A Call unto Holiness
F. Cook, D. D. 1 Thessalonians 4:4-7 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor;… I. THE CONTRAST. 1. Holiness is eternal and Divine — the ever lasting God is the holy God. 2. Man was created in the image of the holy God. 3. By the first transgression holiness was lost; the flesh became prone to all uncleanness, inward and outward. 4. Abounding uncleanness was in the world before the flood, in Gentile nations, and in Israel. 5. Uncleanness, public and private, shameless and hypocritical, is in this professedly Christian land. 6. The world winks at uncleanness, and even tries to justify it. Not so God (Ephesians 5:6; 1 Thessalonians 4:7). II. THE CALL. 1. To Israel and the Church (Leviticus 20:7; 1 Peter 1:14-16). 2. Holiness was taught by outward purifications under the law (Exodus 28:86). 3. The reason for the call: God's purpose is to make His children like Himself, to renew their lost holiness (Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 4:22-24). III. THE GRACE. 1. The God of holiness is the God of grace. 2. Grace to cleanse from uncleanness, by the atoning blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5). 3. Grace to sanctify, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which inspires holy desires and affections. 4. Grace to strengthen, by the Holy Spirit enabling us to keep under the body and to crucify the flesh. IV. WARNINGS AND EXHORTATIONS. 1. The Word written uses great plainness of speech on this subject; so should the Word preached. 2. The judgment recorded in Holy Scripture on the unclean. In one day God gave twenty-three thousand proofs of His hatred of uncleanness and resolve to punish it (1 Corinthians 10:8). 3. To despise the call is to despise God, and to bring down His wrath here and hereafter. 4. Secret sinner, your sin will find you out. He who exposed David's sin will expose yours. 5. The effects of despising the call and doing what the Holy One hates are defiling, debasing, deadening, destroying. 6. Your body is the temple of God. Guard it for Him against all profanation. 7. Strive by prayer to be like Jesus — like Him in holiness now, that you may be like Him in glory hereafter. (F. Cook, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; WEB: that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor,