The Church is a Holy People

Introduction:

* A wealthy couple writes a handsome check to the church Bad optics!

LET’S SEE WHAT THIS SHOWS US ABOUT THE NATURE OF SIN, THE DANGER OF SIN, AND THE REMEDY FOR SIN.

I) What does this text show us about the nature of Sin in the church?

A. Sin is often a form of hypocrisy (see 4:36-37, 5:1-2)

i. A tale of two donors: Barnabas & A & S

1. Barnabas: sells, brings, lays…a piece of land à “Son of encouragement!”

2. A&S desire similar admiration à they sell/bring/take/lay an “estate”

ii. Sin can often be our way of Keeping Up Appearances:

1. We can do good for wrong reasons: others will notice how hard working we are; our moral resume; our devotion to the church

2. A virtue-signaling world encourages us to trumpet “good” on soc. Media; corporations keep up their image by way of social casue

B. Sin is always a scheme of the heart

i. Satan invites us to listen to him rather than the Spirit

1. Who will A& S listen to – the voice of Satan, or the Spirit? (vs. 3)

2. Who sets the agenda for the church? Do we celebrate what the world celebrates? Pursue what the world pursues? Treasure what…treasures?

ii. Satan works by incubating sin in our hearts

1. Satan knows to “fill our hearts” with desires à rationalize àact

IF THERE’S ANOTHER LESSON HERE, IT’S THAT SIN IS SO DANGEROUS.

II) What does this text show us about the Danger of Sin in the Church?

A. Sin is dangerous because it violates the holiness of God

i. All sin is an offense against God (vs. 2; c.f. Josh. 7)

1. “Pilfering” is a specific word that suggests embezzlement

2. Like Achan, A&S devote to God…and then funnel money to self

ii. Sin therefore minimizes the nature of our Holy God

1. Our assumption: God should be okay with this, because God is love;

2. But: dangerous because we soften God’s edges, tame; bring our level

3. God is holy, and sin violates the holiness of God

B. Sin is dangerous because it invites the judgment of God

i. Is God’s judgment of A & S an overreaction? (vs. 5, vs. 10)

1. When A&S both fall down dead, is this God lashing out? Overreacting?

2. On the one hand, it doesn’t matter; we don’t get to decide

ii. Sin invites the righteous judgment of God against evil

1. On the other hand, this tells us how God sees & deals with evil

2. EXAMPLE: The hypocrisy of church leaders

3. Our problem: We are selective; we decide which sins are worthy of punishment, but history show we aer often poor judges

SIN INVITES THE JUST RESPONSE OF A HOLY GOD. IS THERE HOPE IN THIS TEXT?

III) What does this text show us about the Remedy for sin in the Church?

A. The remedy for sin is a fear of God

i. The church responded in fear (vv. 5, 11)

1. Twice, fear grips the church – a fear of God

2. Fear is a reverence for God that leads us to hate sin & obey God

ii. The church must be a community that fears our Holy God, hating sin

1. The church is a holy people – one that must resist and deal with evil

2. EXAMPLE: Sexual sins…BUT: gossip? Lust? Greed? Racism?

B. The remedy for sin is found in Christ

i. Will God judge all sin this way? Yes … usually not now, but one day

1. Mercifully, God does not strike every person dead immediately

2. But like the lame who leapt for joy, God will also judge evil in the world to come

ii. In the meantime, Jesus has “gone down to death” so that we might be spared

1. This text might be fine for those “out there”…soon, though, it’s ME!

2. Fear is also a reverence for God that drives us to his radical mercy in Christ

3. Jesus went down to death, was covered, died and was buried,

Transition:

Conclusion

Seek God’s mercy in Christ