Called Unto Holiness

Sermon Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (NIV)

 3It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

I.        Introduction:

II.      Accept God’s Will For Holy Living (vv. 3-6)

A.      God’s Will  Is A Program For The Believer’s Life (v. 3a)

B.      God’s Will Is A Plan For Personal Purity (vv. 3b-5)

1.       The Design Of Holiness

2.       The Disgrace Of The Heathen

C.      God’s Will Is A Protection For The Rights Of Others (v. 6)

1.       Cheating Others Is Prohibited

2.       Cheating Others Is Punished

III.   Answer God’s Call To Holy Living (vv. 7-8)

A.      A Call To Be Heard: Issued By God (v. 7)

1.       The Call To Impurity Is Not From God

2.       The Call To Holiness Comes From God

B.      A Call To Be Heeded: Answered By Man (v. 8)

1.       Don’t Attribute The Call To Man

2.       Don’t Reject The Call Of God

IV.    Conclusion: