The Sin unto Death. (Acts 4:2-5:11)

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Welcome:
Welcome Message:

Welcome back today we dive into a somewhat challenging topic – "The Sin unto Death." Based on Acts 4:32-5:11, we will explore the story of Ananias and Sapphira and its implications for believers today. Join me as we unravel the complexities of sin, its consequences, and the importance of integrity and generosity within the Christian community.

Study Notes:

Scripture Reference: Acts 4:32-5:11

Key Themes:

1. Unity and Generosity of the Early Church: Acts 4:32-37 highlights the unity and generosity of the early believers, emphasizing a communal spirit where possessions were shared, and needs were met.
2. The Deception of Ananias and Sapphira: Acts 5:1-11 tells the dramatic story of Ananias and Sapphira, who lied about their offering and faced immediate judgment.
3. Sin and Its Consequences: This passage illustrates the severity of sin, particularly deceit, and the potential for sin to lead to premature physical death for believers.

Main Points:

• Unity in Purpose: The early church was united in heart and mind, sharing possessions and supporting one another (Acts 4:32-35).
• Generosity Exemplified by Barnabas: Barnabas is highlighted as a model of generosity, selling his land and giving the proceeds to the apostles (Acts 4:36-37).
• Deceit and Judgment: Ananias and Sapphira's deceit in withholding part of their offering and lying about it led to their sudden deaths (Acts 5:1-11).

Discussion Questions:

1. What does the unity and generosity of the early church teach us about living in community today?
2. How does the story of Ananias and Sapphira challenge us to examine our integrity and honesty in our giving and actions?
3. What are the implications of the concept of "sin unto death" for believers today?

Application:

• Reflect on your own generosity and honesty in your dealings with others and with God.
• Consider how unity and a spirit of sharing can be fostered within your own community.
• Take to heart the serious nature of sin and the importance of living a life that honors God.

Closing Thoughts: As we conclude this episode, remember that our actions, whether seen or unseen, have profound implications. Let us strive to live lives of integrity, generosity, and unity, reflecting the grace and power of the Holy Spirit in all we do. Thank you for joining us today, and may God's grace be upon you as you seek to honor Him in every aspect of your life.

For more episodes and resources, visit our website or follow us on Social Media. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out to us. Until next time, stay blessed and keep applying those biblical principles to your daily life.

Transcript

The Sin unto Death.  (Acts 4:34-5:11)


Transcript: 

All sin is sin, but there are some sins that are more serious than others in terms of their effect they have on the sinner and other people. 

Obviously, some sins are worse than others in the sense of the damage they can do. Some sins, are so serious that they can actually cause a premature physical death of a believer. Let me clarify.

Sin always has a spiritual consequence, but the New Testament speaks of what it calls, ‘sin unto death,’ and when it mentions it does so within the context of talking about believers. 

It the death involved is physical or is it just talking about a premature physical death.  Is it possible to commit such a sin today? If it is, what would you have to do to qualify for committing a sin that would lead to death?

The New Testament does not give a lot of explanation about this, but I think it does provide some insights. One of the outstanding passages on this subject is actually a powerful illustration, the well-known story of Ananias and Sapphira. It's a dramatic incident that took place, of all things, in the middle of what we would today call a church service.

So, what I want to do is look at that passage, and I want us to look at it in its wider context in today’s episode of TBPDP.

To really understand that story, you need to see it in its broader context. With that in mind, would you turn with me to Acts chapter 4 The story of Ananias and Sapphira is in chapter 5, which we'll get to shortly, but let's begin in chapter 4, verse 32.

Luke records:

"Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet."

5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. He kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said,

"Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.

Now, it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter answered her,

"Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?"

She said, "Yes, for so much." Then Peter said to her,

"How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."

Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

(Acts 4:32-5:11)

As you've heard me say several times before, the chapter divisions in the Bible were not put there by the original authors. As a matter of fact, neither were the verse divisions, and unfortunately, sometimes the verse divisions end up in the wrong place. That is certainly true of some of the chapter divisions, which I believe is the case in this passage of Scripture when the chapters and verses were added in the 1550’s. 

In many ways it unfortunate that there is a chapter break here.

As a matter of fact, look at chapter 5, verse 1. It begins with the word "But," which clearly illustrates that this is in context to what has just been said. So, if you look at it with this in mind you will see that the story begins back in verse 32, where Luke starts by describing the church at that time in general. 

Then, after describing the church, he focuses on one man, Barnabas. After that, and this is where we enter into chapter 5, he talks about a couple named Ananias and Sapphira.

The passage today can be divided into three parts: 

1.   The church.

2.   Barnabas.

3.   Ananias and Sapphira. 

In verse 32, it says, "All the believers were one in heart and mind

This means they had unity of purpose, not uniformity. They shared a common commitment to the Lord.

Verse 32 also says, "Neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common." They had a common purpose and shared their possessions generously. This unity and generosity are key themes in this passage."

