Empty Words and Important Choices

Today's Three-minute Bible Study
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Title: Empty Words and Important Choices ------------------- Date: 7/15/2001
Keywords: "choose" "deceit" "empty words"
Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation.

Passage: Ephesians 5:5-6*

5. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

6. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Questions

1. According to verse 5, will all men be saved and go to heaven?

 

2. Can a person be an idolater today? What are some modern forms of idolatry?

 

3. Think about the advice you receive on how to live a successful or fulfilled life. How much of it, when compared to the passage above, can be filed under "empty words?"

 

Practical help

Christians who fall into sins like pornography experience incredible doubt about their relationship with God. Hold tightly to the promise of Romans 8:38-39.

38. "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

39. nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is Christ Jesus our Lord."

Now how does that verse relate to Ephesians 5:5 above? Trust your judgment, Paul says. Men whose lives are consumed by immorality, impurity and greed basically do not believe in God in the first place. Instead, they have a different god, one which they have created – which is idolatry. If you know what you are doing is wrong, but you feel helpless to stop, then there is hope for you, because it is not your power that is important. On the other hand, if you are comfortable with sin, then you probably have not even taken the first step to come to God.

Probably the best explanation of God’s wrath is found in the first chapter of Romans (read Romans 1:18-32). Basically, when men consistently and knowingly turn away from God, He gives them over to their own corruption rather than forcing them to love Him. This ultimately results in their eternal separation from God.

18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness…

19. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts…

20. …God gave them over to degrading passions…

21. …God gave them over to a depraved mind…

32. and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."

Your life's clock is ticking, and it may seem to you now that it will go on forever. But one day time will be up. God will ultimately set right what has been wrong in this world. When that happens, what side will you find yourself? It really does boil down to simple choices you can make today.

You can only act in the present moment. Take time now to think about what you will do today to move away from evil and toward God.

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*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."