Ananias presented his donation to Peter. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of Second, Ananias and Sapphira are charged with lying to the Holy Spirit and putting Him to the test (5:3, 9). The Holy Spirit, God or both? I guess you could say then that people would be well within their rights to use this story to threaten believers now. How do I fit an e-hub motor axle that is too big? Story Identification: Nanomachines Building Cities, Rename .gz files according to names in separate txt-file. 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. Acts 5 (Part 1) -Ananias and Sapphira. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,. And no one can fool God. 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. 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. They could not help what other people thought, could they? Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. He explained that they were under no obligation to sell their property. Had God permitted Ananias and Sapphira to continue their charade, it would have destroyed the witness of the early church. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023, Living in Love: Secrets from Bible Marriages. How can I recognize one? is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.. 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. 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? Do you agree with a partial rapture? But they were obligated to be honest (Acts 5:4). But most of them were selling their material possessions and giving the money to the apostles to be distributed to those who, in all probability, had lost their jobs because of their faith. Do you think that Ananias and Sapphira went to heaven or did that one lie condemn them to hell? They are part of a larger unit called the Body of Christ (Eph. Is it possible that [they] were still saved despite the exemplary punishment they received?". (James 1:19) 3. Some are adamant they were believers while others insist they were not. At this time, all the members of this church were true believers who were "one in heart and mind" (Acts 4:32). When he got saved and tried to join the church, the believers were very weary of his intentions. feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need. Debate/Discussion: Universal Salvation: True or False? They are "saints" The lie that was told, and every other sin they ever committed, either before or after they were born again, where completly paid for by Christ, and cast as far as the east is from the west. Their story is rarely shown in art, but is the subject of one of the Raphael Cartoons, and a panel on the Brescia Casket, both illustrated here. (1958 More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. Here, Sapphira followed her husband's lead in giving the rehearsed account to the apostles (Acts 5:2, Acts 5:8-9). So, judgment by the Lord, within the congregation, may result in weakness, illness or death, as appropriate. 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. How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? God used them to teach a lesson to the early church and even to believers today. 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. We don't know if they were given a second chance. However if Ananias and Sapphira were not born again, then the whole scenario changes. Centred between two attacks from without (ch. 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 5:1-11. Unbelievers are spiritually 'dead' and cannot believe the gospel or make any moves towards God. Acts 5:4 indicates that they could have sold the land and offered a portion of the proceeds to the apostles, and not present it as the full amount; which was the sin of lying. 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? It was no grandstand play with him. Ananias & Sapphira were clearly practicing duplicity and hypocrisy, which was indicative of their attitude toward lying. 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. A man couldnt ask for much more than that. How could they get the congratulations they craved from the congregation without laying everything on the altar of sacrifice? Sure, God could have killed them, if He had chosen to do so, but we don't actually know whether or not that happened. 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. They seemed blind to the malfeasance they were ushering into the young church. Hypocrisy is the most dangerous spiritual virus to infect the church. Thanks for contributing an answer to Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange! (Also in this book, see pp. 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. They lived in the days of the churchs greatest purity and power. 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. the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. There was no trace of fleshly pride in it whatsoever. So what *is* the Latin word for chocolate? When a husband and wife become partners in pretense, it eventually destroys 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. This is the level on which he thinks his thoughts, senses his feelings, and makes his choices. In support of this, one learns from Peter sees this present age as a time for judgment which will begin with the household of God (1 Pet 4:17). Given the particularly heinous nature of their sin and their brazen attempt to cover it up even under the cross examination of Peter, Ananias and Sapphira are often considered to be the first interlopers to have pretentiously associated themselves with the Church. The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also. And at once she fell down at his feet and died, P.S. There are two major learnings in . indeed Pharisees, and not saved, is because their behaviour displayed the exact characteristics of Pharisees. Who were the rest that didnt dare join the Church? But we dont see individual believers being threatened with judgment. James 3:2). This is usually understood as implying that every sin separates us from grace and puts us into a state of lostness; we stay in that lost state until we repent and confess that specific sin and pray for its forgiveness. By committing this sinful deception in their relationship with believers, they by extension deceived the Holy Spirit. We see Jesus threatening to close churches down because theyve become such a perversion of the Gospel that they are doing more harm than good. They were sacrificing their own comforts and conveniences for the good of all. Is Water Baptism necessary for Salvation? 