In this video I will continue to explain the sins about which is written in the Bible, for those who do them will not inherit the kingdom of God. Some of them are overlooked and people find different apologies, as if they tolerate these sins. They think you can enter the Kingdom of Heaven even if you practice them. The sin I will speak of now is the sin of wrath:
Those who practice wrath will not inherit the Kingdom of God
The recipients of Paul’s Epistle to Galatians are the Christians in the Galatian churches. Here, Paul tells them not to deceive themselves, for those who practice these sins will not inherit the kingdom of Heaven:
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry,sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)(NASB)
The Greek word used here for anger is the word thumos , which means to move fast, without thinking and without worrying about consequences. In Romanian we have the word tumult, which also expresses the meaning of this word. The Bible tells us that anger is a sin, and those who practice it will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
I’ve heard many people who take pride in this. Such people are also excusing themselves by sharing the characters in the four categories: melancholic, phlegmatic, sanguineous and choleric, but we should not find such an apology. Nowhere do we find in the Bible that they are excused because of the character they possess. It is not so, but since we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, we die for our old self, becoming a new self. Thus, like people who have the Holy Spirit , we are not allowed to be controlled by this anger that destroys everything in the way and does not care about consequences. We have no excuse, no matter how we were once, because we have the Holy Spirit of God.
Some people are easy controlled by wrath
It is spoken about this wrath in different places in Scripture. In Hebrews chapter 11, verse 27 it is written that Pharaoh’s wrath was set against Moses. Then at Revelation 12:12 it is said that this is how the devil’s wrath will be triggered when he is thrown down to earth with his angels. He will come down with a great anger. In Luke 4:28, we see that when the Lord Jesus Christ came to the synagogue and spoke to the Jews, they were angry, filled with rage that they were ready to take him to the mountain and throw him down the cliff. So, here’s how to understand what anger the Word of God is about. Likewise, the inhabitants of Ephesus, when they were instigated by Dumitrie Argintaru, so raised a great uprising, and at last some of them did not even know why they came there because they were angry. In such a way the people who are angry, are easily stirred up by others, but God does not allow us to do that.
Do not let the sun go down on your anger
In the epistle of Paul to Ephesians it is written:
Be angry, and yet do not sin;do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.” (Ephesians 4:26-27)(NASB)
God tells us here that we, as Christians, can not but be angry or indignate when we see certain things. Likewise, the Lord Jesus Christ, when He entered the Temple and saw how the men were doing robberies there, He was angry and took an attitude towards what happened. But here the Scripture clearly tells us that when we are angry, we can not stop the anger without worrying about the consequences. Moreover, here he tells us that the sun must not go down on our anger. Anger is a state of mind that takes hold of you. If you do not control it, it starts to dominate you, so you are always pressed and controlled by it.
Some people become ruled by anger. Whatever happens, it irritates them, but the Word of God does not allow us to let the sun go down on our anger. So we can not let this annoyance that is being challenged overcome this time. We have set some limits and we can not let ourselves be led into sin by anger. Even if this state of anger does not lead us to sin, we can not let it pass by the sunset. God does this for our good, for the good of our relations with people, with God. He does not allow our state of anger become part of our character. If we cross the limit of righteousness and enter into sin, Scripture says that you give the devil the opportunity to overthrow the anger, which destroys everything in its way.
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.(Ephesians 4:29)
Here’s what happens when we let ourselves controlled by anger. Unwholesome words that hurt proceed from the mouth of people who are angry. They break relations with people around and with God. In our anger, there must be no unwholesome words proceeding of our mouth, but good words that will edify according to the need of the moment, so it will give grace to those who hear them. Also, when we are angry, we must master our speech and not say an unwholesome word. We need to speak only good things that edify, fulfill the needs of people, even if they have wronged, sinned, done something evil and angered us. We want to do them good, so we will speak what is good only.
We grieve the Holy Spirit of God by uncontrolled anger
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ( Ephesians 4:30-31)
By this uncontrolled wrath we grieve the Holy Spirit that is in us. Also, this state of bitterness is the state of anger sedimentary in our heart and character. It is not normal for a Christian to have such a state, but to rejoice always in the Lord. The apostle Paul was in prison, and from there he wrote: “rejoice, rejoice …” In Epistle to Philipians the repeating words are: “Rejoice as I rejoice “. Even though the apostle Paul was in prison, he knew how to rejoice in the Lord. This must be the attitude of every Christian. If you let this anger pass after sunset, it turns into bitterness. It does not allow you to enjoy your life, because if only someone mistakes you, you will explode and say unwholesome words. So here is what this anger brings to you.
My dear, if you are a Christian and in your home is such a thing and you are the one controlled by bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice, you will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Scripture says that all this is to put away from you. There must not be such things in the house and in the life of a Christian.
The solution for anger is forgiveness
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.(Ephesians 4:32)
Many people are controlled by anger and have bitterness and swiftness in their hearts, because they can not forgive. If you want to be released from this state, you must teach yourself to forgive. The standard of forgiveness for us is the way God has forgiven us in Christ Jesus. So we were under the wrath of God, but He did not pour out His wrath upon us. God in his long patience has called us and is waiting for us to come to repentance. God has fully forgiven us in the Lord Jesus Christ. Here’s how we have to do to be good with each other.
If anyone does not want to accept this Word and complain himself in his wrath, they will not inherit the kingdom of God; therefore, my dear, I want you to study your heart thoroughly, and if you discover this anger, then discard it. Do not look for an excuse, because the Word of God leaves you no excuse. Repent with all your heart for the anger that you have and control. Believe with all your heart in the Lord Jesus Christ and choose to live in His goodness. Forgive all the people you are upset about, and do not allow the sun to go down on your anger.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ fill your heart. Draw near to Him, love Him, listen to Him, and beware of all anger, to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. This is what God wants, for this He has given the Lord Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us, that by faith in Him we can inherit the kingdom of God. So help us God.
Translated by Elizaveta Bîrlădeanu