1 Thessalonians 4:1–8

Pure Walk That Pleases God

1 Thessalonians 4:1–8

Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8

Beloved, the Christian life is a journey — a journey of continual growth, sanctification, and transformation into the likeness of Jesus Christ. It is not a static faith that once confessed is left untouched, but a living, breathing relationship with God that calls us to walk in purity, holiness, and obedience. The Apostle Paul understood this deeply, and that is why, in his letter to the Thessalonians, he writes with both affection and urgency, calling the believers to live in a way that pleases God.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8, Paul says, “Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God—just as you are doing—that you do so more and more.” The heart of this passage is clear — it is a divine call to live a life that pleases God. This is not merely about outward morality or religious performance; it is about an inward transformation that reflects the holiness of the One who called us out of darkness into His marvellous light.

Explanation of the Text

A Call to Continue Growing in Holiness
Paul begins with the word “Finally,” not to conclude his letter but to transition into practical exhortation. Having already established the foundations of faith, hope, and love in the earlier chapters, he now turns to what it means to live out that faith in daily life. He appeals to them not as strangers but as brothers and sisters in Christ, urging them “in the Lord Jesus.” This phrase reminds us that all Christian instruction and authority flow from our union with Christ — it is in Him and through Him that we learn how to walk in righteousness.

Paul commends the Thessalonians for the progress they have already made in their faith. They were not living in rebellion; they were walking rightly. Yet Paul says, “Do so more and more.” Here lies a powerful truth — holiness is not a destination but a direction. The Christian life is a continual ascent toward godliness, a constant pursuit of Christlikeness. No matter how mature we become, no matter how long we have walked with God, there is always room to grow deeper in holiness and in love. Christian maturity is not measured by arrival but by advancement — by the willingness to grow, to change, and to continually surrender to the shaping hand of God.

Paul’s encouragement mirrors his exhortation in 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” The phrase “always abounding” means to overflow, to go beyond what is required. That is the heart of spiritual growth — never being satisfied with mediocrity but pressing forward to greater obedience, greater purity, greater intimacy with the Lord.

Walking to Please God, Not Ourselves
Paul emphasises that the believer’s walk should be aimed at pleasing God. That may sound simple, but it is profoundly countercultural. The world teaches us to live for ourselves, to follow our desires, to chase after comfort and approval. But Paul reminds us that the Christian’s motivation is entirely different. We live not to please men, nor to satisfy our own appetites, but to bring pleasure to God.

In 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, Paul writes, “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.” That price was the blood of Jesus Christ. When we understand the cost of our redemption, we realise that our lives are no longer our own possessions. We belong to the Lord who purchased us. Our time, our thoughts, our relationships, our bodies — all are meant for His glory.

It is so easy, even for believers, to drift into a life of self-pleasing — doing what feels right, setting our own standards, judging our own righteousness by comparison with others. But Paul reminds us that true holiness is about walking according to God’s standards, not our own. As Galatians 2:20 declares, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” To please God, we must die daily to self and live under the rule of Christ.

The Will of God: Our Sanctification

Having established that our life’s purpose is to please God, Paul then defines what that looks like in practical terms. Verse 3 says, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.”

Many believers spend years asking, “What is God’s will for my life?” They look for direction in career, relationships, or ministry, yet often overlook what God has already clearly revealed in His Word. The will of God is not hidden — it is that we be sanctified.

 Sanctification is the process of being made holy, being set apart from the world and its ways, and being conformed to the character of Christ.

Paul speaks specifically about sexual purity because the city of Thessalonica, like much of the Greco-Roman world, was immersed in sexual immorality. Adultery, fornication, and indulgence were normalised in their culture. But Paul declares that the church of Christ must be different. God’s people are called to live in contrast to the world and not blending in with its sin, but standing apart in holiness.

He continues, “that each of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.” The believer’s body is not a tool for pleasure but a temple for the presence of the Holy Spirit. 

To live in holiness is to exercise self-control, to refuse the desires of the flesh, and to walk in submission to the Spirit of God.

Self-control, Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:23, is a fruit of the Spirit. It is not achieved by sheer willpower but by yielding to the Spirit’s work within us. The more we draw near to God, the more His Spirit empowers us to say “no” to sin and “yes” to righteousness.

Paul also warns that sexual sin is not merely personal, it affects others. Verse 6 says, “that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter.” Sin always leaves a trail of damage. It wounds relationships, destroys trust, and dishonours the body of Christ. Therefore, Paul reminds the believers that “the Lord is an avenger in all these things.” God’s holiness demands justice, and He will not allow sin to go unchecked among His people.

Called to Holiness, Empowered by the Spirit

In verses 7 and 8, Paul reaches the heart of the matter: “For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.” 

This is the essence of the Christian calling. Holiness is not an option or an advanced stage of spirituality; it is the very purpose for which we have been saved.

From the beginning, God’s Word has been clear about His desire for a holy people. Peter echoes this truth in 1 Peter 1:15–16, “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” When we were born again, God not only forgave us; He made us new. We were delivered from sin’s penalty and called to walk in the newness of life.

Holiness, then, is not merely the absence of sin but the presence of divine character. It is living in such a way that the nature of God is seen in us — His love, His purity, His humility, and His obedience.

Finally, Paul concludes with a solemn reminder: “Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives His Holy Spirit to you.” To reject the call to holiness is not to reject Paul’s teaching or the moral advice of the church — it is to reject God Himself. But notice the grace in this statement: “who gives His Holy Spirit to you.” God does not demand holiness without giving us the power to live it. He has placed His Spirit within us — the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead — to enable us to live a life that pleases Him.

The call to holiness would be impossible without the presence of the Holy Spirit. But because He dwells in us, we are able to overcome temptation, to walk in purity, and to grow in sanctification day by day.

Conclusion: Living to Please God

Beloved, the message of this passage is both simple and profound. God’s desire for His children is clear: that we live in a way that pleases Him. That we walk not according to the desires of the flesh, but according to the leading of the Spirit. That we pursue holiness not as a burden but as a beautiful expression of our love for God.

A pure walk that pleases God is one that continually grows in grace, that abstains from sin, and that radiates the character of Christ. It is a life lived in surrender, not self-rule; a life of obedience, not compromise; a life of holiness, not impurity.

And so, Paul’s words echo across the centuries to us today: “You have received from us how you ought to walk and to please God… do so more and more.” Let this be the cry of our hearts — not to settle for spiritual mediocrity, but to pursue with all our being a walk that pleases the Lord. For the God who calls us to holiness has also given us His Holy Spirit to make it possible.

May our lives be a reflection of His purity, our hearts a dwelling place of His presence, and our walk a testimony to His glory. Let us strive, by the grace of God, to walk in holiness is not to earn His favor, but because we already have it — and to please Him in all that we do, until the day we see Him face to face.