PARENTHOOD
a divine stewardship

In verse 6 Paul goes on to say, "That no one overstep and take advantage of his brother in the matter, because the Lord is the avenger concerning all these things, even as we also said before to you and solemnly charged." Literally, the Greek word rendered "overstep" means to overpass limits, that is, overreach, transgress, go beyond. "Overstep...his brother" refers to adultery with the brother's wife. In Greek "take advantage of" also means make a gain of; hence, defraud. By "the matter" Paul means the matter of fornication, mentioned in verse 3. In verse 6 Paul also says that the Lord is the avenger concerning these things, things such as overstepping and taking advantage of others. The Lord judges the fornicators and adulterers as an avenger, as a punisher, meting out justice.

Fornication always involves overstepping the regulation of the marriage relationship. The relationship between male and female was ordained by God. Marriage is a holy matter that was ordained by God and is under His strict regulation. Therefore, the contact between male and female must be according to God's ordination and regulation. Otherwise there may be some kind of transgression, overstepping, breaking of God's regulation.

In verse 7 Paul says, "For God has not called us for uncleanness but in sanctification." The Greek preposition translated "for" in this verse, epi, means upon, on condition of. Uncleanness in this verse denotes uncleanness in things like fornication and adultery....

The apostle's charge to abstain from fornication is based upon sanctification (v. 3), strengthened by sanctification (v. 4), and concluded here with sanctification, because fornication, as the most unclean thing, destroys the holy standing and character of God's called saints....

Verse 8 says, "Consequently, he who rejects, rejects not man but God, Who also gives His Holy Spirit to you." This verse is the conclusion of the section which begins in verse 3. The word "rejects" here refers to the charge given in the preceding verses. Here Paul seems to be saying, "I have given you a warning. If you reject it, you are not rejecting me, but you are rejecting God, the One who gave His Holy Spirit to you." Here the Holy Spirit is referred to as the Holy One who sanctifies us, making us holy before God (Romans 15:16; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Corinthians 6:11).

The will (v. 3), the call (v. 7), and the Spirit of God are all for our sanctification. God had His will first, then His call, and then the giving of His Holy Spirit. By His Spirit we may be sanctified to answer His call and fulfill His will.

God has given His Holy Spirit to us to sanctify us, to make us holy, to separate us unto God for His purpose. Thus, this Holy Spirit is moving, working, and acting within us constantly for a purpose. If we fall into fornication, we reject this indwelling Spirit who is working within us to sanctify us unto God. This is Paul's meaning here, in the verse that concludes a section on sanctification versus fornication.

May we all, especially the young people, be impressed with Paul's word of warning. The age in which we live certainly is no better than the age in which Paul lived. Furthermore, the cities where we live today are not better than Corinth or Thessalonica. On the contrary, both the age and the cities may be worse. Therefore, we need this warning concerning sanctification versus fornication.
(Life-Study of First Thessalonians, Message #15, pp. 129-135; Witness Lee, published by Living Stream Ministry 1984.)