Empowered for Chastity (LD 41; 1 Thess. 4:3-8)

Defining God’s Law and the Call to Holiness

The way we define God’s law matters deeply. A superficial reading can lead to a misunderstanding of the law.  We can read it in such a way that we nail it because we measure up to it by our understanding of it every time.  But when we see it through God’s own definition, it penetrates the heart. For example, adultery is not just a physical act but a violation of chastity before the Lord. This deeper meaning calls believers to live lives empowered by the Spirit, called to holiness and separation from sin.  We are not doing this merely for outward compliance, but true inner transformation.

Called to Live Away from Sin and Toward God

The catechism teaches that sin extends beyond physical acts to anything that harms our neighbor or ourselves.  Christians are called to detest unchastity with their whole hearts and live out the gospel by discerning what pleases God. Despite struggles and cultural pressures toward pleasure, believers are united to Christ, empowered by His resurrection, and called to live holy lives, resisting the temptation to conform to worldly desires or to view holiness as mere self-discipline.

Called Those Who Know God

Believers who truly know God are called to pursue a life marked by integrity, decency, and chastity.  Chastity is a life marked by moral purity.  It is not just avoiding sin but actively living pure and modest lives empowered by the Holy Spirit. Our bodies are temples of the Spirit, so chastity is not relative morality but a standard grounded in faith and the power of God’s Spirit. Christians must take ownership of their desires, resisting sin not by their strength but by the Spirit’s work, embracing their identity as God’s holy people.  We move closer to our identity as God’s people as pilgrims in this world.

Called in God’s Spirit to True Holiness

Living a chaste life empowered by the Spirit means stewarding both body and soul for God’s glory. It involves guarding against sinful thoughts, lust, and manipulative behaviors that distort God’s holiness. Holiness is not self-help or mere willpower, but it is done as we are in union with Christ, empowered by His resurrection and Spirit. True sanctification flows from this union, leading believers to joyful obedience and daily repentance as they live out their calling as redeemed saints, focused on Christ rather than self.