Category
VERSES ABOUT VICES AND ADDICTIONS
Addiction and bad habits can be so destructive. Think about it, addiction is clinging to something—a behavior, a substance, an activity, even a person—that's actually harming you. So many of us struggle with these things, feeling trapped by a vice or an addiction. Sometimes, we feel like it's because of our past.
But here's the truth: in God, we're free. Christ set us free from all of that and forgave our sins. If you keep dwelling on the past, those chains can really hold you back. Sometimes, these struggles can even stem from negative spiritual influences, finding a foothold and coming to light when we unknowingly open a door, giving the enemy a legal right to step in.
You have the power to let go of what's binding you. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas of bondage you need to address. Receive God's forgiveness and His healing. He's there for you.
I pray that we all find freedom from anything that's hurting us and holding us back. Just like it says in John 8:36, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
Husbands, love your wives. Love them just as Christ loved the church. He gave himself up for her.
He did it to make her holy. He made her clean by washing her with water and the word.
Suppose a man has just married his wife. Then don’t send him into battle. Don’t give him any other duty either. He’s free to stay home for one year. He needs time to make his new wife happy.
One person could be overpowered. But two people can stand up for themselves. And a rope made out of three cords isn’t easily broken.
The three most important things to have are faith, hope and love. But the greatest of them is love.
And over all these good things put on love. Love holds them all together perfectly as if they were one.
All of you should honor marriage. You should keep the marriage bed pure. God will judge the person who commits adultery. He will judge everyone who commits sexual sins.
Wives, follow the lead of your husbands. That’s what the Lord wants you to do.
Husbands, love your wives. Don’t be mean to them.
A husband should satisfy his wife’s needs. And a wife should satisfy her husband’s needs.
Those who mourn should live as if they did not. Those who are happy should live as if they were not. Those who buy something should live as if it were not theirs to keep.
Those who use the things of the world should not become all wrapped up in them. The world as it now exists is passing away.
I don’t want you to have anything to worry about. A single man is concerned about the Lord’s matters. He wants to know how he can please the Lord.
But a married man is concerned about the matters of this world. He wants to know how he can please his wife.
His concerns pull him in two directions. A single woman or a virgin is concerned about the Lord’s matters. She wants to serve the Lord with both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the matters of this world. She wants to know how she can please her husband.
I’m saying those things for your own good. I’m not trying to hold you back. I want you to be free to live in a way that is right. I want you to give yourselves completely to the Lord.
Suppose someone is worried that he is not acting with honor toward the virgin he has promised to marry. Suppose his desires are too strong, and he feels that he should marry her. He should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married.
But suppose the man has decided not to marry the virgin. And suppose he has no compelling need to get married and can control himself. If he has made up his mind not to get married, he also does the right thing.
So then, the man who marries the virgin does the right thing. But the man who doesn’t marry her does a better thing.
A woman has to stay married to her husband as long as he lives. If he dies, she is free to marry anyone she wants to. But the one she marries must belong to the Lord.
The wife’s body does not belong only to her. It also belongs to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong only to him. It also belongs to his wife.
Scripture says, “That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. The two will become one.” (Genesis 2:24)
You are God’s chosen people. You are holy and dearly loved. So put on tender mercy and kindness as if they were your clothes. Don’t be proud. Be gentle and patient.
Put up with one another. Forgive one another if you are holding something against someone. Forgive, just as the Lord forgave you.
And over all these good things put on love. Love holds them all together perfectly as if they were one.
Let the peace that Christ gives rule in your hearts. As parts of one body, you were appointed to live in peace. And be thankful.
Let the message about Christ live among you like a rich treasure. Teach and correct one another wisely. Teach one another by singing psalms and hymns and songs from the Spirit. Sing to God with thanks in your hearts.
Do everything you say or do in the name of the Lord Jesus. Always give thanks to God the Father through Christ.
That’s why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife. The two of them become one.
There should not be even a hint of sexual sin among you. Don’t do anything impure. And do not always want more and more. These are not the things God’s holy people should do.
We are parts of his body.
Scripture says, “That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. The two will become one.” (Genesis 2:24)
That is a deep mystery. But I’m talking about Christ and the church.
A husband also must love his wife. He must love her just as he loves himself. And a wife must respect her husband.
There must not be any bad language or foolish talk or dirty jokes. They are out of place. Instead, you should give thanks.
Here is what you can be sure of. Those who give themselves over to sexual sins are lost. So are people whose lives are impure. The same is true of those who always want more and more. People who do these things might as well worship statues of gods. No one who does them will receive a share in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
No one should look out for their own interests. Instead, they should look out for the interests of others.
Don’t be proud at all. Be completely gentle. Be patient. Put up with one another in love.
Instead, we will speak the truth in love. So we will grow up in every way to become the body of Christ. Christ is the head of the body.
