13. (a) How does the Bible help us as to morality? (b) Give the gist of the counsel at 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7.

¹³ Morality affects other humans too. You can see that from examples in God’s Word that illustrate the value of applying God’s moral standards and the results of disregarding them. (Genesis 39:1-9, 21; Joshua 7:1-25) You can also find such pointed counsel on morality as: “This is what God wills, the sanctifying of you, that you abstain from fornication; that each one of you should know how to get possession of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in covetous sexual appetite such as also those nations have which do not know God; that no one go to the point of harming and encroach upon the rights of his brother in this matter, . . . for God called us, not with allowance for uncleanness, but in connection with sanctification.”​—1 Thessalonians 4:3-7.

14. What might you ask yourself about the counsel at 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7?

¹⁴ Almost anyone can see from this passage that sexual immorality breaches Christian morality. Yet, you can go beyond the obvious. Some texts offer avenues for considerable study and meditation, with resulting insight. For instance, you might reflect on what Paul meant in saying that engaging in fornication can bring one “to the point of harming and encroach upon the rights of his brother in this matter.” What rights are included, and how will a better understanding of this provide you with added incentive to maintain Christian morality? How could the results of such research further equip you to teach others and help them to honor God?

16, 17. (a) Where can you find enlightening comments on the rights mentioned at 1 Thessalonians 4:6? (b) In what ways can fornication encroach on others’ rights?

¹⁶ Let us take the example cited above, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7. The question arose about rights. Whose rights? And how might those rights be encroached on? With the study tools mentioned, you can probably find a number of enlightening comments on these verses, even on the rights that Paul mentioned. You can read such comments in Insight on the Scriptures, Volume 1, pages 863-4; True Peace and Security​—How Can You Find It?, page 145; The Watchtower, November 15, 1989, page 31.

¹⁷ Pursuing the study, you will see that those publications show how true Paul’s words are. A fornicator sins against God and exposes himself to diseases. (1 Corinthians 6:18, 19; Hebrews 13:4) A man engaging in fornication encroaches on various rights of the woman with whom he sins. He deprives her of a clean moral standing and a good conscience. If she is single, he encroaches on her right to enter marriage as a virgin and her future husband’s right to expect her to be such. He hurts the woman’s parents and her husband if she is married. The immoral man spoils his own family’s right to a clean moral record. If he is a member of a Christian congregation, he brings reproach on it, hurting its reputation.​—1 Corinthians 5:1.

18. How do you benefit from Bible study regarding Christian morality?

¹⁸ Do not such comments about rights help that verse to unfold before you? Study of that sort is certainly of great value. As you pursue it, you are teaching yourself. Your grasp of the truthfulness and impact of God’s message grows. You strengthen your determination to hold to Christian morality no matter what temptation may arise. And think how much more effective you can be as a teacher! For instance, while teaching others Bible truth, you can impart insight into 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7, increasing their understanding and appreciation for Christian morality. Thus, your study can help you and many others to honor God.