Calling oneself a Christian should not be taken lightly. In fact, according to the Bible in Exodus 20:3, God Himself declares, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” This is actually the third commandment of the Ten Commandments.
Putting Away Sin and the Process of Sanctification
When a person accepts Jesus as his or her personal Saviour, the process of putting away sin and becoming Christ-like in character, or sanctification, is entered into. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 states, “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification.”
Sanctification does not happen immediately upon acceptance of the free gift of salvation, but requires effort on the part of each Christian. In Philippians 2: 12, Paul admonishes believers to strive for perfection in these words, “Work out your own salvation.”
Christ explains the reason that Christians must aim for perfection, as explained in Matthew 5:48, where it says, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
Specific Help for Anger
The Bible offers words of hope and encouragement to Christians who struggle with anger. Here is what the Bible teaches about anger and how to overcome it.
According to the Bible, anger...
- Seldom works together with righteousness as James 1:19, 20 states, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
- Should be dealt with before evening according to Ephesians 4:26 where it says, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.”
- Can often be avoided with gentle words according to Proverbs 15:1 where it says, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
- Is foolish according to Proverbs 14:29 where it says, “He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.”
- Is not for the wise as Proverbs 14: 16, 17 states, “A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident. He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.”
- Is to be put away with, according to Ephesians 4: 31, 32 where it says, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.”
Assurance of Victory Over Anger
A religious individual may find assurance of victory over sin and anger because the Bible confirms it in the following verses:
- “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:5
- “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57
- “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:37
Anger is a particularly destructive sin. It hurts the person who feels it, hurts those it's used against, damages relationships and ultimately separates the angry Christian from God. Anger is unnecessary and with God's help, it can and must be overcome.
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