What Does the Bible Teach About Anger

Brian Yeager's Outlines

ANGER

Introduction:

Some of the most difficult attributes of a Christian are those of love, patience, and trying to overcome anger. There are times in which God gets angry, Christ has showed his anger, and we too have a limited (very limited) right to be angry about the things God to would be angry with. We will examine those things. We should aim to be as God Nehemiah 9:17 "And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not."

I. The Bible and Anger

A. Anger provides us with opportunities to act foolish Proverbs 14:17 "He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated." Ecclesiastes 7:9 "Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools." 1. Properly handling those that are angry can do good things Proverbs 15:1 "A Soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."

2. Men that are slow to anger calms strife Proverbs 15:18 " A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife."

a. We ought not be angry people Psalms 37:8 "Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil."

b. Put off anger Colossians 3:8"But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth."

c. Slow to wrath James 1:19-20"19. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."

B. There are times when there is cause Matthew 5:22 "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." 1. In which there is a method to handle those problems (PRIVATE CAUSES) Matthew 18:15-17 (PUBLIC) Romans 16:17 and II Thessalonians 3:6 II. God's anger A. God is angry against sin Romans 1:18 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;" 1. Wrath on those who have harden hearts and do bad deeds Romans 2:5-9 "5. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6. Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7. To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8. But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9. Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile."

2. Notice how those who did Evil were treated by God Numbers 32:13 "And the Lord's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the Lord, was consumed."

3. Evil makes God angry Deuteronomy 4:25 "When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the Lord thy God, to provoke him to anger."

4. He is angry when His people forsake Him Judges 2:13-14 "13. And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. 14. And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies."

a. How do you think he feels when Christians forsake Him for picnics, family outings, fishing, golf, etc.? Hebrews 10:22-25 "22. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." B. God's love is to the faithful I John 3:1 "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." 1. God's love is shown to us through Christ and we too can pass on love I John 4:7-12 C. Notice Christ's actions and his obvious anger at what He saw John 2:13-17 1. Christ also love John 10:11-18 III. We are to change from our old ways in conversion A. Be converted Acts 3:19 and Romans 6:3-5

B. Change from Galatians 5:19-21 to Galatians 5:22-23

C. To be new creatures II Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Conclusion:

With God's feelings we can know that we too can be angry at sin, division, false things, etc. But, Christians are not to lead angry lives, but forgiving lives.

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