1 Thessalonians 3:11-13; ; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
Not our trials but rather our love should prompt us to wait for the Lord. His coming "with all his saints" is the great thought which should control all our behaviour. We are saints (i.e. holy ones) in God’s sight through the perfect work of Christ (Hebrews 10:10). But at the same time we are exhorted to establish our hearts in practical holiness (1 Thessalonians 3:13); it is the clear will of God for each one of His people (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Young Christians must take particular care to keep themselves pure (v. 4). To use their bodies for selfish pleasure is to sin firstly against themselves: sometimes they ruin their health, always their conscience (the latter loses its sensitivity to evil and does not work properly like the needle of a broken compass).
They can also do very serious harm to others (v. 6; Hebrews 13:4). How many broken lives, defiled minds and bodies, and broken homes have paid the price for some proud conquest or a few moments of pleasure! Finally impurity in all its forms is a sin against God (Psalms 51:4). Our bodies no longer belong to us; they have become the temple of the Spirit whom God has given to us (v. 8; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20). The Holy Spirit requires a holy dwelling place. Keeping our bodies blameless (1 Thessalonians 5:23) honours the One who dwells in them.