Grace Is Not A License To Sin

Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. [1 Thessalonians 4.1-8]

While not a "saved" soul reading this will likely disagree with all that is said here, I want to discuss, as briefly as possible, a little statement contained in this passage: "the Lord avenges all such sins."

What sins? Sins of a sexual nature.

We all know and are familiar with the phrase, "Sex sells." With only a little thought about the matter, one can easily see that sex is a bottom-line motivating factor in an enormous amount of what we are being sold or encouraged to participate in today. Even perverted sex is being displayed as normal these days. In fact, sexual sin has even gained protected legal status in much of the world.

It would be an understatement to say that sex is not widely promoted. Should it not then concern us that Paul made the statement above? "The Lord avenges all such sins."

While there are many factors that seem to contribute to unrequited "faith," should it not be considered that gross widespread sexual sin could, as Paul stated, invoke the Lord's avengement (which would result in fruitless faith)? We must remember that Paul made this statement very much in the Age of Grace which so many people claim has freed us from every curse.

And, at this point, we come back to holiness. Paul said it above, God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. If we do not live holy lives, Paul said, again, "the Lord avenges all such sins."

I'm sorry, but no amount of faith overcomes willful and repeated disobedience to God. Genuine faith is accompanied by the works of the Holy Spirit. Sexual sin (exploiting sex outside the parameters of self-control God set for it, beginning, but not ending with, marriage) is NOT the work of the Holy Spirit. If it's not the work of the Holy Spirit, it has nothing therefore to do with faith. If it is not of faith (that works by love), it does not please God. If it does not please God, "the Lord avenges all such sins" even in the Age of Grace. Grace is not a license to sin.

Yes, we have the ability to repent and confess our sins in the name of Jesus (in faith that Jesus suffered for our sins) and, yes, grace applies. However, "repent" introduces a concept that preempts further sin: the concept of turning away from sin and pursuing it no further. If we do not turn away from sin and pursue it no further, then we have not repented. If we have not repented, no amount of confession and invocation of Jesus' name brings grace. If there is no grace, "the Lord avenges all such sins."

All I am suggesting here is that if it seems the heavens are closed to our prayers and therefore, our "faith," it is worth considering that perhaps we should review our ways and the genuineness of our repentance. Not all sins are sexual, but all sins involve self-control.

For the record, there is one place where self-control is no longer necessary. Once (and only after) we have submitted to our cross as Jesus submitted to His Cross (and unapologetically told us to do), self control is no longer a factor because the cross restrains us. Consequently, the ONLY sure place to enjoy the absolute fullness of God's grace and unrestricted faith is on our cross. It is there, on our cross, that we are most like Jesus.

Father, there is so much to process here. Grace, faith, repentance, self-control, and our cross. Help each of us to get it right as we process all these words and their meaning in our lives. May we be found living holy lives even as it requires us to look and act entirely different than what the world promotes.