Hatred and rage are two acts of the flesh that control many human actions and plans. They are like consuming fires that embody the nature of humanity. If these elements are so engraved in us, what can the Spirit do about it? Let’s find out.
In Galatians 5, Paul describes hate and rage as desires of the flesh that we should stay away from. The first word for hatred, is actually a word that means enmity. This word was used to describe the division between man and satan in Genesis 3. It is a word that means a separation or an enemy from God. The word for rage is used to describe a passion of heat and it comes from a word meaning to slay or kill. This is not a passion or conviction for something, it is a passion of anger that often leads to guilt.
So what are we to do about hatred and rage? The Spirit living within us produces love for one another that eliminates the separation and joy we should be experiencing. God loved us enough to send Jesus (John 3:16). That love was enough to reconcile us back to him. In Ephesians 2, Paul is talking about how Jesus reconciled Jews and Gentiles to God and he uses this word to describe both groups being brought back to God. James 4:4 tells us that anyone who is a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. We cannot do the things the world does and be with God. The Spirit helps us to love people in the world but not the desires of it.
When we feel anger inside, like we are about to burst in violence, this is not from God. Living by the Spirit means we are not overcome with anger but overcome with joy. Jesus tells us that when we follow Him, his joy is made complete in us (John 15:11). Paul discusses many times that the people he conversed with and spread the gospel to were his joy. Other people can be our joy in the Lord and that cannot happen if we are filled with rage and hate toward one another.
The Spirit produces love and joy within us instead of hate and rage.
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