomites, "nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." Watch verse 11: "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." Now, what is Paul saying? Paul says if you think some whoremongering, stealing, effeminate, drunkard is a Christian, you're deceived.

Now, God might have some folks who used to be that, but he justified them. He sanctified them. He cleaned them up. They're no longer those things. Listen to me carefully, sanctification is central to the saving purpose of God. Look back in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 1. I told you earlier we would come back to some of these passages. Ephesians chapter 1, and let's read verses 3 and 4.

He says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." Now, the salvation of sinful men was no accident. It did not just simply spontaneously occur. There was no big bang theory when it came to salvation. I want you to understand that. Salvation was purposed by the triune God before the foundation of the world. Now, that same God who chose us unto salvation chose us to be holy, that is, he chose us to be sanctified before him.

Now, I want you to look very carefully at verse 4. Here are three very important things to look at. First of all, God's election is central as to the basis upon which he saves men. The Bible says, "according as he hath chosen us." Our union with Christ is central as to the means by which He will save those men. He says in verse 4, "according as he hath chosen us in him." And then notice thirdly, holiness is central in that. Watch verse 4: "according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy." God did not choose us and redeem us and save us in Christ that we might be wicked and rebellious and ungodly. He chose us and redeemed us that we might be holy.

May I remind you, and I hope you know this verse by heart, Romans 8 and verse 29. We went over that passage in great detail a number of months ago, but you remember the Bible said, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son." Sounds like holiness to me. Look in your Bibles if you would, 1 Peter chapter 1. 1 Peter chapter 1. And let's begin reading there with verse 1. He says, "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied." Now, he says in verse 2, "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit." Now, I told you last week that the agent in sanctification is the Holy Spirit. Here he shows you the same truth again, through sanctification of the Spirit.

Help me out. Romans 8:9. Let me quote. "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Isn't that plain? Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. So if a person does not have the Spirit of Christ in them, he is not a Christian. But may I ask you, what is the Spirit doing in that Christian according to 1 Peter 1 and verse 2? He is sanctifying that Christian because sanctification is by the Spirit. So wherever the Spirit of God is, there is going to be sanctification. You cannot have the Spirit of God and not be sanctified.

Look in your Bibles to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. 2 Thessalonians 2. Watch carefully, and let's begin reading there with verse 13. 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 13. Paul writes, "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord." Why? "Because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." Now, in verse 13, Paul talks about our election in eternity past. And then in verse 14, he talks about our glorification in eternity future, and between election in eternity past, and glorification in eternity future, sandwiched in between there is calling and sanctification. Sounds like to me, if you get to the glorification, you've got to pass through calling and sanctification. He said in verse 13, "He's chosen you from the beginning to salvation through or in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." So those whom God justifies, He sanctifies. Now, turn in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 5.

Ephesians chapter 5. Let me make a statement. The world and modern day Christendom is consumed with being happy. Everybody wants to be happy. Every time you read or hear something, it's always this super syrupy, sentimental, "I'm happy, are you happy? Just so we're happy." Listen, God is not so much concerned with our happiness as he is our holiness. Now it is true a holy person will be a happy person, but you can be happy and not be holy. Look at what the Bible says, Ephesians 5, watch carefully, verse 25.

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it." Why did Christ give himself for the church? Watch: "that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Christ did not give himself to edify the church. He did not give himself to activate the church. He did not give himself to motivate the church. He gave himself that he might sanctify and make it holy. Holiness is the number one priority with God. That's why Christ gave himself for us, that he might make us holy.

Now, look in your Bibles to the book of Titus, chapter 2. I'll show you the same truth. Titus, chapter 2. Titus, chapter 2, verse 10. Look at what he says. Titus 2, verse 10: "Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things." Adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us." Now watch, the grace of God that brings salvation teaches us something.

What does it teach us? It teaches us "that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us," watch, here's why, "that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Isn't that amazing? Why did he give himself for us? That he might purify unto himself a peculiar people. And the grace that brings salvation, according to verse 12, teaches us to live holy, godly, soberly, righteously in this present world. Now, let's go back. Listen carefully. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4 verse 3, "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification."

Applications and Conclusion

Weaver applies the truth that sanctification is a life-and-death issue, not a side matter, and that true believers will progressively pursue holiness, though not sinlessly perfect.

Now, let me just ask this question. How central, how significant is sanctification in salvation? Look in your Bibles to Hebrews 12 and verse 14. This will answer the question, and then I'll make some applications. Watch carefully. How central, how significant is sanctification in salvation? Well, Hebrews 12 and verse 14 says this: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Isn't that powerful? Jesus Christ came to redeem a people and to purify them and to make them holy. He did not come to redeem them and leave them in their sins and leave them in their rebellion. Now let me make a couple of applications, and I think the first one should be extremely obvious. Sanctification and or holiness, whichever one you want to refer to it as, it's all the same. Sanctification or holiness is not a side issue. It is a vital, central, important life and death issue. For without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. Sanctification is the will of God for our lives.

If we have been chosen by the Father and redeemed by the Son, according to the Scripture, we will also be sanctified by the Spirit. Now, does that mean that we're going to be absolutely perfect? No. Does it mean we'll never sin? No. Does it mean we won't make mistakes? No. But it does mean that we're going to be progressively and practically pursuing a life of holiness. It is true that David sinned. But you remember, David was a man after God's own heart. His sin was the exception.

It was not the rule. Do I make mistakes? Yeah. Do I sin? Yes. Do I want to sin? No. Do I enjoy sinning? No. I want to be holy. But I'm human, and I'm a sinner, and I'm imperfect, and as long as I'm in this flesh, I'm going to sin, but the tenor of my life and the general theme of my life is pursuing holiness and obedience to God and honoring Him and bringing my life into conformity to His Word. You follow what I'm saying? Sanctification is going to be in our lives if the Spirit of God is in our lives. Now, let me just tell you once again what sanctification is. Sanctification is the work of God's free grace whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God and are enabled more and more to die unto sin and to live unto righteousness. Paul said, "This is the will of God, even your sanctification."

Now next week he's going to deal with a negation. I'm going to show you an aspect of sanctification. That is, that we should be sexually pure in every area of our lives. But just write her down. This is the will of God, that we live a holy, sanctified life. Let's pray. Father, we ask that you would help us, build us up in the most holy faith, teach us thy word, and make us pure, and make us holy. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

The Revealed Will of God

Summary: God's will regarding sanctification and sexual purity is plainly revealed in Scripture, leaving no room for doubt or speculation.

Evidence: He tells us in very plain, readable and understandable words exactly what the will of God is. He says, 'For this is the will of God, even your sanctification.'

