Consider words of deception.
Words of deception are obviously words with half-truth, or no truth, that are intended to lead the hearer to make a decision they would not have made had they known the whole truth. Words of deception are empty, meaning they have no value to the hearer, but only have value to the deceiver.
If we broke the Word of God down into 3 subjects, we could place most of God’s Word under these 3:
1. God’s Sovereignty (What God has done, and will do)
2. Man’s Responsibility (What God has decreed is man’s personal responsibility)
3. Warnings
The WARNING of Ephesians 5:6 is the focus of today’s post; the warning regarding “empty words”.
Ephesians 5:6a
Let no one deceive you with empty words
We are not being warned of the empty words of a shady used car salesman trying to sell you a lemon; or the con artist that promises you ten thousand dollars if you’ll just send him a thousand first. The empty words of deception we are being warned against are regarding the Wrath of God.
What do these words look like?
These words give a man comfort while he remains under God’s Wrath.
Consider that again – this is a VERY HEAVY reality!!
Empty words of deception give a man comfort while he remains under the Wrath of God!!
What are some examples of this? We see these empty words of deception in every arena of life; academia, religion, philosophy, and “everyday interactions”.
University professors will convince you, “there is no God, there is no Divine Creator, we die and turn to dirt.”
“Works Religion” will tell you, yes there is a Divine Creator, but you only need to “do this and that” to be “right with God”.
“Liberal Religion” is loaded with empty words of deception; probably because they are the things people like to hear most:
• “Yes, there is a God, there is a Heaven, and we will all be there someday”.
• “Yes, the Bible warns of sin, but do not worry, God forgives everyone.”
• “Yes, the Bible warns of sinful things, but it is written by men who didn’t get everything right, it is outdated and narrow-minded.”
• You’re a good person, that’s all that matters.
Philosophy says, “truth is subjective, find your own truth.”
The world says:
• “Don’t worry about that ‘God stuff’. Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.”
• “Don’t listen to those ‘fire and brimstone’ preachers, they’re crazy!”
If you boil all these empty words down, they ultimately come down to one of two things:
1. There is NO FIRE and BRIMSTONE, there is NO WRATH OF GOD.
Or
2. There is Wrath of God, but you do not need to worry about it.
Let’s be honest. No Wrath of God, or not having to worry about the Wrath of God would be preferred over the alternative, right? This is easier on the ears than the Truth.
But, if I was going to buy a house based on a new roof, new siding, and well-manicured lawn I would be a fool, right? I need to look inside. Is there mold, does the furnace work, are there electrical wires exposed, does the carpet smell like cat urine, etc.
Believing there is no God, or being convinced God’s Wrath is nothing to concern yourself with are only the empty words of a deceiver that says, “move along, there’s nothing to see here.” The reality is, there is EVERYTHING to see here! You must see that God is real, His Wrath is coming, and you should be concerned about it!
Hearing this should send shockwaves of fear through your entire being. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God. It is a fearful thing to come to the reality that you deserve eternal hell.
It is in that fear and trembling that God says, “yes, you are right to be fearful; but My perfect love casts out fear. I have sent My Son to pay your sin debt so you can be forgiven, so you can be redeemed. It is by the Blood of My Son, and your trust in Him alone to save you, that you can be transferred out of the domain of darkness where you are abiding under My Wrath, and into the Kingdom of My Beloved Son, where you now qualify for an eternal inheritance.”
Colossians 1:13-14
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:28
for this is My Blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Hebrews 9:22
Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
Romans 5:8
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Ephesians 5:6
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Hebrews 10:31
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
