1Thessalonians 4:1-7 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as you have received of us how you ought to walk and to please God, so you would abound more and more. For you know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God had not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
There is also progressive sanctification and complete sanctification (continues).
Proof of progressive sanctification: Statements of Jesus (Luke 9:23; John 8:31; 14:26; 15:3; 16:13-16). Statements of Luke (Acts 13:43; 14:22; 15:41; 16:5; 18:26). Statements of Paul (Rom. 1:11, 17; 2:7; 4:12; 6:3-22; 7:4-6; 8:1-13; 11:20-22; 12:1-21; 14:19; 1Cor. 1:7-10; 11:31-34; 15:58; 16:13; 2Cor. 3:18; 5:9; 7:1; 10:4-6; 13:11; Gal. 5:1, 13, 16-26; Eph. 3:16-21;4:1-32; 5:1-18; 6:1-18; Php. 1:6, 9, 25-27; 2:12-15; 3:7-15; 4:8-9; Col. 1:9-29; 2:3-9; 3:1-17; 4:12; 1Thess. 2:2-13; 3:1-12; 5:11-23; 2Thess. 1:3-5; 2:13-17; 3:3; 1Tim. 1:18; 4:12-16; 5:21-22; 6:12-14; 2Tim. 1:13-14; 2:4, 19-26; Tit. 2:7-14; Heb. 3:6, 12-14; 4:11; 5:11-14; 6:1-2, 11-12; 10:23-39; 12:12; 13:20-21). Statements of James (Jas. 1:3-4, 12, 22-27; 2:14-26; 3:2; 4:4-10; 5:1-12). Statements of Peter (1Pet. 1:5-16; 2:1-12; 3:8-12; 4:1-19; 5:1-10; 2Pet. 1:4-10; 3:14-18). Statements of John (1Jn. 1:6-9; 2:1-6, 24-29; 3:1-10; 5:1-18; 2Jn. 1:1, 6, 8; 3Jn. 1:4, 11). Statements of Jude (Jude 1:3, 20-24).
Proof of complete sanctification: Statements of Jesus (Matt. 10:22; 19:27-29; 25:46; Mark 10:29-30; Luke 21:36; John 4:36; 6:27; 12:25; 14:1-3). Statements of Paul (Acts 26:18; Rom. 2:7-10; 5:21; 6:22-23; 8:17-18, 23-25; 13:11; 1Cor. 1:7-8; 15:1-6, 23, 51-58; 2Cor. 4:16-18; 5:9; Gal. 6:7-8; Eph. 1:4, 13-14; 4:13-16; 5:26-27; Php. 1:6; 3:7-14, 20-21; Col. 3:4; 1Thess. 1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:13-18; 5:23; Heb. 3:6, 12-14; 6:1-12, 18-19; 10:23, 35-39). Statements of others (Jas. 5:7; 1Pet. 1:3-13; 4:13; 5:10; 2Pet. 3:14; John 3:1-3; Jude 1:24).
‘Vessel in sanctification and honour.’ This refers to one of two things: To man’s own body which he is to keep from fornication (4:3; 2Cor. 4:7; 2Tim. 2:21). To the wife, whom a man is privileged to possess in a marriage relationship (4:4; 1Pet. 3:7).
Living the Word 