Sanctification as Holiness and Separation

Summary: Sanctification means being holy, set apart exclusively for God, prepared for His use, and morally pure.

Evidence: The word for sanctification is hagiasmos... It literally means consecration, purification, or sanctification... to be set apart for God, to be His own exclusively.

Positional vs. Progressive Sanctification

Summary: Believers have a perfect positional sanctification in Christ, but must also pursue practical, progressive sanctification, growing in holiness.

Evidence: Most of the references are what you and I would call a practical or a progressive sanctification... we ought to be more holy tomorrow than we are today.

Sanctification Central to Salvation

Summary: Sanctification is not optional; those whom God justifies He also sanctifies, and without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Evidence: The Bible knows nothing of a justified unsanctified man. Those whom God justifies, he sanctifies.

Obedience from the Heart

Summary: True sanctification involves heartfelt obedience, not mere external compliance, motivated by love for God.

Evidence: Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

The Eternal Value of Doing God's Will

Summary: The world and its lusts are temporary, but those who do God's will abide forever, providing motivation for holiness.

Evidence: The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Key Arguments

Sanctification is unmistakably God's will

Summary: Paul clearly states that sanctification is the will of God, leaving no ambiguity for believers.

Evidence: For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication.

Obedience in clear matters is foundational

Summary: If believers will not obey God in plainly revealed commands like sanctification, they will not obey in more difficult areas.

Evidence: If you and I will not obey God in these specified areas... what makes you think that we will ever obey God in those areas which we're dubious and doubtful about?

Sanctification is both positional and progressive

Summary: Believers are positionally sanctified in Christ, but must also grow in practical holiness.

Evidence: Most of the teaching in the Bible on sanctification is not or does not have reference to our positional sanctification... Most of the references are what you and I would call a practical or a progressive sanctification.

Justification and sanctification are inseparable

Summary: Those whom God justifies He also sanctifies; there is no such thing as a justified person who remains unsanctified.

Evidence: The Bible knows nothing of a justified unsanctified man. Those whom God justifies, he sanctifies.

Holiness is God's priority in redemption

Summary: Christ gave Himself for the church to sanctify and purify her, not merely to save her from guilt.

Evidence: Christ did not give himself to edify the church... He gave himself that he might sanctify and make it holy.

Without holiness, no one will see the Lord

Summary: Sanctification is a life-and-death issue; without it, no one will see God.

Evidence: Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

Scripture References

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Context: Weaver reads the passage as the foundation for the sermon on sanctification and sexual purity.

Deuteronomy 29:29

Context: Used to distinguish between God's secret will and His revealed will, emphasizing our responsibility to obey the revealed will.

Romans 12:1-2

Context: Cited to show that presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable, is how we prove God's will.

2 Corinthians 8:5

Context: Illustrates that the Macedonian Christians first gave themselves to the Lord, then to others, by the will of God.

Galatians 1:4

Context: Shows that Christ gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from this present evil world according to God's will.

Ephesians 6:6

Context: Teaches that doing God's will should be from the heart, not as men-pleasers.

1 Peter 4:1-2

Context: Encourages believers to arm themselves with Christ's mind and live for the will of God, not human lusts.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Context: Another clear statement of God's will: to give thanks in everything.

1 Peter 2:15

Context: God's will is that by doing good we silence the ignorance of foolish men.

1 Peter 3:17

Context: It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil, if it is God's will.

Colossians 4:12

Context: Epaphras prayed that believers would stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

1 John 2:15-17

Context: The world and its lusts pass away, but he who does God's will abides forever, motivating holiness.

Luke 1:49

Context: Used to define 'holy' (hagios) as worthy of veneration, applied to God's name.

Luke 2:23

Context: Shows that 'holy' means set apart for God, as the firstborn were consecrated to the Lord.

John 17:14,16

Context: Believers are not of the world because they have been set apart exclusively for Christ.

Ephesians 1:4

Context: God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame.

Ephesians 5:25-27

Context: Christ loved the church and gave Himself to sanctify her, presenting her holy and without blemish.

1 Peter 1:15-16

Context: God calls us to be holy in all our conduct because He is holy.

1 Corinthians 1:30

Context: Christ is made unto us sanctification, showing our positional sanctification in Him.

John 17:23

Context: Jesus prays that believers may be made perfect in one, indicating positional perfection in Christ.

Historical References

Demas

Context: Weaver references Demas, who forsook Paul because he loved this present world, as a warning against worldliness.

Old Testament firstborn consecration

Context: Weaver explains that before the Levites, the firstborn male was set apart as holy to the Lord, illustrating being set apart for God.

National Israel as God's exclusive people

Context: Weaver compares Old Testament Israel as God's exclusive people to New Testament believers being set apart for God.

Carnal Christian theory

Context: Weaver critiques the modern idea that a person can be a Christian while living in unrepentant sin, using 1 Corinthians 6 to refute it.

David's sin as exception

Context: Weaver uses David as an example of a man after God's own heart whose sin was the exception, not the rule, in a life of holiness.

Important Quotes

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication.

Significance: This is the central text of the sermon, establishing that sanctification and sexual purity are God's clearly revealed will.

Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

Significance: Highlights that true obedience to God's will must be heartfelt, not mechanical.

The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Significance: Provides eternal motivation for pursuing holiness rather than worldly lusts.

The Bible knows nothing of a justified unsanctified man. Those whom God justifies, he sanctifies.

Significance: A key argument that justification and sanctification are inseparable in salvation.

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

Significance: Emphasizes the absolute necessity of holiness for seeing God, making sanctification a life-and-death issue.

Christ did not give himself to edify the church. He did not give himself to activate the church. He did not give himself to motivate the church. He gave himself that he might sanctify and make it holy.

Significance: Stresses that Christ's primary purpose in redemption was to make His people holy.

Discussion Questions

How does distinguishing between God's secret will and His revealed will help us in pursuing sanctification?

Context: Weaver explains that we are responsible to obey the revealed will, not to speculate about the secret will.

What does it mean to do the will of God 'from the heart,' and how can we cultivate that attitude?

Context: Weaver contrasts mechanical obedience with heartfelt desire to please God, citing Ephesians 6:6.

Why is it dangerous to claim positional sanctification while neglecting practical holiness?

Context: Weaver argues that positional sanctification must be accompanied by progressive sanctification; otherwise, it may be a false assurance.

How does the truth that 'without holiness no one will see the Lord' impact your daily pursuit of purity?

Context: Weaver uses Hebrews 12:14 to show that sanctification is essential for salvation, not optional.

In what ways does modern Christianity sometimes prioritize happiness over holiness, and how can we correct that?

