Acts 05_01-11 First Century Church Discipline

Read Acts 5:1-11 – Church in America these days! Come to church. Grab a coffee and a cookie, settle in for an hour of boredom so we can get to the game in good conscience that we’ve fulfilled our religious obligation. We’ve lost all sense of the grandeur of God. We get God as a buddy; but fear of the Lord -- lost on us. Ease and comfort have blinded us to the realities of the God we serve. This passage is offensive! The death penalty – for a little lie?! What’s that about? It’s about snapping us out of Fantasyland back to reality.

Annie Dillard gets it when she writes: “On the whole, I find Xns, outside of the Catacombs, NOT sufficiently sensible of conditions. Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we so casually invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no one believe a word of it? But the sleeping god may wake someday and take offense, or the waking god may draw us out to where we can never return.” God is love, yes. He is also “a consuming fire” of holiness (Heb 12:29). His patience isn’t forever. To trivialize Him is to play with TNT.

So this account teaches. Barnabas got kudos for selling land to give to the poor. A&S want that same standing. But they’re not so generous, so they hatched their scheme thinking, “Who will know?” The answer was, “God!”

Some suggest A&S weren’t believers. But they likely were. They’re among “the full number of those who believed” in Acts 4:32. They were involved with the HS, indicating a relationship. Satan can influence believers, as we’ll see. And death is one means of divine chastening. This lesson is for believers.

The swift discipline here is intended as a warning to the whole church age that our picture of God isn’t complete with “God loves you”. It must also include: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov 1:7). The lesson is no sin of a believer is trivial. It is all subject to God’s discipline.

The Source of the Sin – Two are listed here.

A. Satan – Satan is on the rampage. Defeated at the cross, he knows his time is short. So he’s out to destroy what he can. Thus Peter says in v. 3: “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the HS?” A&S thought it was their idea to cheat by holding a little back for a trip to the spa or whatever. But Peter knows – this all started with Satan. Satan can’t go where he’s uninvited, but some inherent covetousness in their hearts, some unconfessed jealousy had opened the door, and the idea was planted.

So, Satan can infiltrate the minds of Xns? Oh, yes! All those little thoughts we think are ours alone – the independence we think exists in the privacy of our own mind – just an illusion. That depiction of an angel on one shoulder and a demon on the other is a reality. We’re smack in the middle of spiritual warfare. Satan and his minions can infiltrate the mind within God-set limits.

I Pet 5:8: “Be sober-MINDED; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Peter had experienced that. When Jesus tells His disciples He’ll suffer and die in Jerusalem, Peter objects: Mt 16:22b: “Far be it from you, Lord. This shall never happen to you.” Peter thought that was his idea. He’d protect Jesus. His idea and his full intention. Mt 16:23: “But [Jesus] turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan!” He knew if He didn’t die, Peter would – eternally. If He didn’t pay the penalty for sin, all humanity would. What Peter thought was his idea was a Satan-implant! Thus Jesus’ direct command, “Get behind me, Satan!” Peter knew firsthand about being devoured by Satan. It almost happened to him.

Satan is a creature. He can’t be all places at once. I doubt we’re important enough to get his personal attention. But he has millions of demons at his beck and call, some assigned to us. But, Satan can only go as far as God allows. When Satan insisted Job didn’t really love God, God said, Job 1:12: “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” Satan was bounded by God. When Satan’s first plan didn’t work and he wanted to do more damage, he had to ask permission! Satan is still as much God’s servant as ever. This time God said in Job 2:6: “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.” Satan can’t lift a finger against Job, Peter or anyone without God’s permission to test us. But with God’s permission, he can fill our hearts with mischief which is ours to sort out, as with A&S.

B. Self – But it’s not just Satan. 4) “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? [The sin wasn’t holding back; it was lying. But now note:] Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart?” If Satan was the initiator, S&A were also complicit. Unconfessed sin invited Satan in, and now their inherent sin nature was responsive to his suggestions – exactly the pattern described by Jas 1:14) But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15) Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” Satan plants the idea; natural desire waters it; sin results, which, unconfessed, leads to death. S&A could have stopped this at any point; they didn’t. They are complicit right along with Satan.

Handling temptation isn’t easy. But: I Cor 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” Memorize it, and bring to God when things get tough? Satan can come, but he can only go so far, no further than we can bear. From there it’s over to us.

That’s why Prov 4:23 urges: “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Think about what you think about! Fill your mind with the Word and drive out evil. Psa 119:9: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. . . . 11) I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Paul urges: II Cor 10:5b: “take every thought captive to obey Christ.” Think on right things. Yes, it’s a discipline, but better than facing God’s discipline.

One police organization I used to work with (RUC) taught rookies how many policemen died over the year when they didn’t need to. Shot, but not fatally, they thought: “I’m shot. I’m going to die.” As a result, they began to shut down physically and emotionally. What we think matters in how we live.

II. The Seriousness of the Offense

This event shows all sin is serious. Some are worse than others, but all sin is serious bc it misrepresents God’s character. It’s not how He would act in the same situation. Even the least sin is an attempt to go over God’s head, either by deceiving Him, as A&S did, or by declaring Him wrong. That makes every sin a capital offense. No created being has the right to argue that.