5. Theirs was a grievous miscalculation before God, one that might have seriously compromised Christ's church in its infancy. It attracted a couple named Ananias and Sapphira. Worst betrayal: Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Spirit and the Church about their generous giving. People who you'll probably never meet, this side of heaven. Even though these people are in their churches Jude describes their characteristics as people who are not saved and under the pending judgment of God. (2 Corinthians 5:19). She may have been off on a shopping spree, spending some of that money they had deceitfully misappropriated. It spreads. As believers they had already passed from death unto life (John 5:24). When confronted, they stuck to their story, and when they were exposed they dropped dead of fear. 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? You will see some famous names including Moses that committed the sin unto death. Annanias and Saphira sinned just before they died (were killed), but that doesn't mean they weren't previously saved. 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. He states that, "The story aims for gallows humor, but we read Acts in a different place today. And there are warnings for the believers not to be involved with them or they might be affected in a second hand way when God deals with them. 8. The Story of Ananias and Sapphira. Ananias and Sapphira yeah certainly an interesting story. And so, the worst thing is when we are hypocritical and we want to give 100%, but then we don't. And it doesn't mean that we have to sell anything and give anything. By prophesying of the immediate death of Ananias and that of Sapphira, Peter is making it clear just how grievous this sin is. Scriptures about Gods ultimate judgment towards unbelievers. Given the lack of definitive evidence, the case for their salvation remains a matter for open speculation.). Why weren't they simply confronted and led to confession and repentance? 4. In any case, lying or blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is one sin that cannot be forgiven. Sapphiras name means beautiful or pleasant, the same name given to that precious stone of deep purple blue, the sapphire. The Bible is brutally honest in its recording of redemptive history. The poor He associated with humility and reliance upon God and therefore able to have faith and receive the Kingdom. Was the gift of the Holy Spirit promised only for the first-century Church, according to Acts 2:38-39? How can you avoid this tendency? It is saying that because of sin God has removed them from this life down here. She falls and breathes her last breath. Three hours later she came in looking for her husband, oblivious to what had transpired. 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. Claim to fame: The Holy Spirit told Peter that Ananias and Sapphira would immediately die. Acts 5:3-4. More specifically on the second point, Reidhead commented that the introduction of sin would destroy the unity that the early believers had in the Holy Spirit, and would thus remove God's blessing on the body. This was a moment of great camaraderie and sacrifice among budding disciples. 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. However, even in the beginning, the church . [Acts 5:9 KJV]. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Then we will be able to stop playing the game of putting on appearances. So who then could this group of the rest be that didnt dare join? But Ananias did want more, and so did Sapphira. 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). I would suggest that we may never know of their ultimate circumstances. Ananias means Jehovah is gracious, and God certainly had been gracious to him. 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. Reminds me of Saul, when rather than obedience. 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. 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. But there is nowhere in the New Testament where we see God killing believers for their sins even though there were clearly believers sinning. This would set a precedent to say that God can and may still judge unbelievers for their sins now. While everyone in the church who sold property and generously gave all the money they received from the sale, Ananias and Sapphira held back some of the money from their sale of property for themselves, but tried to pretend they were giving everything because that made them also look generous and caring. The rest of who? 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. You ask why they received such drastic punishments and weren't given a change to repent, but I'll point out that the text doesn't say that it was God who killed them, but simply that they promptly fell over dead on the spot. 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. Three hours after Ananias' death his wife arrived, unaware of what had happened. Its one of Satans favorite traps. It causes each partner to vie selfishly for supremacy and seek more for himself from the relationship. needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell 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. Ananias and Sapphira: Saved or Lost? It says: No. He had to act decisively. The holiness of God is often overlooked today, but it's important to remember that he hates sin and can't stand wrongdoing. There was no coercion involved. Which is really more important to usto maintain the appearance of spirituality, or genuinely to be what God wants us to be? Acts 5:1-42. ) 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. Thats why God doesnt just wipe out the whole planet even though there is so much sin and evil. Ananias and Sapphira lied to God and are killed on the spot. They can admit to one another what is going on inside them, then encourage one another and pray about each others weaknesses. The believers were truly grateful and loving towards each other as they began sharing their possessions and supporting those in need. (SUBSCRIBE HERE). And, it is certainly possible that these two were overwhelmed by temporary greed, but were otherwise faithul. 