Context: Weaver critiques the focus on happiness and emphasizes that God's priority is our holiness.

How can we encourage one another to obey God's clearly revealed will in areas like sexual purity?

Context: Weaver stresses that if we won't obey in clear matters, we won't obey in difficult ones, and calls for mutual exhortation.

Applications

Pursue sanctification as God's clear will

Summary: Believers must actively pursue holiness and sexual purity because it is unmistakably commanded by God.

Evidence: For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication.

Obey God from the heart, not mechanically

Summary: Sanctification should flow from a genuine love for God and desire to please Him, not mere external compliance.

Evidence: Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

Give thanks in everything as God's will

Summary: Weaver applies 1 Thessalonians 5:18 by sharing a personal story of God's provision, encouraging gratitude in all circumstances.

Evidence: In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Examine your life for evidence of sanctification

Summary: Since those justified are also sanctified, believers should examine whether their lives show progressive holiness.

Evidence: The Bible knows nothing of a justified unsanctified man. Those whom God justifies, he sanctifies.

Prioritize holiness over worldly happiness

Summary: God is more concerned with our holiness than our happiness; we should seek to be holy rather than merely happy.

Evidence: God is not so much concerned with our happiness as he is our holiness.

Recognize the eternal value of doing God's will

Summary: The world and its lusts are temporary, but those who do God's will abide forever, motivating a life of obedience.

