Disregarding God

 

“Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.”

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 ESV

 

Many of God’s commands are ignored or disregarded today. They are explained away that we might do as we please. And many of these commands concern our sexuality.

 

Living together outside of marriage is prevalent and even accepted among the church. The hook-up culture has found its way into the church and is practiced by many of its members. Divorce for any and every reason is common and accepted. And homosexuality is both practiced and accepted within the church.

 

As Paul makes clear in the above passage, this is not to be the case among the people of God. God’s will for us is our holiness. His will for us is our sanctification. His will for us is that we learn to control our body. His will for us is that we express ourselves sexually only within the bond of marriage.

 

As this is taught and enforced within the church, today, many see it as old-fashioned. They see it as out of touch. The believe that it’s not in keeping with the times in which we live.

 

They, then, disregard these words as the opinion of man. The disregard them as the teaching of man. They disregard them as the teaching of a man who didn’t know any better. And, doing so, they live as they please.

 

Truth, for so many of us, is defined not by God’s Word, but by experience. It’s defined by our feelings. And it’s defined by the feelings and practice of those who are dear to us.

 

Paul, however, makes the point that whoever disregards this directive disregards not man, but God. In this way, he’s making it clear that this is not simply the will or the teaching of man. These commands have come from God himself.

 

This tells us how serious we must take these words. Few of us have a problem dismissing the teaching or the opinion of a man. We have little problem doing so even if he’s extremely educated and cultured. However, even those who have a more liberal interpretation of Scripture are much less willing to disregard God and his direct commands.

 

We must, then, receive these commands for what they are, the very Word of God. And, knowing this, we must conduct our lives accordingly. We must refrain from sexual immorality in all of its forms. And if we’ve fallen short, we must repent and seek the forgiveness that was won by Jesus on the cross.