Three hours after Ananias' death his wife arrived, unaware of what had happened. Proverbs refers to these exact kind of people as clouds and wind without rain. A man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a piece of land kept some of it for themselves and then the husband, brought the rest as an offering to the Church. Jesus and the disciples go onto the Mount of Olives. Thats why God doesnt just wipe out the whole planet even though there is so much sin and evil. [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. What are some tools or methods I can purchase to trace a water leak? Luke, in Acts 2:37-47, presents the first church as a utopia devoted to the love of God and each other, so much so that members began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. When one considers this initial expression of the church alongside the corruption in the Corinthian Church and many of the other churches spoken of in the New Testament (NT), one is forced to consider the cause. May our Lord continue to fill you to over flowing with the Holy Spirit and strengthen you in every way so that you can remain on task. Can someone have their spirit saved but not their soul? Bc there were 12 tribes. The Biblical tale of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is a strange one that leaves us with more questions than answers. Everyone who heard about the incident feared the Lord. Acts 15:1-5 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved. 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. Look! 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. While they demonstrated a marvelous togetherness in their deceptive scheme, their hypocrisy could not help but have affected their marriage. Evidence that Ananias and Sapphira were Saved - Battle Hardened Believer Evidence that Ananias and Sapphira were Saved By Mark W. Christy, PhD (Note: This article has been written only to communicate the possibility that Ananias and Sapphira may have been Christians. A penetrating question lingers in our minds after we have drawn the curtain on the life of Ananias and Sapphira. The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in This isnt far fetched as the Pharisees hated the Church, persecuted it and were desperately trying to destroy it. 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. 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. This was all in a public place, just like it was in Acts 5. How could they get the congratulations they craved from the congregation without laying everything on the altar of sacrifice? They were also led to humble themselves even further under the Apostles authority as they recognized that their authority could even be employed in severe judgment. That is usually easier than committing ourselves totally to Christ and letting Him live through us to make the changes He wants to make. Do Christians Still Have a Sinful Nature? He merely exposed Ananias hypocrisy by the insight God gave him. (2 Peter 3:9). : ), Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, http://www.jesusplusnothing.com/questions/sinleadingtodeath.htm. I believe they were clearly unsaved Pharisees, and this is why. And I think it was a premeditated plan that was orchestrated by the sect of Pharisees. At this time, all the members of this church were true believers who were "one in heart and mind" (Acts 4:32). A) Why were Ananias and Sapphira [of Acts 5:1-11] not given a second chance? Sis Johns, Hi! But the Spirit of God can use an honest openness, on the other hand, to produce in us the life of Christ, and that means abundant life, abiding joy, and abounding blessing. I believe its possible they were sent on a mission by the sect of Pharisees to infiltrate the Church and bring it down from the inside. ", 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". 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. But, if God did judge Ananias and Sapphira and they were not saved, it still means that He judged unbelievers for their sins even though Jesus was judged for all sin. 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. 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. feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need. See chapter 4, Grace as a Double Cure, in my recent book on grace, Set Free! [Acts 5:9 KJV]. Again, it isn't to condemn them to hell - believers are saved, but they can still die physically. Another common fallacy affecting our perception of what happens if we sin at the moment of death is a faulty understanding of 1 John 1:9. Peter stated that Ananias had lied not to men, but to God. 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. Perhaps we should recall how God once reacted to two very foolish young men, Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu as they offered "strange fire": Leviticus 10:1-2: "Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. Yeah I do find it awesome that a whole lot of people that (as you say) I'm not likely to meet this side of Heaven, enjoy or benefit from what I've written. When appearances are more important to us than reality, the people we live with usually suffer for it. You are assuming Ananias/Sapphira were saved. When they were judged and then immediately given over to death, the Church did not learn a lesson about Gods judgment on sinners outside the Church; rather, they were forced to consider the issue of sin within the Church and then take account of themselves (Acts 5:11). [5], The Lutheran New Testament Professor Matthew L. Skinner claims the story is meant to be gallows humour. (2 Corinthians 5:19). We cringe at this extreme illustration of divine discipline. So, we are not told about whether they were unsaved deceivers or believers who conspired to deceive. Such would not be tolerated at a time when strict discipline was required in the early stages of Israel's devotion to God. Why were Ananias and Sapphira not given a chance to repent? Earlier in chapter 4 is spoke about believers who had all things in common and sold what they had and gave it to the church. In each case. Can we infer anything about the ultimate eternal fate of Ananias and Sapphira? [9], Though the passage is about the offering of money, Reidhead extended the implication to all services offered to God. 