Evidence: The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

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Clean Transcript

3 Sanctification & Sexual Purity

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

1 Thessalonians chapter 4, beginning with verse 1. "Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit."
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This series two weeks ago, in which I'm just simply entitling it "Sanctification and Sexual Purity." But I want you to note, first of all, in verse one, which we've already covered, you have an exhortation. And this is three points that are attached to verse one. First of all, a practical necessity. He says that you have received of us how you ought to walk and to please God. Secondly, a personal application. You ought to walk and to please God. And then thirdly, a progressive reality, for he says, so you would abound more and more.
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So he exhorts them then to receive the teaching, to apply the teaching and to continue to grow in the teaching. And then last week we looked at verse two, which is an explanation. He says, for you know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. So how they received from the apostles, how they ought to walk and to please God, was basically teaching from the law of God. And of course, I showed you last week how the law of God actually is a phrase not just for the Ten Commandments, but for the entirety of Scripture. Because in one sense of the word, a king rules by his law and all of God's word is law, because it issues forth from him. But specifically, what the apostle Paul was doing was making application of the law of God in different situations. Now today we come to the third point, and we're going to be on this point for several weeks in all probability, and that is an exposition because when you get to verse three, Paul actually begins to expound the truth that he's been exhorting these Thessalonians to live by, and of course explaining how
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he taught them. So let's look at the exposition in verse 3. He says, "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication." Now the exposition goes on down to verse 4 anyhow, but I want to point out the fact that verse 3 is so loaded with truth, there's no way that we're even going to be able to finish verse three today, so we'll probably be on verse three today and next Lord's Day as well. So in the exposition, the Apostle Paul begins to expound the truth of his teaching, the point of his instruction and the purpose of his message. Now listen carefully. The way to walk pleasing to the Lord is to obey his commandments and in walking pleasing to the Lord, in obeying his commandments, we're actually doing the will of God. He says in verse 3, "For this is the will of God."
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Now, in many areas, when we discuss the will of God, the will of God is something that we meditate upon. It's something that we study. It's something that we ponder. It's something that a lot of people say, "Well, I'd really like to know the will of God," but sometimes it is very difficult to know the will of God. Well, in some rare instances, that may be true, but this is not one of those instances, because in this instance, we are not left questioning. We're not left to wonder. He tells us in very plain, readable and understandable words exactly what the will of God is. He says, "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification." And then he goes on to say that you should abstain from fornication. So the will of God, then, in the area of sexual purity, is that we be pure. Now, let me just very quickly tell you that when you discuss the will of God, there are two things that you need to consider. First of all, there is the revealed will of God, which we know as the Bible, which is the word of God.
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And secondly, there is that secretive will of God. Now, the secretive will of God refers to God's eternal purpose, which he purposed in Jesus Christ before the world ever began. Now, the only way that you and I can ever know the secretive will of God is when that will comes to pass in time and in history. Until then, we will not know it, and until then, we need not know it.
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If you would hold 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, but look back in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 29 and verse 29, and you will see exactly what I'm talking about. Deuteronomy 29 and verse 29. Note what the Word of God says. In this passage, God declares, "The secret things belong unto the LORD our God." That is, his eternal counsels, his secretive will, the secret things belong unto the LORD our God. Now, what's the distinction? "But those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."
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Now, what is it that we're to be concerned about? The secretive will or the revealed will? Very clearly, the revealed will. That's what God has given us to do. He's going to work out His secretive will. We have no idea concerning it, and we'll not understand or know what it is until it comes to pass. But He's given us His revealed will, and He said that's what we're to live by.
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Now, look back in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 and verse 3. He says, "For this is the will of God," so we're talking about the revealed will of God. We're talking about the plain, evident word of God. "This is the will of God, even your sanctification." Let me just stop momentarily and tell you that the word for sanctification is hagiasmos. That's the Greek word. It literally means consecration, purification, or sanctification. So you could read that this is the will of God, even your consecration or even your purification, as well as your sanctification. I want you to just think for a moment.
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Here is a very unique opportunity. Here is an opportunity to please God, to walk according to his commandments, to actually do his will. As I said earlier, the will of God may not be plain in some areas, but in this area, the will of God is unmistakably clear and plain. To me, in one sense of the word, it's absolutely exciting to think that we have the actual opportunity to please God. Have you ever stopped to think about that? And we have an opportunity to please, to satisfy, to honor the very heart of God. He says this is the will of God, even your sanctification. So many times the will of God may be very general and we may have to meditate and ponder on it, but here it's very specific and God has told us exactly what his will is.
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Now let's begin to look at verse three and I want to cover just about two points under the exposition. My first point is, first of all, an affirmation. Look what he says in verse three: "For this is the will of God." So Paul then is affirming the will of God in our lives in regard to sexual purity. Now, I want you to hold 1 Thessalonians 4 and I want you to turn with me to several passages. The first one is Romans chapter 12 verses 1 and 2, which I hope that everyone in here can quote. If you can't, you ought to memorize it, but I want to point out in this passage regarding the will of God. Look what he says in Romans 12:1: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God." And by the way, let me just stop there. The mercies that the Apostle Paul is talking about,
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he's already discussed in the previous chapters. He's talked about our calling, our election, our justification, our redemption, all of those things. He says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice." Now watch: "holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." I want you to tie the word "holy" and "acceptable" in verse 1 to the will of God in verse 2. He says that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God, and the way to prove it is by yielding your bodies, he says, a living sacrifice unto holiness, that which is acceptable unto God, that which is our reasonable service. Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 8. 2 Corinthians 8. Look at verse 5 and go ahead and find the book of Galatians 1.
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I want to compare these verses. So we're looking at 2 Corinthians 8 and verse 5. And then we're going to Galatians chapter 1. 2 Corinthians 8 and verse 5. The Apostle Paul is talking about these Christians in Macedonia, and he says, "And this they did, not as we had hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God." Isn't that interesting? Paul said these Macedonian Christians, the reason they gave so generously for the poor brethren is this: they first gave themselves to the Lord and then to us. Now, the point I want to make is this: we're never going to live rightly for ourselves or for others until we first give ourselves to the Lord and live for him. Now, why did Christ redeem us? Well, look in your Bibles in the book of Galatians chapter 1 and verse 4. Galatians chapter 1 and verse 4. Look what the Bible says: "Who gave himself for our sins, why?
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That he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." So Christ then actually gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from this present evil world. So we're not to be living for ourselves, nor according to this present evil world, but we're to be living for our Lord. So this presenting of our bodies a living sacrifice, this living holy and godly, is not something that is to be done in a mechanical, functionary way. In other words, say, "Well, this is just my function. This is a role I've got to play and I might as well play it through." And you act just near like a mere machine.
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No, I want to show you. I want you to turn to two passages, Ephesians 6 and 1 Peter chapter 4. Look at Ephesians 6 and verse 6. And then we'll go to 1 Peter chapter 4, just showing you that there should be some real heart in our sanctification and in our holiness. Notice in Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 6, he makes this statement: "Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart." So when we present our bodies, when we live holy, godly lives, when we abstain from fornication, it is doing the will of God from the heart. It's because of our love to God, our regard and our honor for Him, and a desire to please and obey Him.
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Now, let me give you a comparison. Look in 1 Peter 4, beginning there with verses 1 and 2. Look what he says. 1 Peter 4, verse 1: "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God." Now look what he says in verse 1: "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind." Do you think when Jesus Christ came, he said, "Well, I've got a role to act out. I've got a little duty to perform. I might as well go ahead and get it over with." Do you think he was mechanical in that area? Do you honestly believe that Christ did not rejoice to please the Father and to do the will of God and to honor Him?
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That's what the Scripture says. He will magnify my law and make it honorable in all things. Christ said, "I want to do always those things which please the Father." So it was not just a perfunctory role that he was playing. No! He actually did the will of God from the heart. He was zealously affected by the will of God. And that's exactly what God is telling us. We've got to learn to cry out for holiness and we've got to learn to walk in such a way as to please God.
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Now, listen to what he said. "This is the will of God, even your sanctification." There can be no doubt that this is the will of God for each of our lives.
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Now, let me show you just a couple of other specified areas of the will of God. Look in your Bibles, if you would please, to 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 and verse 18. By the way, the phrase "the will of God" occurs a number of times in the New Testament. But there are only several passages where unmistakably and undeniably the will of God is spelled out. One of them is our text, 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. The second one is 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 and verse 18. Look what he says: "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." In everything give thanks. In everything, give thanks, watch, "for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
