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1 Thessalonians 4:3

King James Version (KJV)

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

Translations

1 Thessalonians 4:3 - Amplified Bible

For this is the will of God, that you should be consecrated (separated and set apart for pure and holy living): that you should abstain {and} shrink from all sexual vice,

1 Thessalonians 4:3 - American Standard Version

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye abstain from fornication;

1 Thessalonians 4:3 - Bible in Basic English

For the purpose of God for you is this: that you may be holy, and may keep yourselves from the desires of the flesh;

1 Thessalonians 4:3 - Darby Bible

For this is [the] will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication;

1 Thessalonians 4:3 - English Standard Version

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;

1 Thessalonians 4:3 - King James Version

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

1 Thessalonians 4:3 - La Biblia de las Americas

Porque esta es la voluntad de Dios: vuestra santificaciòn; es decir, que os abstengáis de inmoralidad sexual;

1 Thessalonians 4:3 - The Message

1 Thessalonians 4:3 - New American Standard Bible

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; {that is,} that you abstain from sexual immorality;

1 Thessalonians 4:3 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

Porque ésta es la voluntad de Dios: su santificaciòn; es decir, que se abstengan de inmoralidad sexual;

1 Thessalonians 4:3 - World English Bible

For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality,

1 Thessalonians 4:3 - Young's Living Translation

for this is the will of God -- your sanctification; that ye abstain from the whoredom,

1 Thessalonians 4:3 - Additional Comments

See notes on vs 5. There was a strong influence on the Thessalonians towards sexual impurity, because it was such a strong and regular practice in the city, and possibly in their earlier lives as well.
Sanctification means we have been set apart for God. It's a work of the Spirit of God. Types of sanctification:
1. "Positional sanctification" means that we are never accepted because of who we are, but because of what Christ has done. This positional sanctification is perfection in Christ. As soon as we become a Christian, we become sanctified in Christ - our position is different than those in the world.
2. "Practical sanctification" is the Holy Spirit working in our lives to produce holiness in our walk. This practical sanctification will never be perfect so long as we are in these bodies with our old sinful flesh.
3. "Total sanctification" will occur in the future when we are conformed to the image of Christ Jesus. Then both the position and the practice of sanctification will be perfect.
This verse is encouraging us to have practical sanctification - our lives are different than those in the world. Doing God's will (walking as we ought and pleasing God - vs 1) is what sets up apart, what sanctifies us.
"Perversion" means to turn something away from its natural state, and as we interpret that, the state that God designed us to live in.
"Sexual immorality" is anything that causes the physical or thought life to dwell where it shouldn't. You can usually tell this by the piqued interest, focus, and distraction on anything not in its natural state, the way God designed it to be. This means men need to avoid the things that temp them, and women need to avoid being seducing or distracting (as much as practical, while still being attractive), knowing that men too easily are affected by looks.

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