Mike Owens
There is only one Bible, right? So why are there so many different beliefs? This Church over here, using the Bible for their justification, believes thus or so. While that Church over there, using the same Bible, believes something different (and usually quite opposite).
What Does The Bible Say? is a web site dedicated to exploring this question. Though you may object to some of my views and opinions, what I write on this site is my own ideas of what is actually said in the Bible. I hope to take a different doctrine each study and see What Does The Bible Say?
But first a little about myself. My name is Mike Owens. I am 48 years
old and have been a Christian since March 10, 1974. I have seriously studied the Bible
for all of that time, and for several years prior.
I am familiar with Hebrew and Greek
text ( I can read, write and speak Hebrew and have a working understanding of
Greek).
Now if you are ready to begin the journey...
Anger is a natural emotion, given by God. It is closely associated with fear, and most fear is only disguised anger directed at our own inabilities. The very first mention of anger in the Bible is from Genesis, where God clearly spells out what unchecked anger can do in our life. Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." (Ge 4:6-7) We are commanded not to sin when we become angry, this study is to see how this might be possible.In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah Offer right sacrifices and trust in the Lord.
Ps 4:4-5In your anger do not sin:
As Christians, it must be possible for us to become angry without sinning or God would not have placed this phrase in His Word. Anger can take on many forms and come from many reasons, such as passion or intense emotions, indignation or offense or resentment, exasperation or aggravation, hot displeasure, scorn or great contempt, or wrath. There are ten different words used throughout the Bible which convey anger, eight are in the Old Testament (OT), and the last two are in the New Testament (NT). Three of these words mean something other then anger, but are translated as anger, such as: natsach:naw-tsakh'; which is properly to glitter, to be eminent (Ps 21:9); `abar: aw-bar' which means to cross over; to cover and is used very widely of any transition (Pr 20:2); and na'ats: naw-ats', which means to bloom into scorn (Is 1:4). The two words used in the (NT) refer to anger as a passion, and being provoked to anger.The first word used in the Bible for anger is use for the anger of passion ('aph: af; from the rapid breathing in passion)[1]. It is also the most common word used in the OT for anger. This is spoken of as from God in Ex 4:14
Then the Lord's anger burned against Moses and he said, "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you.This word primarily conveys the act of breathing, God made us as living creatures by breathing into our nostrils ('aph). Through the act of breathing, our emotions are often expressed, the flaring of the nostrils, the short puffs of breath in exasperation. Since God created us with the ability to express anger, since it is our nature to feel anger, since God Himself feels and expresses anger, there must be a righteous way and a sinful way to express this emotion.
This word gives the main emphasis of the emotional aspect of anger and wrath. The anger of God comes from sin, which offends and wounds His love for us, therefore we are angry for the same reason, we become offended by other's words or actions towards us and are wounded in our spirits.
The next prevalent word is found in De 4:25 and means to trouble or grieve[2]. This is what we normally translate as indignation, offense or resentment. This is provoking our Father to anger by doing things which are unworthy, things that are dishonorable, or things that are unjust in nature.
After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time--if you then become corrupt and make any kind of idol, doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God and provoking him to anger,The root meaning of this word is to vex, agitate, stir up, or provoke the heart to a heated condition. This will ultimately lead to specific actions taken by the one vexed.
There is a word which shows exasperation or aggravation, which is troubling of the spirit within. This word is the word found in Ge 1:2 for the Spirit of God[3].
Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, "Why have you treated us like this? Why didn't you call us when you went to fight Midian?" And they criticized him sharply. But he answered them, "What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren't the gleanings of Ephraim's grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer? God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the Midianite leaders, into your hands. What was I able to do compared to you?" At this, their resentment against him subsided.
Jg 8:1-3This is the common word for spirit, as that which is God-given, that which distinguishes us from all creation, that unique feature of man which goes beyond the mere physical and makes him a spiritual being. To refer to anger, it shows the violent exhalation of breath, this, I believe, is the anger of zeal or righteous anger, it is our spirit being offended. But even this righteous anger can be misdirected. Christ displayed His zeal by expelling those who mocked God from the Temple[4], but Paul displayed his by persecuting the Christians[5].
This anger is characterized by the hot displeasure of anger which blazes up as zeal or jealousy[6]. Both of these characteristics are ascribed to God[7].
The word used here in Ps 4:4-5 for anger means to quiver or tremble[8], such as in anger, fear or anticipation. This word expresses the agitation that comes from any deep rooted emotion, but seems to be most prevalent with any violent emotions of anger (rage) or fear. It describes God's trembling in anger[9], the excitement of a warhorse[10], and the raging of a fool to wise council[11]. Anger and fear are both natural emotions given to man, so it is not the emotion here which is referred to but the action taken concerning that emotion. The Bible tells us that God becomes angry, yet we know that God is without sin.
Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."
Ex 34:5-7[12]search your hearts and be silent: This part of the verse literally tells us to speak within our own heart while on our bed and be still. Two verses immediately come to mind:
"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
Ep 4:26-27Anger which is allowed to remain within us quickly turns to malice and vengeance. It festers within us and makes us bitter, placing an obstacle between us and the one who angered us.
Offer right sacrifices:
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Ps 51:17What is a sacrifice? A sacrifice is something prescribed by God. It is something offered to God, and is something God requires, to honor Him, to worship Him, to pay Him for our debt of sin. God made the very first and very last sacrifice. The very first is found in Genesis and was given to show the proper way to worship God, and the terrible cost of sin.
The Lord God made (out of what was at hand) garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
Ge 3:21God sacrificed two innocent lambs in order to clothe Adam and Eve. The very first sacrifice and the very last sacrifice was the sacrifice of life, the last being the sacrifice of Christ on the cross
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness;
1Pe 2:24In the New Testament God also prescribes how we are to sacrifice.
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
Jn 4:23Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess His name.
He13:15A sacrifice is something we own. After God had shown Adam and Eve how to sacrifice and what that sacrifice would cost them, that is a life, Cain and Abel, sacrificed to God.
In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering He did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
Ge 4:3- 5The offerings of Cain and Abel were different. Cain showed pride, he offered from his own labors with an unbelieving heart. Therefore he and his offering were rejected. Abel came as a sinner, and sacrificed as God had prescribed, his sacrifice was a token that God accepted. Abel offered in faith, and Cain did not.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ep 2:8- 9A sacrifice is something that costs us.
Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" "To buy your threshing floor," David answered, "so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped." Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. O king, Araunah gives all this to the king." Araunah also said to him, "May the Lord your God accept you." But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.
2Sa 24:21-24David purchased the ground to build the altar. He would not offer to God what did not cost him. Those who do not know what true religion is, try to make it as cheap and easy to themselves as possible. God's sacrifice for our sin cost Him His Son on the cross. God encourages us to offer to Him spiritual sacrifices as an evidence of His reconciling us to Himself.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2Co 9:6-7So how do we Offer right sacrifices? By following the abomination given to us by Peter.
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1Pe 2:5The spiritual sacrifices of God, the sacrifices prescribed by God, the sacrifices we own, the sacrifices that costs us are the sacrifices of living our lives as an example of Christ who lives within us, and not of our own natures[ 13]. The Bible says that we have been crucified with Christ and no longer live, but it is Christ that lives in us[14]. The life we now live in this body is by faith in Christ. Since we have died with Christ, we have died to the basic principles of this world, but we now live to the higher principles of God through Christ[15]. Why then should we still submit ourselves to the rules (our rights) of this world? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. They may seem to have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Therefore, we must sacrifice our rights for the righteousness of God in Christ.
The spiritual sacrifices of God are the sacrifices of our own wants and desires, our own physical comforts and needs, our own bodies and souls to God for His service and His pleasure[16]. Paul specifically said we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. How do we offer a sacrifice and keep it living? God said that the first born son was to be given to Him in sacrifice.
"Consecrate to Me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to Me, whether man or animal."
Ex 13:2Strong's References (Hebrew (H), Greek (G)).
1 639 'aph: af; from H0599; properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire: This corresponds to the Greek G3709 orge: or-gay' from G3713; properly, desire (as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind), i.e. (by analogy,) violent passion (ire, or [justifiable] abhorrence); by implication punishment. Return
2 3707 ka`ac: kaw-as'; a primitive root; to trouble; by implication, to grieve, rage, be indignant Return
3 7307 ruach: roo'-akh; from H7306; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions) Return
4, Jn 2:13-17 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me." (Ps 69::9) Return
5 Ac 8:1-3 And Saul (Paul) was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Return
6 2734 charah: khaw-raw'; a primitive root [compare H2787]; to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy: But when the attendants delivered the king's command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger. Es 1:12 Return
7 Ex 20:5; Ps 69:9 (talking of Christ) Return
8 7264 ragaz: raw-gaz' a primitive root; to quiver (with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear) Return
9 Is 28:21 The Lord will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim, he will rouse himself as in the Valley of Gibeon-- to do his work, his strange work, and perform his task, his alien task.Return
10 Jb 39:24 In frenzied excitement he eats up the ground; he cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds. (see :19-25) Return
11 Pr 29:9 If a wise man goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace. Return
12 also see Nu 14:18; Ne 9:17; Ps 86:15, 103:8, 145:8; Jl 2:13; Jo 4:2 Return
13 Ep 5:1-2 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Return
14 Ga 2:19, 20, see also Ro 6:2, 7, 10, 7:4; 2Ti 2:11-15Return
15 Co 2:20-23Return
16 Ro 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Return