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My wife and I have been trying to secure a mobile home for my mother-in-law to live in. She's going to sell her house. And they went and looked at one and liked it immensely. And we were going to buy it. We even got copies of the title so we could make all the necessary arrangements. And would you believe, in 24 hours, the people had sold it out from under us. They sold it to someone else after we had already told them we'd take it.
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And Alice was a little bit upset. And I said, "Well, don't be upset." I said, "Because the Lord will give us a better one at a cheaper price." And what, two days later? We found another one that she liked even better. Six thousand dollars cheaper. So in everything, give thanks. So there's no reason to complain about things. God says in everything, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. It's unmistakable. It's clear. It's plain. Look in 1 Peter chapter 2, verse 15. 1 Peter 2 verse 15. Look at what he says: "For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men." So what is the will of God for our lives?
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That we live doing that which is right and holy and in obedience to him. Look in 1 Peter 3 and verse 17. 1 Peter 3 verse 17: "For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing." So the will of God is, then, that if we have to suffer, we suffer for doing what's right. We don't suffer for doing what's wrong.
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Now, just pointing out the fact, here are some very clear specifics. This is the will of God in your sanctification. This is the will of God that we give thanks in everything. This is the will of God that we do that which is right. This is the will of God that if we suffer, we suffer for doing good and not for doing evil.
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Now, look in your Bibles to the book of Colossians chapter 4. Watch carefully this passage, Colossians 4 verse 12. Look what he says. Colossians 4, verse 12: "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers." Now watch carefully: "that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." Now, Paul says that Epaphras was praying for these Colossian Christians that they may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Now, here's my question. How can you and I stand perfect and complete in all the will of God if we do not obey him in these specific areas? It's impossible. Now, I've got another question. If you and I will not obey God in these specific areas, for instance, "this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication." For instance, "this is the will of God that you give thanks in everything in Christ Jesus."
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If you and I will not obey God in these specified areas where God has spelled out his will unmistakably in clear and plain language, what makes you think that we will ever obey God in those areas which we're dubious and doubtful about and have a little difficult time discerning the will of God? If we're not going to obey God in that which is clear and plain, most likely we're certainly not going to obey God in those areas that are going to cause us a little difficulty in ascertaining the will of God. You see, you don't have to guess about sanctification. You don't have to guess about sexual purity. You don't have to guess about giving thanks. You don't have to guess about doing good. You don't have to guess about suffering for righteousness' sake. God spells it out. God makes it exceedingly clear. God makes it exceedingly plain. The only question is, are you going to affirm the will of God in your life? Are you going to actually obey God? Are you going to present your body a living sacrifice, doing that which is holy and acceptable unto God?
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Let me give you one powerful motivation. Look in your Bibles to 1 John chapter 2. You say, "What will motivate me to do so and to obey God from the heart?" Well, let me just show you. Look in 1 John chapter 2. Here is one thing that ought to really motivate you. Let's begin reading there with verse 15. 1 John 2, verse 15. He says this: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world." Go on now. Here's a very powerful verse: "If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
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You remember what Paul had to write about Demas? He said, "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present evil world." So he says, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." Now watch verse 16. He describes what's in the world: "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." And here it is in verse 17: "And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
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Ah, what does he say? The world and all of its lusts are only temporary. But he who does the will of God abides forever. Doing the will of God is eternal. Serving the lust of the flesh is only temporary. So you have been an affirmation by the Apostle Paul. This is the will of God.
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Now go back to verse three in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, because I want to spend the rest of my time today on the second point in verse three, and that is an explanation. He gives you an affirmation, "This is the will of God," and then he explains that affirmation, "even your sanctification." So he tells us then that sanctification is the will of God for each of his children. Now, I want to explain to you what sanctification is. I told you earlier that the word sanctification is the word hagiasmos. It is from the root word hagios, which basically means holy, worthy of veneration. Now let me show you how this word is used in our Bibles. I want you to turn in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of Luke chapter 1 and verse 49. Luke chapter 1 and verse 49. Remember that the word, first of all, means to be holy and worthy of veneration. In Luke 1 and verse 49, the word of God says this in reference to God: "For he that is mighty hath done to me great things," says Mary, "and holy is his name."
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Hagios is his name. What does that mean? It means that God is holy and that God is worthy of veneration and honor and worship and praise. So the very first way that is used then is in reference to God. Secondly, the word holy means to be set apart for God, to be exclusively his own. Look in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 2 and verse 23. Then we'll go to John 17, but Luke chapter 2 and verse 23. The Bible said, "As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord." Now, what in the world does that verse mean? "Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord." You remember the Old Testament before the Levites were chosen, the firstborn was always set apart for God in man and in animals. And when he says, "Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy," what did they do to that firstborn male ram or that firstborn male ox or that firstborn male sheep?
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They set him aside for God. This was God's exclusive property.
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Now, the word holy does not just simply mean holy and worthy of veneration. It does mean that. But it also means, secondly, to be set apart for God, to be His own exclusively. Look in your Bibles to John 17. Here is the high priestly prayer of Jesus Christ. And look in verse 14 to begin with. John 17, verse 14. Christ says, "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." Verse 16, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."
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Let me ask you a question. Why is it that God's people are not of the world? We have been set apart exclusively for Christ. Now, just like in the Old Testament, national Israel was God's exclusive people. So in the New Testament, the Christians, the new Israel of God, are God's exclusive people. We have been set apart for God. So the word holy means not only holy and worthy of veneration, it means secondly, to be set apart exclusively for the Lord. Thirdly, the word holy means to be prepared for God.
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Look in your Bibles to the book of Ephesians chapter 1. We'll come back to these verses a little bit later, but Ephesians chapter 1. And look, if you would, first of all at verse 4. Ephesians 1 verse 4: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him." Holy and without blame before him.
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So we have been prepared for him. Look at Ephesians 5. I can say we'll come back to these passages. Verses 25 through 27: "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should
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be holy and without blemish." So we're not only set apart for God, we are to be prepared for God in the sense that we're to actually be holy and live for him. And then, fourthly, in the moral sense, and I want you to turn to 1 Peter 1. In the moral sense, the word holy means to be pure. It means to be upright. It means to be holy and sinless. Look what he says. 1 Peter 1, beginning there with verse 15. He says, "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." Now, as God is pure, as God is sinless, as God is upright, so God likewise calls us to be pure and holy and upright. Now, I want you to put all these definitions together. I want you to understand that it is the will of God for each of us, number one, to be holy. Number two, to be set apart exclusively for God's use. Number three, to be prepared for God, for his use.
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And number four, to be sure, to be upright, to be holy, and as much as possible, to be sinless. Now, this is sanctification.
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Now, let me just keep going. I don't want you to confuse justification, sanctification, or glorification. So listen carefully. Justification is the initial change. That is when God saves us. Sanctification is additional change. That's when we grow in grace. And glorification is our ultimate change. That's when we'll be perfect in eternity. Now, between justification and glorification is sanctification.
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Now, let me go a little further. Because in order to understand sanctification, you have to distinguish between two types of sanctification. There is, first of all, what we know as a positional sanctification, which we have in Jesus Christ. And that positional sanctification is absolutely perfect. Look in your Bibles. Let me show it to you. First of all, 1 Corinthians chapter 1 and verse 30. 1 Corinthians 1 and verse 30. Look at what the Bible says concerning us in Christ. He says, 1 Corinthians 1 verse 30: "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." So Jesus Christ is basically our sanctification. When we are in Christ, we are positionally perfect.
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Nothing can be added to it, nothing can be taken from it. Look in your Bible, John 17, verse 23. Here in his high priestly prayer, look what our Lord requests of the Father. John 17, verse 23. And remember now that our Lord always has his prayers answered. He says in John 17, verse 23: "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." So we are perfect in one. We are perfect in Jesus Christ. Now, look in Hebrews chapter 2. And let's begin reading there with verse 10. I'm just showing you this positional sanctification that we have in Jesus Christ. Hebrews chapter 2, beginning there with verse 10. Let's look at what it says: "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."
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Watch: "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren." Now Christ, the sanctifier, is perfect. Then those who are sanctified are perfect as well, for we are in Christ. This is known as a positional sanctification. We are in Christ, but let me tell you something. Most of the teaching in the Bible on sanctification is not or does not have reference to our positional sanctification, although the Bible does teach that. Most of the references are what you and I would call a practical or a progressive sanctification.
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That is whereby the whole man is renewed after the image of God and we're enabled more and more to die unto sin and to live unto righteousness. What is progressive sanctification? What is practical sanctification? That is when we are enabled by the grace of God and by the power of God, to die more and more unto sin and live more and more unto obedience unto Jesus Christ.
