2 days ago
281 - God's Pure Love
In this episode, I start with the founding verse of this ministry, which is based on the love of God and loving one another, but there are other aspects involving purity as follows: "And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints" (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13, NKJV). In these verses, the apostle Paul is praying for us to increase in love. Chapter 4 of First Thessalonians continues: "Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2, NKJV). The word "abound," used in these verses means "to increase to overflowing." It pleases God when we show love to one another. Jesus gave us a new commandment that we love one another [John 13:34-35].
First Thessalonians 4:3-4 continues: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor . . ." What is the will of God? That we be sanctified, (set apart from the world) for Him, for pure and holy living. To abstain from fortification means to shun and detest sexual vices, interactions outside the bounds of marriage (between a man and a woman). The word "vessel" here refers to your body. First Thessalonians 4:5 continues: ". . . not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God . . ." The term, "passion of lust" implies our thoughts and dreams should not be about sexual desires. When you control these desires you're showing sanctification and your love for God and one another.
Let's go on to verse 6: ". . . that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness" (1 Thessalonians 4:6-7, NKJV). Holiness is separation from how the world [gentiles] think and act, and dedicate ourselves to purity. The truths spoken of in these verses have become much more difficult to preach on since the sexual revolution of the 1960's, but we need to know the truth of God's Word. Join me as we delve into this difficult subject. Selah!
Let me hear from you - Charles
https://www.aboundinglove.org/
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