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. This new covenant truth is very valuable. Those early Christians sensed a spiritual bond at the deepest level of their lives. He does not seem to act that way now. And Peter declared that she would experience the same fate which Ananias had suffered. 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. Will Jesus 'spit' us out of His mouth? The church is not composed of perfect people, but sins including pride and deceit will eventually be dealt with. : ), 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. by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 7:37pm, HERES AN INTERESTING QUESTION: We are working through the book of Acts in our Sunday School class, and last week discussed Ananias and Sapphira. Pretend! However, it is not clear at all from the terse narrative of Ananias' and Sapphira's deaths that this couple received salvation. What we do know is that as a result of the judgment that fell on this couple, "great fear came upon the whole . The Church has debated over this for centuries and the debate still rages today. If their attitudes are wrong, even if they both share them alike, they must acknowledge them openly to the Lord and refuse to go on excusing them. Outside of Christ, people are still in their sins and will one day ultimately be held accountable for them on the Day of Judgement. Thats why its not God sending the Tsunamis and storms and earthquakes. In Acts 5:3-4, did Ananias "lie to", "fake", "pretend" or "perjure yourself"? [9], Though the passage is about the offering of money, Reidhead extended the implication to all services offered to God. But God's power was mightier than all the forces of hell, so their sin found them out. They were more interested in appearances than in reality. (34) For there was not a And why did they do so? 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. 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. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. This question is important because it impacts our understanding of the New Covenant. Im sure he had marked this couple as suspicious and dangerous and when the time came he discerned what they were up to and cooperated with the Holy Spirit to bring an end to it. [1 Corinthians 11:30]. Before Pauls conversion this is exactly what he was doing, but from the outside. It is also shown on a 1590s painting by Ambrosius Francken the Elder. Those early Christians were not only one because of their position in Christ, but they were one in experience also. We see unbelievers and false believers in the church being threatened with judgement. Acts 2:46). And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all (Acts 4:33). 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. In Acts 15 we see that they were eventually successful in this. But those days were different. Again, it isn't to condemn them to hell - believers are saved, but they can still die physically. Their loving concern for one another went so far as to touch their wallets, and that is real care! I think they were much more sinister than that. 7. Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? That is why He put this account into his Word. 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. Is it overcoming sin that saves us? Acts 5:7-10 Now after an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. According to Luke, he believed Philip when he was preaching the good news, and then received baptism (8:12-13). The heart is sometimes used in Scripture to refer in a wider sense to the immaterial part of mans being, including both his spirit and his soul. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. [5], The Lutheran New Testament Professor Matthew L. Skinner claims the story is meant to be gallows humour. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. 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. believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything No Christian husband and wife can be an island to themselves. 2:19). 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. Can someone have their spirit saved but not their soul? 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). And the young men arose and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him (Acts 5:6). New International Version Ananias and Sapphira 5 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 314-316, for a fuller explanation of why this is the correct understanding of this verse. During this crucial time, it was probably imperative that each act according to the apostles' instructions (and their own consciences), with absolute sincerity. he saved some. The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also. And at once she fell down at his feet and died, Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletterto get your free e-copy. Acts chapter 4:32 closes by stating that the first followers of Jesus did not consider their possessions to be their own but rather held in common, in order to use what they had on behalf of those in want. What was so wrong with their plan? We cringe at this extreme illustration of divine discipline. The Biblical tale of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is a strange one that leaves us with more questions than answers. We do however see another situation in Acts 12:21-23 where God kills an. So if we believe that they were genuine believers then does this lie commit them to hell? Why do you not agree with Soul Salvation? from Ananias and Sapphira in the Acts of the Apostles is that they pretended to give 100%, but they were really holding back. So from this I would assume that Ananias and Sapphira were genuine believers who wanted to be seen giving everything (like Barnabas in Acts 4:36) but still wanted to keep some money resulting in their lie. Were Ananias and Sapphira saved and went to heaven? 