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Let me put it plainly. We ought to be more holy tomorrow than we are today. We ought to be more obedient next week than we were this week. That is a practical or a progressive sanctification. Look in your Bibles, 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, at verses 23 and 24. Look at Paul's prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5, verses 23 and 24. He says, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly," W-H-O-L-L-Y, completely, totally. "And the very God of peace sanctify you completely, totally. And I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." Watch verse 24.
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"Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." Now what did Paul just pray? That we would be sanctified body, soul, and spirit. In other words, that we would be holy, totally, completely sanctified. This is a practical, it is a progressive sanctification, and then he says in verse 24, "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." Now if God has called us to salvation, he has also called us to sanctification and to holiness. Those whom God justifies, he sanctifies.
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Let me put it to you like this. There is no such thing as a perfect, inalienable standing in Christ Jesus which is divorced from heart purity and a personal walk in righteousness. Someone says, "Oh, Brother Weaver, I'm perfect in Christ Jesus. I have my positional sanctification. That means I can live any way I want to live." Oh, no. If you really are positionally perfect in Christ, you will have a personal and a progressive and a practical obedience to Christ walking in holiness and sanctification. Does not necessarily mean that you're going to be perfect in this life, but you will be walking in that direction.
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So the Bible knows nothing, and listen to me carefully, the Bible knows nothing of a justified unsanctified man. Those whom God justifies, he sanctifies. Whomever God saves, he delivers from sin and from the tyranny of sin. May I just quote Matthew 1:21? "Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." He shall. Not hope so, not maybe so. He shall. So those whom he justifies, he sanctifies. You see, justification deals with the guilt of our sins, and sanctification deals with the pollution and the corruption of our sins. So sanctification then, listen to me carefully, is central to the saving purpose of God.
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Now, really and truly, one passage to prove this to you, I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 6. 1 Corinthians chapter 6. I can quote this passage, but I want you to see it. You see, we have today what is known as the carnal Christian theory.
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Now listen to me carefully. What people mean by that is here's somebody who's made a decision for Christ, unquote, and he's joined the church and he's baptized.
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Now, he's saying he's just living like the devil. He's just carnal. If you were to take carnality or fleshliness, according to 1 Corinthians chapter 3, their fleshliness, they were just arguing over who the best preacher was. In the context, some like Paul, some like Apollos, some like Cephas, some say, "Well, I'm really spiritual. I like Christ." Their fleshliness was arguing over who was the best preacher. But today, fleshliness or carnality is defined as drunkenness, whoremongering. And we think, well, here's a man been living as an adulterer for 40 years, and he's been a member in good standing with the church, he must be a Christian. No, look what Paul says.
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1 Corinthians 6 verse 9: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind," that's sodomites, "nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." Watch verse 11: "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
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Now, what is Paul saying? Paul says if you think some whoremongering, stealing, effeminate, drunkard is a Christian, you're deceived.
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Now, God might have some folks who used to be that, but he justified them. He sanctified them. He cleaned them up. They're no longer those things. Listen to me carefully, sanctification is central to the saving purpose of God. Look back in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 1. I told you earlier we would come back to some of these passages. Ephesians chapter 1, and let's read verses 3 and 4.
#52 | 40:13 to 40:41 | cleaned
He says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." Now, the salvation of sinful men was no accident. It did not just simply spontaneously occur. There was no big bang theory when it came to salvation.
#53 | 40:43 to 41:11 | cleaned
I want you to understand that. Salvation was purposed by the triune God before the foundation of the world. Now, that same God who chose us unto salvation chose us to be holy, that is, he chose us to be sanctified before him.
#54 | 41:12 to 41:27 | cleaned
Now, I want you to look very carefully at verse 4. Here are three very important things to look at. First of all, God's election is central as to the basis upon which he saves men. The Bible says, "according as he hath chosen us." Our union with Christ is central as to the means by which He will save those men. He says in verse 4, "according as he hath chosen us in him." And then notice thirdly, holiness is central in that. Watch verse 4: "according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy." God did not choose us and redeem us and save us in Christ that we might be wicked and rebellious and ungodly. He chose us and redeemed us that we might be holy.
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May I remind you, and I hope you know this verse by heart, Romans 8 and verse 29. We went over that passage in great detail a number of months ago, but you remember the Bible said, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son." Sounds like holiness to me. Look in your Bibles if you would, 1 Peter chapter 1. 1 Peter chapter 1. And let's begin reading there with verse 1. He says, "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied." Now, he says in verse 2, "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit." Now, I told you last week that the agent in sanctification is the Holy Spirit. Here he shows you the same truth again, through sanctification of the Spirit.
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Help me out. Romans 8:9. Let me quote.
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"Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Isn't that plain? Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. So if a person does not have the Spirit of Christ in them, he is not a Christian. But may I ask you, what is the Spirit doing in that Christian according to 1 Peter 1 and verse 2? He is sanctifying that Christian because sanctification is by the Spirit. So wherever the Spirit of God is, there is going to be sanctification. You cannot have the Spirit of God and not be sanctified.
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Look in your Bibles to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. 2 Thessalonians 2. Watch carefully, and let's begin reading there with verse 13. 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 13. Paul writes, "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord." Why? "Because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." Now, in verse 13, Paul talks about our election in eternity past. And then in verse 14, he talks about our glorification in eternity future, and between election in eternity past, and glorification in eternity future, sandwiched in between there is calling and sanctification. Sounds like to me, if you get to the glorification, you've got to pass through calling and sanctification. He said in verse 13, "He's chosen you from the beginning to salvation through or in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." So those whom God justifies, He sanctifies. Now, turn in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 5.
#59 | 44:53 to 46:32 | cleaned
Ephesians chapter 5. Let me make a statement. The world and modern day Christendom is consumed with being happy. Everybody wants to be happy. Every time you read or hear something, it's always this super syrupy, sentimental, "I'm happy, are you happy? Just so we're happy." Listen, God is not so much concerned with our happiness as he is our holiness. Now it is true a holy person will be a happy person, but you can be happy and not be holy. Look at what the Bible says, Ephesians 5, watch carefully, verse 25.
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"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it." Why did Christ give himself for the church? Watch: "that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Christ did not give himself to edify the church. He did not give himself to activate the church. He did not give himself to motivate the church. He gave himself that he might sanctify and make it holy.
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Holiness is the number one priority with God. That's why Christ gave himself for us, that he might make us holy.
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Now, look in your Bibles to the book of Titus, chapter 2. I'll show you the same truth. Titus, chapter 2. Titus, chapter 2, verse 10. Look at what he says. Titus 2, verse 10: "Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things." Adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us." Now watch, the grace of God that brings salvation teaches us something.
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What does it teach us? It teaches us "that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us," watch, here's why, "that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Isn't that amazing? Why did he give himself for us? That he might purify unto himself a peculiar people. And the grace that brings salvation, according to verse 12, teaches us to live holy, godly, soberly, righteously in this present world. Now, let's go back. Listen carefully. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4 verse 3, "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification."
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Now, let me just ask this question. How central, how significant is sanctification in salvation? Look in your Bibles to Hebrews 12 and verse 14. This will answer the question, and then I'll make some applications. Watch carefully. How central, how significant is sanctification in salvation? Well, Hebrews 12 and verse 14 says this: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Isn't that powerful? Jesus Christ came to redeem a people and to purify them and to make them holy. He did not come to redeem them and leave them in their sins and leave them in their rebellion. Now let me make a couple of applications, and I think the first one should be extremely obvious. Sanctification and or holiness, whichever one you want to refer to it as, it's all the same. Sanctification or holiness is not a side issue. It is a vital, central, important life and death issue. For without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. Sanctification is the will of God for our lives.
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If we have been chosen by the Father and redeemed by the Son, according to the Scripture, we will also be sanctified by the Spirit. Now, does that mean that we're going to be absolutely perfect? No. Does it mean we'll never sin? No. Does it mean we won't make mistakes? No. But it does mean that we're going to be progressively and practically pursuing a life of holiness. It is true that David sinned. But you remember, David was a man after God's own heart. His sin was the exception.
#66 | 52:10 to 52:47 | cleaned
It was not the rule. Do I make mistakes? Yeah. Do I sin? Yes. Do I want to sin? No. Do I enjoy sinning? No. I want to be holy. But I'm human, and I'm a sinner, and I'm imperfect, and as long as I'm in this flesh, I'm going to sin, but the tenor of my life and the general theme of my life is pursuing holiness and obedience to God and honoring Him and bringing my life into conformity to His Word. You follow what I'm saying? Sanctification is going to be in our lives if the Spirit of God is in our lives. Now, let me just tell you once again what sanctification is. Sanctification is the work of God's free grace whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God and are enabled more and more to die unto sin and to live unto righteousness. Paul said, "This is the will of God, even your sanctification."
#67 | 52:47 to 54:08 | cleaned
Now next week he's going to deal with a negation. I'm going to show you an aspect of sanctification. That is, that we should be sexually pure in every area of our lives. But just write her down. This is the will of God, that we live a holy, sanctified life. Let's pray. Father, we ask that you would help us, build us up in the most holy faith, teach us thy word, and make us pure, and make us holy. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T14:45:35Z

3 Sanctification & Sexual Purity

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver expounds 1 Thessalonians 4:3, emphasizing that sanctification—specifically sexual purity—is the clearly revealed will of God. He distinguishes between God's secret and revealed will, defines sanctification as holiness, being set apart, prepared for God, and moral purity, and explains positional versus progressive sanctification. Weaver argues that sanctification is central to salvation, inseparable from justification, and that those truly saved will pursue holiness. He concludes with applications urging believers to obey God's plain will and pursue a sanctified life.

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the series on sanctification and sexual purity, covering the exhortation in verse 1 and the explanation in verse 2, leading into the exposition of verse 3.

1 Thessalonians chapter 4, beginning with verse 1.

Scripture Reading — 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

"Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit."

The Will of God Revealed

Paul affirms that sanctification is the will of God, distinguishing between God's secret will and His revealed will, which is plainly given in Scripture for us to obey.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 29:29

"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God."

That is, his eternal counsels, his secretive will, the secret things belong unto the LORD our God. Now, what's the distinction?

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 29:29

"But those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."

The Affirmation: This is the Will of God

Weaver shows that sanctification is an unmistakable command, and that obeying God's will should be done from the heart, not mechanically, motivated by love for God.

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 8:5

"And this they did, not as we had hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God."

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 6:6

" So when we present our bodies, when we live holy, godly lives, when we abstain from fornication, it is doing the will of God from the heart. It's because of our love to God, our regard and our honor for Him, and a desire to please and obey Him.

Now, let me give you a comparison. Look in 1 Peter 4, beginning there with verses 1 and 2. Look what he says. 1 Peter 4, verse 1:

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 4:1-2

"Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God."

Now look what he says in verse 1:

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 4:1-2

"Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind."

Other Specified Areas of God's Will

Weaver cites other clear statements of God's will: giving thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18), doing good (1 Peter 2:15), and suffering for righteousness (1 Peter 3:17).

That we live doing that which is right and holy and in obedience to him. Look in 1 Peter 3 and verse 17. 1 Peter 3 verse 17:

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 2:15

"For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing."

So the will of God is, then, that if we have to suffer, we suffer for doing what's right. We don't suffer for doing what's wrong.

The Necessity of Obeying Clear Commands

If we will not obey God in plainly revealed areas like sanctification, we will not obey in more difficult matters; obedience in clear things is essential.

Now, look in your Bibles to the book of Colossians chapter 4. Watch carefully this passage, Colossians 4 verse 12. Look what he says. Colossians 4, verse 12:

Scripture Reading — Colossians 4:12

"Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers."

Now watch carefully:

Scripture Reading — Colossians 4:12

"that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God."

Scripture Reading — Colossians 4:12

"this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication."

For instance,

Scripture Reading — Colossians 4:12

"this is the will of God that you give thanks in everything in Christ Jesus."

Scripture Reading — 1 John 2:15-17

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world."

Go on now. Here's a very powerful verse:

Scripture Reading — 1 John 2:15-17

"If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

Motivation: The Eternal Reward of Doing God's Will

1 John 2:15-17 teaches that the world and its lusts are temporary, but he who does the will of God abides forever, providing motivation for holiness.

Scripture Reading — 1 John 2:15-17

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world."

Go on now. Here's a very powerful verse:

Scripture Reading — 1 John 2:15-17

"If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

The Explanation: What is Sanctification?

Weaver defines sanctification (hagiasmos) as holiness, being set apart for God, prepared for God, and moral purity, and distinguishes positional from progressive sanctification.

Scripture Reading — Luke 1:49

Hagios is his name. What does that mean? It means that God is holy and that God is worthy of veneration and honor and worship and praise. So the very first way that is used then is in reference to God. Secondly, the word holy means to be set apart for God, to be exclusively his own. Look in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 2 and verse 23. Then we'll go to John 17, but Luke chapter 2 and verse 23. The Bible said, "As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord." Now, what in the world does that verse mean? "Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord." You remember the Old Testament before the Levites were chosen, the firstborn was always set apart for God in man and in animals. And when he says, "Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy," what did they do to that firstborn male ram or that firstborn male ox or that firstborn male sheep?

So we have been prepared for him. Look at Ephesians 5. I can say we'll come back to these passages. Verses 25 through 27:

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 5:25-27

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

Sanctification Central to Salvation

Sanctification is not optional; those justified are also sanctified. Scripture teaches that without holiness no one will see the Lord, and Christ died to purify a people for Himself.

Applications and Conclusion

Weaver applies the truth that sanctification is a life-and-death issue, not a side matter, and that true believers will progressively pursue holiness, though not sinlessly perfect.

