³For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, ⁵not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God …

Sex is a fact of life! In a fallen world, sex is the bane of sanctification, the downfall of many, the fantasy that consumes the masses, the most difficult human compulsion to control (next to the tongue). Its misuse causes the destruction of marriages and the internalization of shame, guilt, and distrust. Advertisements use it blatantly to sell their products, women harness its power, men objectify the female body. Pornography abounds in many insidious forms. Only hermits escape the temptations, and even that is questionable.

The Word of God pulls no punches and is not embarrassed about this subject. In fact, the canonical book we call the Song of Solomon is full of sexual expressions intended to exalt the goodness of sexuality between a man and a woman. But in our fallen world, the enemy of our souls, who understands the wickedness of the human heart, throws it in our faces in ways that entice us to step out of God’s intended desire for sex. That is, God designed sex as a means of unity between one man and one woman to reflect His glory and image on earth.

So God’s Word has a lot to say about this subject in which we are all interested, either for good reasons or otherwise. At the core, it is God’s will for us to abstain from the immoral expressions of sex. Contrary to the secular humanist, whose only restraint is the consent of those involved, God desires us to operate with the overriding parameter of sanctification and honor. We are dedicated to God, and that includes the dedication of our sex lives. We are controlled by the desire to honor God in our bodies. Our bodies, in this sense, are simply tools we use for God’s benefit, and not because of some earthly concept of being owners of our own bodies.

Gentiles in the ancient world were those outside of the Jewish faith. Since there were virtually no atheists then, the alternative would be worship of pagan gods, of which there were many. Sexual immorality was rampant, and this was no less true in Thessalonica. Many believers there came out of that background of lustful passion. But Christians have been called to a higher standard than living to please the flesh. As Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth (from where he was writing to the Thessalonians), “For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Cor. 6:20).

Lord, help me with abundant grace to resist the temptations of immoral sex.