When we received Christ, we died to sin.
We are told to put anger away. That does not mean in a month or a week. It means now. It is not possible to put it away if it is likely that you are not a Christian.
Other things should disappear besides anger. "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature, sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived… Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator" (Col. 3:5-7, 9-10). These sins are not normal for someone who is a Christian.
A few weeks ago, I asked a man if he got angry. He said, “Not often.” What does the chapter say? Get rid of it. When? Right now! I told him I would give him 24 hours.
People like to have a reservoir of stored-up anger inside them so it will be available whenever they need it. They think it is a good masculine trait. It is sin. It needs to be confessed and forsaken.
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? (Rom. 6:1-2)Since these things are so, God also tells us to "rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips" (Col. 3:8).
Since, then; you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Col. 3:1-4)
We are told to put anger away. That does not mean in a month or a week. It means now. It is not possible to put it away if it is likely that you are not a Christian.
Other things should disappear besides anger. "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature, sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived… Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator" (Col. 3:5-7, 9-10). These sins are not normal for someone who is a Christian.
A few weeks ago, I asked a man if he got angry. He said, “Not often.” What does the chapter say? Get rid of it. When? Right now! I told him I would give him 24 hours.
People like to have a reservoir of stored-up anger inside them so it will be available whenever they need it. They think it is a good masculine trait. It is sin. It needs to be confessed and forsaken.
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