3 Sanctification & Sexual Purity

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	1022071348212
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Law, Obedience, and Sanctification: Walking With God
Genre	Sermon
Date	2007-10-22
Dictation Name
Book	Book 134: Romans: Law, Obedience, and Sanctification - Volume 1 — Chapter 7
Source Timed Segments	68

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review: Weaver reviews the series on sanctification and sexual purity, covering the exhortation in verse 1 and the explanation in verse 2, leading into the exposition of verse 3.
The Will of God Revealed: Paul affirms that sanctification is the will of God, distinguishing between God's secret will and His revealed will, which is plainly given in Scripture for us to obey.
The Affirmation: This is the Will of God: Weaver shows that sanctification is an unmistakable command, and that obeying God's will should be done from the heart, not mechanically, motivated by love for God.
Other Specified Areas of God's Will: Weaver cites other clear statements of God's will: giving thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18), doing good (1 Peter 2:15), and suffering for righteousness (1 Peter 3:17).
The Necessity of Obeying Clear Commands: If we will not obey God in plainly revealed areas like sanctification, we will not obey in more difficult matters; obedience in clear things is essential.
Motivation: The Eternal Reward of Doing God's Will: 1 John 2:15-17 teaches that the world and its lusts are temporary, but he who does the will of God abides forever, providing motivation for holiness.
The Explanation: What is Sanctification?: Weaver defines sanctification (hagiasmos) as holiness, being set apart for God, prepared for God, and moral purity, and distinguishes positional from progressive sanctification.
Sanctification Central to Salvation: Sanctification is not optional; those justified are also sanctified. Scripture teaches that without holiness no one will see the Lord, and Christ died to purify a people for Himself.
Applications and Conclusion: Weaver applies the truth that sanctification is a life-and-death issue, not a side matter, and that true believers will progressively pursue holiness, though not sinlessly perfect.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Sanctification is unmistakably God's will

Paul clearly states that sanctification is the will of God, leaving no ambiguity for believers.

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication.

Obedience in clear matters is foundational

If believers will not obey God in plainly revealed commands like sanctification, they will not obey in more difficult areas.

If you and I will not obey God in these specified areas... what makes you think that we will ever obey God in those areas which we're dubious and doubtful about?

Sanctification is both positional and progressive

Believers are positionally sanctified in Christ, but must also grow in practical holiness.

Most of the teaching in the Bible on sanctification is not or does not have reference to our positional sanctification... Most of the references are what you and I would call a practical or a progressive sanctification.

Justification and sanctification are inseparable

Those whom God justifies He also sanctifies; there is no such thing as a justified person who remains unsanctified.

The Bible knows nothing of a justified unsanctified man. Those whom God justifies, he sanctifies.

Holiness is God's priority in redemption

Christ gave Himself for the church to sanctify and purify her, not merely to save her from guilt.

Christ did not give himself to edify the church... He gave himself that he might sanctify and make it holy.

Without holiness, no one will see the Lord

Sanctification is a life-and-death issue; without it, no one will see God.

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

Scripture References

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8: Weaver reads the passage as the foundation for the sermon on sanctification and sexual purity.
Deuteronomy 29:29: Used to distinguish between God's secret will and His revealed will, emphasizing our responsibility to obey the revealed will.
Romans 12:1-2: Cited to show that presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable, is how we prove God's will.
2 Corinthians 8:5: Illustrates that the Macedonian Christians first gave themselves to the Lord, then to others, by the will of God.
Galatians 1:4: Shows that Christ gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from this present evil world according to God's will.
Ephesians 6:6: Teaches that doing God's will should be from the heart, not as men-pleasers.
1 Peter 4:1-2: Encourages believers to arm themselves with Christ's mind and live for the will of God, not human lusts.
1 Thessalonians 5:18: Another clear statement of God's will: to give thanks in everything.
1 Peter 2:15: God's will is that by doing good we silence the ignorance of foolish men.
1 Peter 3:17: It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil, if it is God's will.
Colossians 4:12: Epaphras prayed that believers would stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
1 John 2:15-17: The world and its lusts pass away, but he who does God's will abides forever, motivating holiness.
Luke 1:49: Used to define 'holy' (hagios) as worthy of veneration, applied to God's name.
Luke 2:23: Shows that 'holy' means set apart for God, as the firstborn were consecrated to the Lord.
John 17:14,16: Believers are not of the world because they have been set apart exclusively for Christ.
Ephesians 1:4: God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame.
Ephesians 5:25-27: Christ loved the church and gave Himself to sanctify her, presenting her holy and without blemish.
1 Peter 1:15-16: God calls us to be holy in all our conduct because He is holy.
1 Corinthians 1:30: Christ is made unto us sanctification, showing our positional sanctification in Him.
John 17:23: Jesus prays that believers may be made perfect in one, indicating positional perfection in Christ.

Historical References

Demas: Weaver references Demas, who forsook Paul because he loved this present world, as a warning against worldliness.
Old Testament firstborn consecration: Weaver explains that before the Levites, the firstborn male was set apart as holy to the Lord, illustrating being set apart for God.
National Israel as God's exclusive people: Weaver compares Old Testament Israel as God's exclusive people to New Testament believers being set apart for God.
Carnal Christian theory: Weaver critiques the modern idea that a person can be a Christian while living in unrepentant sin, using 1 Corinthians 6 to refute it.
David's sin as exception: Weaver uses David as an example of a man after God's own heart whose sin was the exception, not the rule, in a life of holiness.

Important Quotes

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication.

This is the central text of the sermon, establishing that sanctification and sexual purity are God's clearly revealed will.

Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

Highlights that true obedience to God's will must be heartfelt, not mechanical.

The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Provides eternal motivation for pursuing holiness rather than worldly lusts.

The Bible knows nothing of a justified unsanctified man. Those whom God justifies, he sanctifies.

A key argument that justification and sanctification are inseparable in salvation.

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

Emphasizes the absolute necessity of holiness for seeing God, making sanctification a life-and-death issue.

Christ did not give himself to edify the church. He did not give himself to activate the church. He did not give himself to motivate the church. He gave himself that he might sanctify and make it holy.

Stresses that Christ's primary purpose in redemption was to make His people holy.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does distinguishing between God's secret will and His revealed will help us in pursuing sanctification?

[Context]

Weaver explains that we are responsible to obey the revealed will, not to speculate about the secret will.

[Question]

What does it mean to do the will of God 'from the heart,' and how can we cultivate that attitude?

[Context]

Weaver contrasts mechanical obedience with heartfelt desire to please God, citing Ephesians 6:6.

[Question]

Why is it dangerous to claim positional sanctification while neglecting practical holiness?

[Context]

Weaver argues that positional sanctification must be accompanied by progressive sanctification; otherwise, it may be a false assurance.

[Question]

How does the truth that 'without holiness no one will see the Lord' impact your daily pursuit of purity?

[Context]

Weaver uses Hebrews 12:14 to show that sanctification is essential for salvation, not optional.

[Question]

In what ways does modern Christianity sometimes prioritize happiness over holiness, and how can we correct that?

[Context]

Weaver critiques the focus on happiness and emphasizes that God's priority is our holiness.

[Question]

How can we encourage one another to obey God's clearly revealed will in areas like sexual purity?

[Context]

Weaver stresses that if we won't obey in clear matters, we won't obey in difficult ones, and calls for mutual exhortation.

Applications

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