Are You Being Deceived?

[Sue J Love]

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

“But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” (Ephesians 5:1-11 ESV)

In the previous chapter of Ephesians, chapter 4, we read that, as those who profess faith in Jesus Christ, we are no longer to live (in conduct) as the ungodly, giving ourselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. That is not the way we should have learned Christ. We should have been taught to put off our old self, which is corrupt through deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (vv. 17-32).

And then we are to be imitators (followers, disciples) of God (Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit). And we are to walk (in conduct, in practice) in love, preferring to live through Christ in obeying his choices in his power and wisdom, doing what is righteous, just, holy, godly, morally pure, upright, honest, faithful, and obedient to our Lord and his commandments. And we are no longer to be those who walk (in conduct) according to our flesh, doing whatever our flesh craves. For Jesus died to deliver us from slavery to sin.

Jesus Christ did not die that horrible death on that cross just to free us from the punishment of sin and just to guarantee us entry into his heaven when we die. He died that we might die with him to sin and now live with him to his righteousness. He gave his life up for us on that cross to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our slavery to sin so that we will now honor and serve the Lord Jesus with our lives in how we live day in and day out. But if we continue in sin, and not in obedience, we do not have life in Christ.

Therefore, sexual immorality, all impurity, crude joking, covetousness, and the like, must be put out of our lives, by the Spirit, via our full cooperation with God’s work of grace in our lives. For God’s grace, which is bringing us salvation, is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we await our Lord’s return. For Jesus Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”

[Titus 2:11-14; Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 3:23-25; Romans 5:1-2; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 6:24; Hebrews 10:26-31; Hebrews 12:12-17; 1 Peter 2:24]

“For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God” (Ephesians 5:5).

So don’t be deceived by those who tell you that you can just “pray the prayer” to receive Christ and now you are saved and on your way to heaven. That is not biblical salvation. We must die with Christ to sin and now walk with him in holiness and in walks of obedience to his commands. For if we continue living in sin, and not in obedience to our Lord, and not in surrender to his will and purpose for our lives, we will not inherit eternal life with God, regardless of what our lips profess or we say we believe in our hearts.

So don’t be partners with those who try to convince you that repentance (turning from and dying to sin) and walks of obedience to our Lord are not required of God for genuine salvation from sin and eternal life with God. They are definitely required of God. And as those who profess to believe in Jesus we are now to be those who walk (in conduct) in the light (Christ, truth, righteousness) and no longer in sin. And we are to try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord and then to do it in his power and strength. And then we are to expose the fruitless deeds of darkness for what they are.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:6-8; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-21; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10]

For Our Nation

An Original Work / September 11, 2012

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.

Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.

Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.