Note 12 at 1 Th. 4:6: Paul had just said that it was God's will for believers to live sexually pure lives. Now, in the same sentence, he is advocating honesty in our dealings with others. He even places a judgment from God upon those who defraud their brother which he didn't mention when speaking of the sexual sins. This is not to say that the Lord is more concerned with integrity than sexual purity, but it is saying that He is just as concerned with how we treat others as He is with moral purity.

Note 13 at 1 Th. 4:6: Those who are truly born again have a covenant with God which ensures them that He will never hold their sins against them. Our sins-past, present, and future-were placed on Jesus (see note 11 at Rom. 4:8, p. 762). So, what if a Christian defrauds his brother? Does God judge him for that sin?

God is for justice and against dishonesty. He is not against those who act dishonestly, especially if they are His children. But He will take a stand against their actions. Therefore, if a believer defrauds his brother, God will correct that wrong and bring justice to light. He is not against the thief but for the victim.

Imagine a parent who has a dishonest child. The parent loves his child, but if the parent has integrity, he will not support his child's dishonest ways. A godly parent would not lie so his child could defraud someone, and a godly parent would turn in his child or make amends if he knew his child had stolen from someone. Yet that godly parent would still love his child and do anything within the law to help him.

Likewise, God loves and is for all His children. But let wayward children beware. God will not help you "con" other people. He will expose you and defend the right but He will never stop loving you.