Wives, follow the lead of your own husbands as you follow the Lord.
The husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church. The church is Christ’s body. He is its Savior.
The church follows the lead of Christ. In the same way, wives should follow the lead of their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives. Love them just as Christ loved the church. He gave himself up for her.
He did it to make her holy. He made her clean by washing her with water and the word.
He did it to bring her to himself as a brightly shining church. He wants a church that has no stain or wrinkle or any other flaw. He wants a church that is holy and without blame.
In the same way, husbands should love their wives. They should love them as they love their own bodies. Any man who loves his wife loves himself.
After all, no one ever hated their own body. Instead, they feed and care for their body. And this is what Christ does for the church.
There should not be even a hint of sexual sin among you. Don’t do anything impure. And do not always want more and more. These are not the things God’s holy people should do.
We are parts of his body.
Scripture says, “That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. The two will become one.” (Genesis 2:24)
That is a deep mystery. But I’m talking about Christ and the church.
A husband also must love his wife. He must love her just as he loves himself. And a wife must respect her husband.
Husbands, love your wives. Love them just as Christ loved the church. He gave himself up for her.
The husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church. The church is Christ’s body. He is its Savior.
Love never fails. But prophecy will pass away. Speaking in languages that had not been known before will end. And knowledge will pass away.
But since sexual sin is happening, each man should sleep with his own wife. And each woman should sleep with her own husband.
Don’t let love and truth ever leave you. Tie them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Don’t bring charges against anyone for no reason. They have not harmed you.
Don’t be jealous of a person who hurts others. Don’t choose any of their ways.
The Lord really hates sinful people. But he makes honest people his closest friends.
The Lord puts a curse on the houses of sinners. But he blesses the homes of those who do what is right.
He makes fun of proud people who make fun of others. But he gives grace to those who are humble and treated badly.
Wise people receive honor. But foolish people get only shame.
Then you will find favor and a good name in the eyes of God and people.
Wives, follow the lead of your own husbands. Suppose some of them don’t believe God’s word. Then let them be won to Christ without words by seeing how their wives behave.
Scripture says, “Suppose someone wants to love life and see good days. Then they must keep their tongues from speaking evil. They must keep their lips from telling lies.
They must turn away from evil and do good. They must look for peace and go after it.
The Lord’s eyes look on godly people, and he blesses them. His ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord doesn’t bless those who do evil.” (Psalm 34:12–16)
Who is going to hurt you if you really want to do good?
But suppose you do suffer for doing what is right. Even then you will be blessed. Scripture says, “Don’t fear what others say they will do to hurt you. Don’t be afraid.” (Isaiah 8:12)
But make sure that in your hearts you honor Christ as Lord. Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you about the hope you have. Be ready to give the reason for it. But do it gently and with respect.
Live so that you don’t have to feel you’ve done anything wrong. Some people may say evil things about your good conduct as believers in Christ. If they do, they will be put to shame for speaking like this about you.
God may want you to suffer for doing good. That’s better than suffering for doing evil.
Christ also suffered once for sins. The one who did what is right suffered for those who don’t do right. He suffered to bring you to God. His body was put to death. But the Holy Spirit brought him back to life.
After that, Christ went and made an announcement to the spirits in prison.
Let them see how pure you are. Let them see that your lives are full of respect for God.
Long ago these spirits did not obey. That was when God was patient while Noah was building the ark. And only a few people went into the ark. In fact, there were only eight. Those eight people were saved through water.
The water of the flood is a picture. It is a picture of the baptism that now saves you too. This baptism has nothing to do with removing dirt from your body. Instead, it promises God that you will keep a clear sense of right and wrong. This baptism saves you by the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead.
He has gone into heaven. He is at God’s right hand. Angels, authorities and powers are under his control.
Fancy hairstyles don’t make you beautiful. Wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes doesn’t make you beautiful.
Instead, your beauty comes from inside you. It is the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. Beauty like this doesn’t fade away. God places great value on it.
This is how the holy women of the past used to make themselves beautiful. They put their hope in God. And they followed the lead of their own husbands.
Sarah was like that. She obeyed Abraham. She called him her master. Do you want to be like her? Then do what is right. And don’t give in to fear.
Husbands, consider the needs of your wives. They are weaker than you. So treat them with respect. Honor them as those who will share with you the gracious gift of life. Then nothing will stand in the way of your prayers.
Here is what love is. It is not that we loved God. It is that he loved us and sent his Son to give his life to pay for our sins.
The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”
You love your wife. So enjoy life with her. Do it all the days of this meaningless life God has given you on earth. That’s what he made you for. That’s what you get for all your hard work on earth.
They want to be teachers of the law. And they are very sure about that law. But they don’t know what they are talking about.
Suppose I speak in the languages of human beings or of angels. If I don’t have love, I am only a loud gong or a noisy cymbal.
Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not want what belongs to others. It does not brag. It is not proud.
It does not dishonor other people. It does not look out for its own interests. It does not easily become angry. It does not keep track of other people’s wrongs.
Love is not happy with evil. But it is full of joy when the truth is spoken.
It always protects. It always trusts. It always hopes. It never gives up.
“My love belongs to me, and I belong to him. Like an antelope, he eats among the lilies.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ (Exodus 20:14)
But here is what I tell you. Do not even look at a woman in the wrong way. Anyone who does has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Hold me close to your heart where your royal seal is worn. Keep me as close to yourself as the bracelet on your arm. My love for you is so strong it won’t let you go. Love is as powerful as death. Love’s jealousy is as strong as the grave. Love is like a blazing fire. Love burns like a mighty flame.
No amount of water can put it out. Rivers can’t sweep it away. Suppose someone offers all their wealth to buy love. That won’t even come close to being enough.”
So God created human beings in his own likeness. He created them to be like himself. He created them as male and female.
God blessed them. He said to them, “Have children so that there will be many of you. Fill the earth and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the seas and the birds in the sky. Rule over every living creature that moves along the ground.”
Who can find an excellent woman? She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband trusts her completely. She gives him all the important things he needs.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
Don’t be proud at all. Be completely gentle. Be patient. Put up with one another in love.
But that is not the way of life in Christ that you learned about.
You heard about Christ and were taught about life in him. What you learned was the truth about Jesus.
You were taught not to live the way you used to. You must get rid of your old way of life. That’s because it has been made impure by the desire for things that lead you astray.
You were taught to be made new in your thinking.
You were taught to start living a new life. It is created to be truly good and holy, just as God is.
So each of you must get rid of your lying. Speak the truth to your neighbor. We are all parts of one body.
Scripture says, “When you are angry, do not sin.” (Psalm 4:4) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.
Don’t give the devil a chance.
Anyone who has been stealing must never steal again. Instead, they must work. They must do something useful with their own hands. Then they will have something to give to people in need.
Don’t let any evil talk come out of your mouths. Say only what will help to build others up and meet their needs. Then what you say will help those who listen.
The Holy Spirit makes you one in every way. So try your best to remain as one. Let peace keep you together.
But since sexual sin is happening, each man should sleep with his own wife. And each woman should sleep with her own husband.
Each of you should stay as you were when God chose you.
Were you a slave when God chose you? Don’t let it trouble you. But if you can get your master to set you free, do it.
The person who was a slave when the Lord chose them is now the Lord’s free person. The one who was free when God chose them is now a slave of Christ.
Christ has paid the price for you. Don’t become slaves of human beings.
Brothers and sisters, each person is accountable to God. So each person should stay as they were when God chose them.
Now I want to say something about virgins. I have no direct command from the Lord. But I give my opinion. Because of the Lord’s mercy, I give it as one who can be trusted.
Times are hard for you right now. So I think it’s good for a man to stay as he is.
Are you engaged to a woman? Then don’t try to get out of it. Are you free from such a promise? Then don’t look for a wife.
But if you do marry someone, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries someone, she has not sinned. But those who marry someone will have many troubles in this life. I want to save you from this.
Brothers and sisters, what I mean is that the time is short. From now on, those who have a husband or wife should live as if they did not.
A husband should satisfy his wife’s needs. And a wife should satisfy her husband’s needs.
Those who mourn should live as if they did not. Those who are happy should live as if they were not. Those who buy something should live as if it were not theirs to keep.
Those who use the things of the world should not become all wrapped up in them. The world as it now exists is passing away.
I don’t want you to have anything to worry about. A single man is concerned about the Lord’s matters. He wants to know how he can please the Lord.
But a married man is concerned about the matters of this world. He wants to know how he can please his wife.
His concerns pull him in two directions. A single woman or a virgin is concerned about the Lord’s matters. She wants to serve the Lord with both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the matters of this world. She wants to know how she can please her husband.
I’m saying those things for your own good. I’m not trying to hold you back. I want you to be free to live in a way that is right. I want you to give yourselves completely to the Lord.
Suppose someone is worried that he is not acting with honor toward the virgin he has promised to marry. Suppose his desires are too strong, and he feels that he should marry her. He should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married.
But suppose the man has decided not to marry the virgin. And suppose he has no compelling need to get married and can control himself. If he has made up his mind not to get married, he also does the right thing.
So then, the man who marries the virgin does the right thing. But the man who doesn’t marry her does a better thing.
A woman has to stay married to her husband as long as he lives. If he dies, she is free to marry anyone she wants to. But the one she marries must belong to the Lord.
The wife’s body does not belong only to her. It also belongs to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong only to him. It also belongs to his wife.
In my opinion, she is happier if she stays single. And I also think that I am led by the Spirit of God in saying this.