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. They lived in the days of the churchs greatest purity and power. And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Jude does not hold back in his condemnation of these people and how they will face the intense judgment of God one day. Pretend! - The people of God were experiencing victory. 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. And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last (Acts 5:5). And Peter declared that she would experience the same fate which Ananias had suffered. First, the context suggests that this married couple were a part of the congregation of those who believed (Acts 4:32). Represent the twelve foundations of the new spiritual Israel (the church of Jesus) Describe Jesus' ascension to heaven. This question assumes that were not given a chance to repent. This you know, my beloved brethren. But that becomes even more obvious to us when we learn that their confidence for the future was in their bank account rather than in the Lord. Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? The people in the early church who sold their possessions and gave the money to the church probably received the enthusiastic appreciation of the entire congregation. 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. Now after an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 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. And yes, it may take that This would mean that the Gospel isnt as good as we thought it was and that God violates the law of double jeopardy where He punishes the same sin twice. great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. They are evil and have a sinister agenda. During this crucial time, it was probably imperative that each act according to the apostles' instructions (and their own consciences), with absolute sincerity. Peter demonstrates that this event is as serious as the one of which Jesus warned. Chapter 5 Ananias and Sapphira ( Acts 5:1-42) Chapter 5 Ananias and Sapphira (. To see this, one must consider the case of Simon the magician. They can admit to one another what is going on inside them, then encourage one another and pray about each others weaknesses. But, if God did judge Ananias and Sapphira and they were not saved, it still means that He judged unbelievers for their sins even though Jesus was judged for all sin. Look! I think they were much more sinister than that. 12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. We do not know how they got Ananias buried without Sapphira knowing about it, but bodies had to be buried quickly in those days and maybe they could not find Sapphira at the moment. (SUBSCRIBE HERE). What the Bible Says About Grace (College Press). Reidhead noted that God does not punish everyone who makes the same mistake as Ananias and Sapphira; nevertheless, the passage illustrates God's unambiguous attitude on this matter. (Ephesians 6:5,6) Do not seek for any selfish gain out of your service: Put away all pretence and hypocrisy. I think God recognised their strategy and brought it to an abrupt end. Which is really more important to usto maintain the appearance of spirituality, or genuinely to be what God wants us to be? 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. While warning the church to protect itself from these kinds of people, Jude describes some of their characteristics whereby we might recognise them. What shall I do if I can't believe that God is for me? Had a wonderful time. Centred between two attacks from without (ch. the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. But they were to find that it can never be so. Some are adamant they were believers while others insist they were not. This sin, therefore, was rooted in their relationship to their local church, and once again by extension, it was a trespass against their personal relationship with the Spirit of God. What are husbands and wives most likely to conceal from each other? Its one of Satans favorite traps. Pharisees loved money and they loved peoples praises. Thanks for contributing an answer to Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange! How could Ananias and Sapphira have avoided the trap of deceit into which they fell? We do however see another situation in Acts 12:21-23 where God kills an unbeliever, King Herod, for claiming to be divine. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Related Topics: Christian Home, Finance, Marriage, Richard L. Strauss authored nine books, and served as pastor of churches in Fort Worth, TX, Huntsville, AL. But, if God did judge Ananias and Sapphira and they were not saved, it still means that He judged unbelievers for their sins even though Jesus was judged for all sin. 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. 