1 Thess. 4:1-3, Sanctification

1 Thess. 4 begins with one of Paul’s famous ‘finally’ transitions.  It doesn’t necessarily mean he has come to the end of the letter though it can mean he has come to the final subject (e.g. Eph. 6:10) or that he has finished a lengthy personal beginning and has come to the primary subject of the letter (as here and in Phil. 3:1).


In ch. 4-5 the “primary subject” is sanctification and 4:1-3a is an introduction to them.  These chapters have several subjects (sexual immorality, brotherly love, proper grief, and the day of the Lord as well as a potpourri of concluding exhortations) but all the subject come under the heading of “sanctification.”

·        The Meaning of Sanctification. 

o   Sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 3:10; 1 John 4:7;  1 Cor. 6:19).  The Greek hagiasmos is in the “holiness” family of words and has the root idea of being set apart. 

o   In Romans we see the major subjects in Ch. 1-8 as condemnation (Ch. 1-3), justification (Ch. 3-5) and sanctification (Ch. 6-8).  Justification is past tense for the believer (Rom. 5:1) while sanctification is the ongoing life of the believer. 

o   Another way to look at this is in terms of salvation: I have been saved from the penalty of sin (justification), I am being saved from the power of sin (sanctification), and I will be saved from the presence of sin (glorification).

o   A key to sanctification is in 1 Peter 1:6: Be holy as I am holy, says the Lord.

·        The importance of Sanctification.  Of course it is important; everything in the Bible is important.  But by this we mean this is a major subject, one of those Genesis to Revelation subjects.

o   Seen in the big picture of Scripture.  Man exists to glorify God.  Thus we live to please God.  That is sanctification.  We must be saved (that is, our eternal sin problem must be resolved by faith in Christ) and we must be sanctified (our daily sin problem must be resolved by faith in Christ).  This was evident in our father Abraham.  In Gen. 15:6 he believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness (he was justified).  But then the work of sanctification began and in Gen. 17:1 God said, walk before Me and be blameless.

o   Seen in Paul’s ministry approach.  In 1 Thess. 4 Paul urges, exhorts and commands the believers to walk in such a way as to please God. 

o   Seen in Paul’s written emphasis.  Paul also says that sanctification is how you ought to walk (i.e. it is necessary) and that it is the will of God.  The subject of Ch. 4-5 is what Paul referred to in 1 Th. 2:12: that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. 

We are in for some powerful and practical truths (I know, the Bible is always powerful and practical) as we continue to move through this wonderful letter.  Let us have ears to hear what the Spirit says.