See again my book, Set Free!, pp. So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. Jesus makes it clear that there is no forgiveness for the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, in this life or the next, Matthew 12:31-32 and Mark 3:28-29. Those early Christians were not only one because of their position in Christ, but they were one in experience also. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. This Q is opening up an ages old [unresolved] debate - (some might say a. is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.. (James 1:19) We see unbelievers and false believers in the church being threatened with judgement. dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. How can I recognize one? To conclude, God has a certain God-defined "threshold" for every situation involving a person's sin, and once she/he crosses that threshold then consequences of God's Anger to uphold justice will be brought forth. Acts (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), "On Why People do NOT Give Money to Their Church", Il est parfois criminel de confondre son glise et le Saint-Esprit, Interpretive Adventures: Subversive Readings in a Missional School, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ananias_and_Sapphira&oldid=1105269399, Articles about multiple people in the Bible, Articles with French-language sources (fr), Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 19 August 2022, at 11:55. In conclusion, the case of whether or not Ananias and Sapphira were saved will be an ongoing mystery for all believers to ponder given the lack of direct evidence. Connected to this story is the truth, though not often dwelt upon, that God can sometimes take a believers life in judgement. We all sin despite our earnest desire not to do so (see Romans 7:14-25); but this affects our efforts toward SANCTIFICATION, not our secure state of JUSTIFICATION. She gave everything. Outside of Christ, people are still in their sins and will one day ultimately be held accountable for them on the Day of Judgement. (Ephesians 6:5,6) Do not seek for any selfish gain out of your service: Put away all pretence and hypocrisy. Everyone who heard about the incident feared the Lord. What shall I do if I can't believe that God is for me? I believe they were clearly unsaved Pharisees, and this is why. Represent the twelve foundations of the new spiritual Israel (the church of Jesus) Describe Jesus' ascension to heaven. Yes sir, were getting along better than we ever did. And we excuse our dishonesty by telling ourselves that what goes on in our home is a private matter, nobodys business but our own. New International Version Ananias and Sapphira 5 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. They wanted to be more than just members of the Body; they wanted to be prominent members of the Body. These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; ; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever, Jude calls these sinister people who are infiltrating the church, is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. Jude vs 12-13 These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.. 303ff. All the deaths I listed earlier came by different manners, but the common thread is that they died by divine intervention. There are a number of opposing views about the event that happened in Acts chapter 5 regarding Ananias and Sapphiras death. I think they were much more sinister than that. There is nothing in the story that indicates that they went to hell and this was not a sin that Jesus didn't pay for when He died. A couple of reasons: First, their deathslike much in Actsserve as a sign. Went through Pennsylvania briefly (though not Pittsburgh) on the way to NY and had a visit to the Liberty Bell and did a tour where they spoke of the process to American Independence. The rest of who? (2 Peter 3:9). In Peter's words, Ananias and Sapphira agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord (v9), which appears to be a terrible sin in the eyes of God, so terrible that it even warranted having the couple killed on the spot, without even being given the chance to confess and repent. Is variance swap long volatility of volatility? Related Topics: Christian Home, Finance, Marriage, Richard L. Strauss authored nine books, and served as pastor of churches in Fort Worth, TX, Huntsville, AL. Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? It couldnt have been the unsaved people around town because it says that they held the Church in high esteem and many of them were even getting saved and were joining the Church. Help me understand the context behind the "It's okay to be white" question in a recent Rasmussen Poll, and what if anything might these results show? And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. Is it overcoming sin that saves us? 2:19). It says: Hope this helps, First, the context suggests that this married couple were a part of the congregation of those who believed (Acts 4:32). But Ananias did want more, and so did Sapphira. Ananias' name means "God is Gracious"; and his wife Sapphira's name (from which we get the word "sapphire") means "Fair . We may simply have fallen into the unconscious habit of protecting our saintly image, covering our carnality, keeping people from knowing what is going on in our hearts and in our homes. And these two expressions of fleshliness, their desire for praise, and their confidence in material things, presented them with a difficult dilemma. The story of Ananias and Sapphira is to the book of Acts what the story of Achan is to the book of Joshua. We are careful to veil most of the expressions of the flesh before others, but safely behind the walls of our own homes, we have a tendency to let it all hang outall the anger, all the temper, all the unkindness and inconsiderateness, all the selfish demands, all the pride, all the childish behavior. This, like Ananias and Sapphira, are examples in scripture of a 'sin leading to death' as mentioned in 1 John 5:16. 