INTRODUCTION
A. Ephesians 5:6
We are warned of the danger in being deceived by empty words. The consequence is severe.
B. 2nd Peter 2:17-18
“Great swelling words of emptiness”, sadly, are the words by which countless multitudes live each day. Words that flagrantly conflict with the will of God are hashtagged across social media and indelibly tattooed on bodies.

I. YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE
A. Job 14:14
For the sake of argument, Job asked a question he knew the answer to – a change will keep when the dead live again.
B. 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 5:28-29
It is a comfort to know that Jesus will take us to heaven permanently, but those who don’t believe will be resurrected to condemnation.
C. 1st John 2:25; 5:11
Eternal life is the promise the Christian has built his entire life upon.
D. John 3:1-7
Living more than once starts with being reborn, spiritual renewal in baptism.

II. NO REGRETS
A. James 4:7-10
The idea of life without regrets totally overlooks what is demanded of sinners needing to change.
B. 2nd Corinthians 7:10-11
Sorrow is prerequisite to repentance, which is needed to be saved.
C. Luke 6:25
Weeping and mourning are inevitable. It is better to get it out of the way now on the way to repentance than in eternity when it is too late to repent.
D. Matthew 13:47-50
“Wailing and gnashing of teeth” await the hellbound. Regret will consume them.

III. ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE ME
A. Acts 7:26-27; Genesis 19:4-9
Getting accused of judgmentalism is the common lot of good men who are willing to confront wrongdoing.
B. Matthew 7:1-5; John 7:24
When Jesus said not to judge, His emphasis in context was to disapprove of hypocritical judgment, not all judgment by mankind. After all, having specks in our eyes is problematic, not good; it’s just that having specks removed by people with logs in their eyes is not helpful. Jesus did teach us to judge, but specifically using “righteous judgment”.
C. 1st Corinthians 6:2; Hebrews 11:7; Matthew 12:41-42
In truth, Christians will judge the rest of the world. Good people already implicitly condemn others just by doing the right things others won’t do.
D. Matthew 7:18-20; Hebrews 5:12-14
Jesus expects us to recognize good fruit versus the bad. Maturity in Christ means we have gained such discernment.

CONCLUSION
A. 2nd Timothy 1:13
Instead of empty, swelling words, we need ”sound words”.
B. Hebrews 13:22
We should be willing to “bear with the word of exhortation”.
C. John 6:63
We need to go to Jesus for the words of life.

By Bryan Matthew Dockens