How Do We Keep Ourselves Separate from the World? (Christian Conduct Series)

If we are serious about our Christianity, then we know that the bottom line of everything in our lives is to be more like Jesus. If we call ourselves disciples of Christ, if we call ourselves his footstep followers, then any and every other objective in life must by definition become secondary. Our last seven episodes have been examining several of Paul’s pointed statements regarding our separateness from the world in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24. Having God “sanctify us entirely” is the dramatic conclusion of this powerful set of teachings. So, how does it work? What are the secrets of Jesus’ true followers living their daily lives in a truly holy fashion? Does God just set us apart? What are the standards we must adhere to? How do we know if we are on the right track? The call for Christians to live sanctified lives is truly profound. To be “sanctified” is to be set apart from worldly influences and wholly devoted to God’s purpose. Sanctification is not only an individual journey but a collective responsibility of the entire church. It’s both a divine gift and a developmental process requiring intentional effort. God initiates sanctification, but we must sanctify ourselves by actively pursuing holiness. Paul taught the Thessalonian Christians that they had a threefold unity: spirit, soul and body, representing the spiritual harmony, shared mission and coordinated action of the church community as a whole. God helps us rise to these challenges by giving us His sanctifying spirit and His undefiled words in Scripture as instructions. We are given everything we need; now we need to do our part! When reviewing the previous seven lessons of our Christian Conduct Series, we need to keep Paul’s conclusion in mind: 1 Thessalonians 5:24: “Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.” God’s faithfulness in proven by His care in: • giving us diligent, spirit-driven and humble shepherds to guide and teach us. • setting up His church in a mutually upbuilding way. • providing a spirit-driven environment that invites a thriving state of being. • setting up his church with a continuous line of communication through prayer. • providing us with abundant reasons for daily gratitude. • giving us His spirit and giving us ways to feed its influence. • setting up His church in a mutually upbuilding way. Ultimately, Paul’s message is that God is faithful—He provides the tools, the spirit, and the community for us to grow in holiness and preserve spiritual integrity!