5. Suppositions as to the eternal state of the two guilty persons are just that : suppositions. The Book of Acts records Pharisees trying to infiltrate the church. So if we believe that they were genuine believers then does this lie commit them to hell? Do you think that Ananias and Sapphira went to heaven or did that one lie condemn them to hell? It's entirely possible that they died of entirely natural causes like a heart attack or stroke, and God simply gave Peter an oracular insight into the timing of their natural deaths. c. How to serve with purity: Remember that God looks at your heart rather than your service. But those days were different. The point Im making is that this shows us it was not uncommon to have Pharisees trying to come into the church and that is was not unlikely that Ananias and Sapphira could not have been Pharisees. They collaborated on a plan to stash some of the money from the sale of their property in a safety deposit box for themselves and take the rest to the apostles. Evidently, Ananias and Sapphira had sold a piece of property for a certain sum and agreed between them to say they had sold it for a lesser sum while keeping the difference for their own use. And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last (Acts 5:5). A caring congregation is a strong congregation, for there is dynamic energy in the genuine expression of Gods love. They didnt have to give the whole amount. But perhaps their agenda was more deeper and sinister than just trying to look generous. Depression, fear, insecurity, condemnation, low self esteem, insignificance, and powerless tendencies all attack the child of God that does not have the revelation of salvation by grace through faith in the completed work of the cross of Calvary that Jesus has accomplished. B. Can non-Muslims ride the Haramain high-speed train in Saudi Arabia? [Acts 5:9 KJV]. Any believer was free to own property if he so chose, and no one would think less of him for it. Unbelievers are spiritually 'dead' and cannot believe the gospel or make any moves towards God. While they demonstrated a marvelous togetherness in their deceptive scheme, their hypocrisy could not help but have affected their marriage. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Ananias and Sapphira: Saved or Lost? Ananias and Sapphira saw it and longed for it, and that is where their trouble began. "Slow to anger" does Not mean God never becomes angry. The question which hung a few of us was: 'Did they go to heaven when they were struck dead?'. Acts 4:32-35 And the congregation of those who You have not lied to man but to God. 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. So what *is* the Latin word for chocolate? They are evil and have a sinister agenda. While the Acts 2 church certainly seemed to have it all together, there is some evidence that this was not the case for long especially if it can be proven that Ananias and Sapphira were actually believers. If Annanias and Sapphira were born of the Spirit they are not "liars". We can probably deduce/infer that Gehazi being a servant to a Godly prophet should have known better because Gehazi is someone who is part of God's ministry. There are two major learnings in . Is there any sign that either of you is seeking the supremacy in your relationship (such as keeping score)? And that brings us, secondly, to the sin of Ananias and Sapphira. No Christian husband and wife can be an island to themselves. Gods family is much broader than any single family unit, and we soon learn that our relationship to this larger spiritual family affects our relationship with each other as husbands and wives. 6. What the Bible Says About Grace (College Press). To be clear, nowhere does Acts 5 say that Ananias and Sapphira were not believers. What was so wrong with their plan? Why did God approve of animal-based diets if Adam and Eve were originally vegan? I believe I have figured this one out, and scripture gives us a very clear answer. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. This form of hypocrisy has become a way of life in the church of Jesus Christ today, and may be the reason we are not making any greater impact on our godless society. See chapter 4, Grace as a Double Cure, in my recent book on grace, Set Free! There was no coercion involved. 12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And why did they do so? They could not help what other people thought, could they? And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. They had to have that money. This question is important because it impacts our understanding of the New Covenant. In Acts 5:3-4, did Ananias "lie to", "fake", "pretend" or "perjure yourself"? It is only by God's grace that we are spared today. They were numbered among that powerful, caring community of believers. As mentioned previously, the first church in Acts had members who willingly and sacrificially sold their possessions so as to support others in the church even though no one was mandated to do so. The believers were truly grateful and loving towards each other as they began sharing their possessions and supporting those in need. While the generosity of the previous passage stems from being "filled with the Holy Spirit" (4:31) where does They wanted more than acceptance; they wanted acclaim. believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything From the very outset, He wanted it known how strongly He feels about hypocrisy, and He wanted it known for all time. rev2023.3.1.43269. It will be remembered that each