In verse 33, it says, "With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus." 

The congregation's unity allowed the apostles to witness powerfully, free from internal church conflicts. Their preaching wasn't marked by eloquence but by the simple, powerful message of Jesus' death and resurrection. This message, delivered with the power of the Holy Spirit, brought great results."

Verse 33 also says, "and great grace was upon them all." This means God's favour rested on the entire congregation, not just the apostles. 

Grace is a central theme of the New Testament—we are saved by grace and live by grace. This church had unity, generosity, power, and grace, making it truly blessed."

What makes a great church? Many might say a big church or one with many members. But is it quantity or quality that matters most? Quantity isn't bad, but quality should be the focus. Depth is more important than breadth in the Christian church. 

Some might point to a long history and famous pastors, but does that mean a young church can't be great? God values unity, generosity, power in witness, and grace in living. These are the qualities that make a church truly great in Gods eyes.

Luke also emphasizes generosity in verse 34: "There were no needy persons among them" This is because those who owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds to the church. 

This verse can make people uneasy. Are we supposed to sell everything we own and give it to the church? Is this communism? These are common reactions to this passage, but let's explore what it truly means."

This passage is not about communism. In chapter 5, Peter tells Ananias in verse 4, Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not in your control?' This shows that selling their property was voluntary, not forced like in communism does. 

In communist countries sharing was mandatory and driven by fear. In contrast, the early Christians gave out of love and gratitude for God's grace.

Is this passage suggesting we should all live communally, selling everything and sharing as needed? No, it is not prescribing communal living either. Other New Testament passages, like those in Acts 11, 2 Corinthians, and 1 Corinthians, show that giving should be voluntary, cheerful, and proportional.

This passage is meant to show an example of extraordinary generous early Christian community. The believers responded to God's grace with genuine generosity, not because they we coerced or  to impress others but to meet needs within the community.

Luke’s narrative focus shifts from the community to Barnabas. 

Verse 35 says, and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need..' Barnabas, was called the 'son of encouragement,' maybe the name originates here were we see he sold his land and gave the money to the apostles. His nickname reflects his character—he encouraged, exhorted, and comforted others. We'll see more of Barnabas later in Acts, where he is a prime example of an encourager and exhorter.

As an aside this also indicates that by this time, they had stopped observing the part of the Mosaic law in relationship to property ownership

. Barnabas sold his land, brought the money, and gave it to the apostles. This act of generosity was typical of what the early church was doing. They sold their houses and brought the proceeds to the apostles, and verse 37 specifies that Barnabas sold his land and brought the money to the apostles' feet. The focus shifts from the general practice of the church to Barnabas as an example of this extraordinary generosity.

Such acts of generosity still happen today. Spontaneous acts of generosity occur regularly. I have seen this type of thing happen regularly, more often than you might think.

Now, let's move to what happens next in the text. Chapter 5 introduces Ananias and his wife Sapphira, who sold a possession. Ananias brought part of the proceeds to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. 

He lied about the sum, which was unnecessary since the sale and the proceeds were under his control. Peter confronts him in verse 3, asking why he lied to the Holy Spirit and kept back part of the money. 

The lesson here is that sins will be exposed. How did Peter know about the lie? Perhaps it was divine revelation. The point is sins are always known by God and will ultimately be uncovered. 

A story illustrates this: Four boys skipped school, claiming they had a flat tire. The teacher asked them to independently write down which tire was flat, exposing their lie.

While all sin is sin, some sins have immediate and severe consequences. Ananias, upon hearing Peter's words, falls.

Three hours later, Sapphira arrived, unaware of her husband's fate. She repeated the same lie, and Peter confronted her. She too falls dead, and fear spread throughout the church and all who heard the story.

Clearly this passage highlights the seriousness of sin, the importance of integrity, and the extraordinary generosity that characterized the early church. 

The examples of Barnabas' generosity and Ananias and Sapphira's deceit provide powerful lessons both on giving and honesty.

Luke is clearly emphasizing that there was great power and grace as long as they were unified. Then, when God's judgment fell, there was great fear on all those who were present and those who heard about what had happened.

Next, let’s put all of this together and ask, "Does any of this apply today?" What is going on here? 

If I were to summarize everything that has happened in this extended passage, that bridges chapter four and 5, I would say something like this: 

Believers should live together in unity and be generous. When they do that, they please the Lord. When they do not, they displease the Lord, and judgment, in some cases, is assured. 

Let me say that again slightly differently: 

When believers live in unity and practice generosity, God blesses them with power and grace. Isn’t that what the first part of this passage is saying? But when they dishonour Him and deceive one another, He judges them. 

Those who commit grievous sins bring upon themselves judgement  and sometime even premature physical death.

Now, a couple of very simple observations: One question is, are Ananias and Sapphira believers? My answer is, of course they were. 

The passage presents them as believers. These weren’t people outside the church; they were inside the church and giving money to the church. 

