For this is the will of God, even your
sanctification
Which is another reason to enforce the above exhortation.
"Sanctification" is internal or external. Internal sanctification
is the work of the Spirit of God, and is a principle of spiritual
life in the soul, a divine and spiritual light in the
understanding, a flexion of the will to the will of God, and a
settlement of the affections on divine things, and is an
implantation of every grace in the heart. External sanctification
arises from this, and lies in holiness of life and conversation;
and is what is chiefly designed, as appears both by what goes
before, and follows after: and this is "the will of God"; the
will of his purpose and decree; for in the same decree that he
wills the salvation of any by Jesus Christ, he also wills their
sanctification in heart and life, and here and hereafter: and
this is his approving will, or what is well pleasing in his
sight, being agreeable to his nature, and divine perfections,
particularly his holiness, in which he is glorious; and it is his
will of command, and what he requires in his law, which is holy,
just, and good, and perfectly agrees with the sound doctrine of
the Gospel, and the revelation of his will in both.
That ye should abstain from fornication:
which is particularly mentioned, abstinence from it being a
branch of external holiness; and because that this sin was common
among the Gentiles, and not esteemed a sin by them; as also to
observe to these Christians, that as simple fornication was not
to be allowed of, much less other acts of uncleanness, as
adultery, incest, sodomy, and the like, which were iniquities
that greatly prevailed among the Heathens. The Syriac version
renders it, "from all fornication"; on this subject the apostle
enlarges in some following verses.