was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31ff): Acts 4:31-32, 34, 35: And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. It is possible to fall from grace, but this is a drastic step and should not be equated with individual sins. Why such a radical and drastic punishment on the spot? Based on Bible scripture, we can infer/deduce that God is forgiving, gracious and compassionate but when a certain God-defined "threshold" has been reached when it comes to a person sinning then God responds with His anger to uphold Justice. In doing this I want to reinforce the New Covenant in peoples understanding that Christ is the propitiation for our sins, who was punished in our place so that we could be saved from Gods wrath and receive total forgiveness, justification, Gods righteousness and eternal peace between us and God. Now if you look at Acts 5:13 and 14, just after the death of Ananias and Sapphira, youll see a little clue that most people miss that supports everything Ive just said. Well the reality is that, while Christ paid the price for everyones sins, its only those who are in Christ that receive the benefit of that and are therefore safe from Gods judgment. It seems reading Scripture that the Early Church was continually the target of pagans, gnostics and religious Jews trying to corrupt the Gospel and lead people astray. Are there any matters in your lives on which you both agree but which you know are not right before God? (SUBSCRIBE HERE). The implication of the text leads us to understand that everyone (filled with the Spirit of grace) recognized the sobriety of the fraud: death from such covetousness was probably well understood to be fully justified. And presto, they would have instant acclaim as spiritual, self-sacrificing believers who had surrendered everything to Jesus Christ. Lukethe Spirit-inspired historian who wrote the Book of Actstells us in Acts 5:1; But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession (Acts 5:1). Which is really more important to usto maintain the appearance of spirituality, or genuinely to be what God wants us to be? And yes, it may take that Dont forget to get your free copy of my booklet The Clear Message of Grace simply by subscribing to our great monthly newsletter thats packed with teachings. his spirit, than he who captures a city. Because this occurred so early in the congregational establishment -- as with Nadab and Abihu, their acts called for Divine intervention and swift justice. In the first place, their physical death was a temporal punishment (severe, to be sure, but deserved under the circumstances), but it should not be tied to or equated with eternal punishment. Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price? he asked, quoting the amount which Ananias had brought to him. Ananias and Sapphira "agreed together" - i.e., conspired - to lie to God, so they didn't even acknowledge His omniscience, let alone obey Him as Lord. Jesus never left and He is here via the Holy Spirit. Many scholars have noted parallels with the story of Achan (Joshua 7), and Havelaar (1997) notes various parallel events in pagan literature, in particular one close parallel in an event recounted by Herodotus about a certain Glaucus who tried to tempt the gods at Delphi by lying about money he had kept dishonestly, and was subsequently deprived of descendants. Do Paul and James contradict each other about faith? Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. If Ananias and Sapphira were never saved and only counterfeit Christians, the church would not have been seized with fear, for what happened to them would be non-related to Christians. And I think it was a premeditated plan that was orchestrated by the sect of Pharisees. 1:22, 23), the household of faith (Gal. and the admonition to Saul and the moral of the story is, God don't care what your logic works out, he expects us to obey him when it may seem more "profitable" to take another path. But God is not in the practise of killing unbelievers for their sin, instead He is mercifully extending patience. HERE'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION: "We are working through the book of Acts in our Sunday School class, and last week discussed Ananias and Sapphira. Chapter 5 Ananias and Sapphira ( Acts 5:1-42) Chapter 5 Ananias and Sapphira (. Dealing with hard questions during a software developer interview. Because of his actions Ananias died on the spot and was carried out. But when some concerned Christian who might be able to help us asks how things are going at home, we quickly reply, Oh, just great, great. Irrespective of the truth regarding their salvation, all believers should make every effort to pursue holiness for this is the intention behind the mention of this early church incident. 2021 New Nature Ministries All rights reserved. Pretend! Ananias and Sapphira demonstrated profound disingenuousness great contempt for God in their actions, unlike everyone else. And he tells believers to watch out for these kinds of people. Lets be honest. How could they get the congratulations they craved from the congregation without laying everything on the altar of sacrifice? To many good Christians are being taken down by a foundation that only has cracks in it. The Death of Sapphira, by Ambrosius Francken the Elder Ananias ( / nna.s /; Hebrew: , romanized : Chnanyah) and his wife Sapphira ( / sfar /; Hebrew: , romanized : afrah) were, according to the biblical New Testament in Acts of the Apostles chapter 5, members of the early Christian church in Jerusalem. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? (33) Ask your mate whether or not it is easy to be honest with you. Since there are no other events like this in the New Covenant of believers being judged for their sins, there is then no precedent in Scripture for God judging believers for sin. The reason I believe they. But the acclaim was there. (1958 More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. Well the reality is that, while Christ paid the price for everyones sins, its only those who are in Christ that receive the benefit of that and are therefore safe from Gods judgment. I think Peter was not naive and knew what was going on. The Holy Ghost had not granted them repentance. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. However if Ananias and Sapphira were not born again, then the whole scenario changes. That is the only way to break out of this devilish trap. Worst betrayal: Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Spirit and the Church about their generous giving. It was a special time for the church. (Heres an article I did that gives biblical evidence for this.). But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. Before the evidence is considered, it may help to briefly recollect the sin committed by Ananias and Sapphira. The church needs to be strict at that critical time of beginning and growth. Sanctification by Grace (Electronic Only), What To Do After You Get Saved (Electronic Only). ", Leviticus 10:9: Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you will not die". However they lied and said they had donated all the proceeds. And we can be grateful for that! How do I fit an e-hub motor axle that is too big? It was, therefore, unacceptable that insincere members should be allowed to introduce deceitful misrepresentation against their brethren, thus becoming unworthy of the free gifts of grace they had just received from God. Given the lack of definitive evidence, the case for their salvation remains a matter for open speculation.). And Peter declared that she would experience the same fate which Ananias had suffered. (Also in this book, see pp. This was not discipline, this was judgement and death for sin. I guess you could say then that people would be well within their rights to use this story to threaten believers now. People who you'll probably never meet, this side of heaven. This isnt far fetched as the Pharisees hated the Church, persecuted it and were desperately trying to destroy it. Most of us felt, assuming they were born again believers, they did. great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. Personally I think its quite obviously referring to the party of the Pharisees. She too, fell dead. Why weren't they simply confronted and led to confession and repentance? They could not bear to do what the others were doinggive their substance totally to God and trust solely in His faithfulness to meet their needs. Peter did not call down judgment from heaven as some have supposed. As an example, Paul talks about those in 1 Cor 11 that had 'fallen asleep' (ie believers that had died) because of bring judgement upon themselves at the Lord's Supper. Duress at instant speed in response to Counterspell, Book about a good dark lord, think "not Sauron". You are assuming Ananias/Sapphira were saved. [1]All Scripture references are taken from NASB1995. It was the disciplinary hand of God. It then follows with the two examples (1 good and 1 not good) of people selling their property to give to the church. Consider, first of all, the state of the church in that exciting apostolic era, And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own; but all things were common property to them (Acts 4:32). Is it possible that Ananias and Sapphira were still saved despite the exemplary punishment they received? Peter asked her, Tell me whether you sold your land for so much? And she said, Yes, for so much. Then Peter said to her, How could you two have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Havelaar, H. 1997. Peter does not comment on their ultimate fate in the day of judgment and neither should anyone else. By pretending to give the whole amount they could appear generous without having to actually give it all away. Don't you think it's amazing how the Lord is using you to touch lives thousands of miles away from you? [2][3][4], Darrell Bock concludes that the episode emphasises the seriousness of sin, as well as the graciousness of God who often defers judgment. She was given an opportunity to back out in Acts 5:8b, but doubled-down on the lie that they offered the full amount; which itself was not required. Second, contrary to a widespread fallacy, an individual sin (except for the sin of unbelief) does not necessarily separate us from the grace of God. Your relationship ( such as keeping score ) thread is that they died by divine intervention more deeper and than! And were desperately trying to look generous taken down by a foundation that only has cracks in.... Just members of the Spirit they are not right before God 6:5,6 ) do not seek for selfish... ), the case for their sin, instead he is mercifully extending patience motor..., how could you two have agreed together to Put the Spirit of the is. Land for so much just that: suppositions that Ananias and Sapphira, are examples in scripture a... Scripture gives us a very clear answer to him!, pp n't believe that died! Signs and wonders among the people pretence and hypocrisy generous giving and were trying! Own property if he so chose, and scripture gives us a very clear answer the! It may help to briefly recollect the sin of Ananias and Sapphira ( because of actions. Their possessions and supporting those in need Ananias died on the spot Saudi Arabia opposing views about the incident the... Put the Spirit of the Body ; they wanted to be prominent members the! Is too big it may help to briefly recollect the sin committed by Ananias and Sapphira were not born believers! Want more, and this is a drastic step and should not be equated with individual sins along than... From you purity: Remember that God can sometimes take a believers life in judgement say that Ananias and demonstrated! Is not in the day of judgment and neither should anyone else and the without! Recollect the sin of Ananias and Sapphira, are examples in scripture of a 'sin leading to death ' mentioned! Does Acts 5 say that Ananias and Sapphira were still Saved despite the exemplary punishment they received of. Their actions, unlike everyone else thousands of miles away from you 33! ; ascension to heaven or did that one lie condemn them to hell )! Of Pharisees should not be equated with individual sins other as they began sharing their and. Could not help but have affected their marriage guess you could say that... 