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. Their punishments served as an example to the nascent church. We will want to be ready when the time comes, for with our growing honesty will come a growing concern for Gods honor and for the testimony of Christs church. Until then we see Gods mercy in effect, not giving people what they deserve but patiently holding back judgment to allow time for unbelievers to repent and come into Christ. But Ananias did want more, and so did Sapphira. It actually begins at the end of chapter 4 with the description of the early church in Jerusalem, a group of believers so filled with the Holy Spirit that they were of one heart and one mind. I think so but I don't really know. Outside of Christ, people are still in their sins and will one day ultimately be held accountable for them on the Day of Judgement. Whom did Ananias lie to? They were sacrificing their own comforts and conveniences for the good of all. Ananias and Sapphira may have agreed together in their deceitful plan, but evidently they never admitted the sinfulness of it to one another or to God. Acts 2:46). Why were Ananias and Sapphira not given a second chance? I dont think Ananias and Sapphira were just innocent people who told a little lie. Dealing with hard questions during a software developer interview. We see unbelievers and false believers in the church being threatened with judgement. By committing this sinful deception in their relationship with believers, they by extension deceived the Holy Spirit. Yet, Ananias and Sapphira were both responsible for their own actions, and Sapphira should have obeyed the Spirit instead of obeying her husband. The implied message is not seldom that the hearers are told to avoid sinning so that they will not have to experience God's wrath the same way. "When men want to impose unity, there are problems. Based on reading Acts 5, it does Not explicitly state Nor does it hint/suggest that Ananias and Sapphira were new Christians/immature Christians. He explained that they were under no obligation to sell their property. Why weren't they simply confronted and led to confession and repentance? 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. Why such a radical and drastic punishment on the spot? What does put at the apostles feet mean in Acts 4:32-5:2? The major sin of Ananias and Sapphira was dishonesty, deceit, hypocrisy, pretense, presenting a false image of themselves, implying a greater spirituality than they actually possessed, letting people think more highly of them than what they knew was warranted. (Heres an article I did that gives biblical evidence for this.). Are there any matters in your lives on which you both agree but which you know are not right before God? Gehazi's greed led Elisha to judge him harshly withOut any chance given to Gehazi in order to repent: Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you [1], The morality of the incident has been the source of some commentary. Luke suggests that every believer is responsible to God for what he or she does. [9], Concerning the belief held by some, that Peter caused the death of the couple, Reidhead held the view that Peter simply anticipated God's action and relayed it to Ananias and Sapphira before God took the action.[9]. She too, fell dead. B. (1958 More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. But the focus of my article is not on the way God deals with unbelievers but to prove that Ananias and Sapphira were not saved and therefore cannot be used as a precedent for Gods judgement towards believers. We can infer/deduce that there is a certain God-defined "threshold" has been reached when it comes to a person sinning when we see the phrase "Slow to anger" used in numerous verses in the bible. If they are spiritually-minded people they are not motivated by the desire for the accolades and applause of men, but they may get them anyway. Acts 5:3-4. Ananias and Sapphira: Saved or Lost? [1] In response, both of them were accused of lying to the Holy Spirit and then judged by God such that both immediately died (5:3-11). With this knowledge in view, it seems that they either failed to use this ability in their initial dealings with Ananias and Sapphira as it seems that they allowed them into the fellowship of believers, or this married couple had been truly granted the Holy Spirit and fellowship among Gods people. 8. Over and over, NT writers point not to pressure from sinners outside the church but to believers relapsing back into sin within the church. However, even in the beginning, the church . 4. All the deaths I listed earlier came by different manners, but the common thread is that they died by divine intervention. Given their recognition of Simons falsehood and their corresponding refusal to acknowledge him by granting him the Holy Spirit in their capacity as Apostles, Peter and John demonstrate that they had clear knowledge of the truthfulness of ones conversion and were completely unwilling to accept false converts. We find in the time of Peter, when men and women were receiving the power of the Holy Ghost, the counterfeit appeared in Ananias and Sapphira. 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. Lets commit ourselves to absolute straightforwardness and transparency. Their loving concern for one another went so far as to touch their wallets, and that is real care! resulting in their lie. This Q is opening up an ages old [unresolved] debate - (some might say a. How do I know that I truly trust Jesus for salvation. The poor He associated with humility and reliance upon God and therefore able to have faith and receive the Kingdom. How can I recognize one? There must not be any ulterior motives in an offering made to God, such as desiring material gain, fame, or praise of man for oneself. Perhaps he didnt think Ananias would die when he was questioning him, but by the time Sapphira turns up he knew what the outcome would be if she also tried to deceive the Church. The question which hung a few of us was: Did they go to heaven when they were struck dead? Most of us felt, assuming they were born again believers, they did. 2 With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. 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