You shouldn’t stop giving yourselves to each other. You might possibly do this when you both agree to it. And you should only agree to it to give yourselves time to pray. Then you should come together again. In that way, Satan will not tempt you when you can’t control yourselves.
If any of these things has happened to you, then agree with one another. Have the same love. Be one in spirit and in the way you think and act. By doing this, you will make my joy complete.
I have no one else like Timothy. He will truly care about how you are doing.
All the others are looking out for their own interests. They are not looking out for the interests of Jesus Christ.
But you know that Timothy has proved himself. He has served with me like a son with his father in spreading the good news.
So I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.
And I’m sure I myself will come soon if the Lord allows it.
But I think it’s necessary to send Epaphroditus back to you. He is my brother in the Lord. He is a worker and a soldier of Christ together with me. He is also your messenger. You sent him to take care of my needs.
He longs for all of you. He is troubled because you heard he was sick.
He was very sick. In fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him. He also had mercy on me. God spared me sadness after sadness.
So I want even more to send him to you. Then when you see him again, you will be glad. And I won’t worry so much.
So then, welcome him as a brother in the Lord with great joy. Honor people like him.
Don’t do anything only to get ahead. Don’t do it because you are proud. Instead, be humble. Value others more than yourselves.
He almost died for the work of Christ. He put his life in danger to make up for the help you yourselves couldn’t give me.
None of you should look out just for your own good. Each of you should also look out for the good of others.
My brothers and sisters, you were chosen to be free. But don’t use your freedom as an excuse to live under the power of sin. Instead, serve one another in love.
A few vegetables where there is love are better than the finest meat where there is hatred.
So here is the advice I give to younger widows. Get married. Have children. Take care of your own homes. Don’t give the enemy the chance to tell lies about you.
If the Lord doesn’t build a house, the work of the builders is useless. If the Lord doesn’t watch over a city, it’s useless for those on guard duty to stand watch over it.
A husband should satisfy his wife’s needs. And a wife should satisfy her husband’s needs.
Those who mourn should live as if they did not. Those who are happy should live as if they were not. Those who buy something should live as if it were not theirs to keep.
Those who use the things of the world should not become all wrapped up in them. The world as it now exists is passing away.
I don’t want you to have anything to worry about. A single man is concerned about the Lord’s matters. He wants to know how he can please the Lord.
But a married man is concerned about the matters of this world. He wants to know how he can please his wife.
His concerns pull him in two directions. A single woman or a virgin is concerned about the Lord’s matters. She wants to serve the Lord with both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the matters of this world. She wants to know how she can please her husband.
I’m saying those things for your own good. I’m not trying to hold you back. I want you to be free to live in a way that is right. I want you to give yourselves completely to the Lord.
Suppose someone is worried that he is not acting with honor toward the virgin he has promised to marry. Suppose his desires are too strong, and he feels that he should marry her. He should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married.
But suppose the man has decided not to marry the virgin. And suppose he has no compelling need to get married and can control himself. If he has made up his mind not to get married, he also does the right thing.
So then, the man who marries the virgin does the right thing. But the man who doesn’t marry her does a better thing.
A woman has to stay married to her husband as long as he lives. If he dies, she is free to marry anyone she wants to. But the one she marries must belong to the Lord.
The wife’s body does not belong only to her. It also belongs to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong only to him. It also belongs to his wife.
In my opinion, she is happier if she stays single. And I also think that I am led by the Spirit of God in saying this.
You shouldn’t stop giving yourselves to each other. You might possibly do this when you both agree to it. And you should only agree to it to give yourselves time to pray. Then you should come together again. In that way, Satan will not tempt you when you can’t control yourselves.
Jesus replied, “Haven’t you read that in the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’? (Genesis 1:27)
He said, ‘That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. The two will become one.’ (Genesis 2:24)
They are no longer two, but one. So no one should separate what God has joined together.”
I give a command to those who are married. It is a direct command from the Lord, not from me. A wife must not leave her husband.
But if she does, she must not get married again. Or she can go back to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
“It has been said, ‘Suppose a man divorces his wife. If he does, he must give her a letter of divorce.’ (Deuteronomy 24:1)
But here is what I tell you. Anyone who divorces his wife makes her a victim of adultery. And anyone who gets married to the divorced woman commits adultery. A man may divorce his wife only if she has not been faithful to him.
Everyone should provide for their own relatives. Most of all, everyone should take care of their own family. If they don’t, they have left the faith. They are worse than someone who doesn’t believe.
But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful
and gentle and having control of oneself. There is no law against things of that kind.
You will receive houses and wealth from your parents. But a wise wife is given by the Lord.
My bride, you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes. My sister, you have stolen my heart with one jewel in your necklace.
Lord, may these words of my mouth please you. And may these thoughts of my heart please you also. You are my Rock and my Redeemer.