The only way you could conclude they were not believers is if you have a preconceived idea that a believer couldn’t do something like this, and then you don’t really recognise the fallen human nature that inhabits us all.

If you read your Bible with one eye open and have any sense about what goes on, you know that Christians can do this and worse. So, in that sense, this applies to all believers.

Alright, we have that established. The question is, what sin did they commit that made them drop dead on the spot?

Well, look at the passage. It says they lied to the Lord. They dishonoured God and obviously tried to deceive their fellow believers.

As I was looking at this passage, it occurred to me in very practical, simple terms what was going on: they wanted to look good, not be good. They wanted everyone to say, "Wow, look at you! You sold your property and gave it to the church. Good for you! They wanted their name on the plaque. They were more interested in looking good than being good. 

But it’s more serious than that. The Bible specifically says they lied to the Lord and deceived the brethren, breaking the spirit of what was going on in the church.

This church was unified, and great power and grace were upon them because of their unity. Now, someone comes along and destroys that. God says, "I’m going to put a stop to that," and in this case they dropped dead.

Alright, one other question: Can this happen today? Can believers commit such a sin that they die prematurely? 

The answer is, absolutely yes. The Bible clearly says there is such a thing as, “a sin unto death” (1 John 5:16). So, what sins qualify for a sin unto death? What sin do I have to commit so that I could be in danger of dropping dead prematurely? 

The Bible doesn’t give us a list. However, it says in Romans 8:13, "If you live according to the flesh, you will die." That’s insightful, 2000 years ago it says if you wanders off into sin and lives according to the flesh, that means you face the possibility of a premature physical death. And this was understood 1900 years before the NHS said so.

General living in sin that can shorten your life

In James chapter 1, he talks about how sin brings forth death when it is fully grown, which suggests it takes time for this to happen. Just as reaching adulthood takes 18 years or so, living in sin for a long period can lead to premature death. 

This shouldn't shock or surprise us. You don’t need to take my word for it; there are many ways to shorten your life besides running in front of traffic. Doctors will tell you that your lifestyle, eating habits, or lack of exercise can shorten your life. Living with many types of sin can also have the same effect.

We often overlook the idea that spiritual matters, not just physical ones like diet and exercise, can impact our health. Many psychologists and counsellors would agree that harbouring anger is detrimental to your health. 

Medical doctors say that to maintain good heart health, you must watch your diet, exercise, and manage stress. Conversely, if you neglect your diet, fail to exercise, and live under a lot of stress, you will likely shorten your life. 

This all I believe applies to the concept of a sin unto death, which refers not only to physical health but to a spiritual law: if you live in sin long enough, you will face a premature death, not saying you will die you, but you might die earlier than you would have if you had lived differently..

Romans 8:13 and James 1:14-15 highlight this idea.

So, what is happening in this passage that applies to todaybut in a wider spiritual sense.

First Corinthians 3:17 says, "If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him." The word "defile" is the same Greek word translated as "destroy," indicating that if anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy them. 

This verse isn’t talking about hell but rather about physical destruction. In context, it addresses division within the church. People were saying, "I am of Paul," "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," causing division. Paul explains that if you destroy the church’s unity, God will take you out of His church.

Acts 5 is not just about lying; it’s about dishonouring the Lord and deceiving the people, breaking the church’s unity. This sin was against both the Lord and the church, and God said He wouldn’t tolerate it, thus protecting the body of the church.

First Corinthians 11:27-30 speaks about the Lord’s Table, where some were partaking in an unworthy manner, not considering others. Paul says that because of this, "many are weak and sick, and many sleep," referring to physical weakness, sickness, and even premature death among believers there. 

This indicates that sinning against the church and its unity can lead to physical consequences as well as spiritual.

There are two ways to commit the sin unto death:

Over a long period, as described in Romans 8:13 and James 1:14-15, where living in sin shortens your life.

Or as seen in First Corinthians 11 in a more immediate matter, with expulsion form the church.

God judges sin, and in some cases, He does so with allowing us to experience the consequence of our unhealthy life choices. This much is clear: there is a sin unto death.

In conclusion, we have before us today two examples: Barnabas and Ananias. This is set within the larger context of what was happening in the early church. As individuals and as a church, we can honour the Lord by being unified, generous, and living by grace.

Alternatively, we can dishonour the Lord through deceit and hypocrisy. These actions may go unnoticed by others in the congregation, but they do not escape God’s notice. 

We should therefore strive to live genuine lives, seeking the grace of God and being generous in our actions.

That’s what we need to be. It’s not about how big or how far or even how generous our outreach appears to be, it’s about honouring the Lord. 

Wouldn’t it be great if all of us had the grace of God resting upon us, witnessing the power of the Holy Spirit? What could we be, what could we do if we were that type of people? 

This passage tells me that all we do individually either honours or dishonours Him, and all we do together either honours or dishonours H, so think on about how you choose to live your life.