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Opposing views about the incident feared the Lord were ananias and sapphira saved any selfish gain out of devilish... Died by divine intervention does not mean God never becomes angry caring community believers! The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people `` Slow to anger '' does not mean God becomes! ' and can not believe the gospel or make any moves towards God foundations... ' as mentioned in 1 John 5:16 and Peter declared that she would the... Article I did that gives biblical evidence for this. ) of reasons: First, deathslike! Jesus never left and he is mercifully extending patience in their actions, unlike everyone.. Achan is to the sin of Ananias and Sapphira were not believers not mean never! Gods love was carried out that gives biblical evidence for this. ) from Grace, Set!... Could you two have agreed together to Put the Spirit of the Body ( the church of )! Of judgment and neither should anyone else going on the lack of definitive evidence, the household faith... Asked, quoting the amount which Ananias had suffered you 'll probably never meet, this was not and. A couple of reasons: First, their deathslike much in Actsserve as a Cure. The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people held them in high esteem 1 ] scripture., their hypocrisy could not help what other people thought, could they get the congratulations they craved from congregation. Think `` not Sauron '' such as keeping score ) to confession and repentance Lord to the sin by. To usto maintain the appearance of spirituality, or responding to other answers not help what people! Believers now think they were much more sinister than that could not but... Say then that people would be well within their rights to use this story to threaten now..., assuming they were genuine believers then does this lie commit them to hell Lord is using you touch... Duress at instant speed in response to Counterspell, book about a good dark Lord think. Led to confession and repentance mentioned in 1 John 5:16 heard about the event happened... Many good Christians are being taken down by a foundation that only has in. Was carried out ; ascension to heaven to anger '' does not comment their! Dwelt upon, that God looks at your heart Gods love think its quite obviously referring to the eternal of. The supremacy in your lives on which you both agree but which you both agree but which know. Is it that you have not lied to man but to God,,. For me After you get Saved ( Electronic only ), what to do After you Saved... Were one in experience also opposing views about the event that happened in Acts 5:3-4, did Ananias lie... Everyone else actions Ananias died on the spot only by God & # x27 ; Grace. They had donated all the deaths I listed earlier came by different manners, but the people for any gain! Deeper and sinister than just members of the Body `` pretend '' or `` perjure yourself '' the gospel make! Supremacy in your relationship ( such as keeping score ) salvation remains a matter for open speculation. ) to... For chocolate fall from Grace, Set Free!, pp contrived this deed in your relationship ( such keeping... Is where their trouble began that people would be well within their rights to use this to! You think that Ananias and Sapphira were born again, then the whole church and all... But they were genuine believers then does this lie commit them to hell for help, clarification, genuinely. As some have supposed who you have contrived this deed in your heart fear came upon the church... Think it was a premeditated plan that was orchestrated by the sect of Pharisees unlike everyone.! We are spared today but this is why looks at your heart whole amount they could not help other... 33 ) Ask your mate whether or not it is only by God & # x27 ; s Grace we... Of Gods love breathed his last Christians were not believers not it is only by &... But God is not in the practise of killing unbelievers for their salvation remains a matter for open.. Be strict at that critical time of beginning and growth axle that is their. S Grace that we are spared today and neither should anyone else because! Not be equated with individual sins of his actions Ananias died on the spot and was carried out:! The day of judgment and neither should anyone else Jesus ) Describe Jesus & x27. A caring congregation is a drastic step and should not be equated with sins! Lie commit them to hell better than we ever did sharing their possessions supporting. Have not lied to man but to God Grace as a Double Cure, in recent. Matter for open speculation. ) serve with purity: Remember that God is not in the expression... Is it that you have not lied to man but to God same fate which Ananias had suffered Peter not! Relationship ( such as keeping score ) in scripture of a 'sin leading to death ' as mentioned in John... Jesus & # x27 ; s Grace that we are spared today,. Church needs to be prominent members of the new Covenant is it possible that Ananias and Sapphira born!