Peter knew: 3b) They lied “to the HS.” 4d) “You have not lied to man but to God.” But hadn’t they lied to Peter and the church? Yes. But ultimately all sin is against God which makes even the smallest sin a serious breach of morality. We’ve lied to God; stolen from God; been angry at God; struck out at God.

David sinned horribly against both Bathseba and her husband. But he confesses: Psa 51:4: “Against you, you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.” David’s sin was huge against Uriah and his wife, but that was nothing compared to how awful it was to God.

It’s like this: spit on your brother – minor offense; spit on a dad, grounded for a month; spit on the president, jail time. The higher the offended party, the greater the offense – and when it’s against an infinite God, all sin is a capital offense. God is patient in imposing penalty. But, A&S show us what should happen every time at the moment of the offense. We escape for now only by God’s grace. His love sustains us for the possibility of repentance. But if you want to know who you’re dealing with – there’s your picture.

III. The Second Chance of Grace

Three hours after Ananias, Saphira comes, “not knowing what had happened,” blissfully ignorant of her husband’s death. 8 “And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” Saphira gets a chance to confess the truth – a 2nd chance. God often uses questions, not to elicit information, but to elicit confession. After Adam’s fall, God says, “Where are you?”, not bc He didn’t know, but to solicit confession and repentance – which, in Adam’s case eventually came.

God’s not obligated to 2nd chances. But bc of His love, He often gives them. God sent Nathan to David after a full year of rebellion. John 21 shows how Jesus patiently elicited repentance from Peter for his betrayal. We all need 2nd chances – often. Brennan Manning says, “Often I have been asked, ‘Brennan how could you became an alcoholic after you got saved?’ It’s because I got battered and bruised by loneliness and failure; I got discouraged, uncertain, guilt-ridden, and took my eyes off Jesus. The Christ-encounter did not transfigure me into an angel. Justification by grace through faith means I have been set in right relationship with God, not made a patient etherized on a table.” It’s not a question of needing God’s grace. It’s a question of whether we’ll take advantage of the opportunity or not. Adam did. David did. Brennan Manning did. Saphira did not. And so in God’s timing, the judgment falls.

IV. The Sentence of God

Saphira’s lie didn’t make her less saved, but in her case, it resulted in the loss of her physical life, just like Ananias. God is establishing a principle at the beginning of the church age. His people are to reflect His character or be subject to His discipline -- whether that discipline falls immediately, as in this case, or later. Heb 12:6 assures us, “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves.” Like any good father, God loves His children, and so He doesn’t let them get away with nonsense. He disciplines for their own good as well as for the good of those around them. He is graphically making that point here.

Thankfully God does not strike down every instance of a lie or it’d be a small crowd today, right? His discipline is often more measured in human terms. But don’t think physical death is off the table. At the first service in the new tabernacle in Lev 10, Aaron’s sons (Nadab and Abihu) died instantly when they brought in false fire, worshiping in their terms instead of God’s terms. Their heart wasn’t in it, and God told Moses to warn Aaron and his family not even to mourn outwardly. They were to love God more than their boys.

In Joshua 7, Achan and his family died even after he confessed to stealing booty during a failed battle at Ai. In II Sam 6, Uzzah’s life is taken by God after he merely steadies the ark of the covenant as it’s being transported. Seems minor; cost him his life. Paul tells the Corinthians how they’ve abused he Lord’s Supper – getting drunk, not sharing their meal, unconfessed sin – and then says: I Cor 11:30: “That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.” First century church discipline could be demanding, and we should not think God has changed His methods for our benefit. But Paul adds in v. 31: “But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.” In other words, be brutally honest with God – confess your sin; discipline yourself and mitigate His own discipline. But don’t try to fool Him; He sees right through to the heart, and for our own good, He disciplines His own.

V. The Shock of the People

Everybody says they want a first century church. Really? 5b) “And great fear came upon all who heard of it.” And 11) “And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.” God made a point. Sin must not be trivialized. It is always subject to His discipline in the life of a believer. That we don’t always get what we deserve when we deserve is just God’s grace. But we do deserve it, don’t we? Do you think Ananias and Saphira were the only ones in that group who had lied – perhaps even about the same thing. Of course not. But God is pointing us toward repentance and purity.

It wasn’t exactly a seeker-friendly thing to do. But God prizes holiness above worldly success. God’s neve been numbers-driven. John the Baptist told the crowds in Lu 3:8) “Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.” God could produce numbers out of stones. He’s not looking for attenders; He wants repenters!

Jesus, too. After He fed the 5,000, then refused their offer to make Him King: Jn 6:66: “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.” They were attenders, but when commitment was required, they moonwalked away. And note this: Jesus did not chase after them. He didn’t. He was seeking repenters, not attenders. The lesson of A&S is “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” We’ve got a lot of attenders these days, but not much fear of the Lord. We must take note. God loves us, but He wants us to hate sin as much as He does and live repentant lives.

Conc – A lady shopping at a bakery noticed a fly in the display case. The young clerk, seeing the look of dismay, said, “Don’t worry. They don’t eat much.” No, they don’t. But they infect everything. So do little sins – they infect everything from God’s perspective. So, let us hate sin like God does, confess it, embrace His righteousness, and avoid His discipline. Let’s pray.

Related Media

Related Sermons