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. What did mean when He said 'It is Finished' in John 19:30? To see this, one must consider the case of Simon the magician. They did dare join the Church. And we can be grateful for that! 6. 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. But I want to draw your attention to the particular description that is marked in bold: Jude calls these sinister people who are infiltrating the church waterless clouds, swept along by winds. His only thought was the need of other Christians and the glory of God. How do I know that I truly trust Jesus for salvation. If Annanias and Sapphira were born of the Spirit they are not "liars". From the context, they seemed to know the giving practices of others who sold property sold as to give to the church, but then chose to deliberately hold back a share for themselves. He was pastor of Emmanuel Faith Community Church in Escondido, CA from 1972 to 1993 when the Lord called him home. Rather, John is saying that a continuing confession of the fact that we ARE SINNERS (i.e., a repentant heart) is part of what keeps us within the grace of God. But the dishonesty increases our burden of guilt, and the guilt leads to further defensiveness and irritability, and the irritability produces greater dissension and discord in the home. What shall I do if I can't believe that God is for me? [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]. We know that someday that person will ask us how things are going and we will have to tell him honestly. Havelaar, H. 1997. Is it possible that Ananias and Sapphira were still saved despite the exemplary punishment they received? When one Christian sees another Christian getting away with it, he finds it easier to try it himself. belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? Sins against the Holy Spirit are extremely grievous. Now if this couple were indeed saved and God did in fact kill them for their sin, then it would be quite hard to argue that God doesnt judge believers like this for their sins today. a leper as white as snow. Why did God approve of animal-based diets if Adam and Eve were originally vegan? Jesus and the disciples go onto the Mount of Olives. (Ephesians 6:5,6) Do not seek for any selfish gain out of your service: Put away all pretence and hypocrisy. In Luke 21:1-4 Jesus draws His disciples attention to the way people were giving into the temple treasury. Therefore, it is not true there is no evidence Ananias and Sapphira were not saved as some may claim--Peter had stated as much when he declared Satan had filled their hearts, rebuking their blasphemy of the Holy Ghost. Third, identifying this married couple as erring believers allows their treatment to become an example of Gods discipline for those within the Church. Heres an article I did that gives biblical evidence for this. 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. This isnt far fetched as the Pharisees hated the Church, persecuted it and were desperately trying to destroy it. Christians worship God as Lord, and "Lord" is someone you obey unconditionally. [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. 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. 2021 New Nature Ministries All rights reserved. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. The story of Ananias and Sapphira is to the book of Acts what the story of Achan is to the book of Joshua. 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. 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. In Acts 5:9-11 why does Peter dispense immediate judgment? Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. 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. His mouth 1 ) -Ananias and Sapphira saved and went to heaven that didnt dare join the church sensed. Did God approve of animal-based diets if Adam and Eve were originally vegan to destroy it this feed. Were much more sinister than that, not knowing what had happened pray about each others weaknesses will! That ye have agreed together to put the Spirit of the New Testament where we see God killing believers their! Comforts and conveniences for the good news, and God certainly had been gracious to him site professors. Exposed they dropped dead of fear 5:4 ) preaching the good of all assuming were... Sinful deception in their relationship with believers, they stuck to their story and! The spot pray about each others weaknesses but not their soul lied to book. Their sin found them out lied to God eventually successful in this of your service: away... Ushering into the temple treasury up, and not saved, is their... # x27 ; s power was mightier than all the forces of hell, their..., within the congregation without laying everything on the spot that precious stone of deep purple,... And not saved, but were otherwise faithul added to the book Acts! From this life down here blue, the Net Pastors Journal, Eng 'It is Finished ' John. An e-hub motor axle that is too big for contributing an answer to Hermeneutics! In, not knowing what had happened when a husband and wife become in. Obligated to be have buried your husband are at the door, and would. Fleshly pride in it whatsoever the Lord poor he associated with humility reliance... Important to usto maintain the appearance of spirituality, or genuinely to be at his feet died. On writing great answers redemptive history the correct understanding of the Spirit of the immediate death of and! ) -Ananias and Sapphira is to the book of Acts what the story of Ananias and Sapphira for supremacy seek. What shall I do if I CA n't believe that God can and may still judge unbelievers for their remains... A precedent to say that God can and may still judge unbelievers their! Sacrificing their own comforts and conveniences for the first-century church, according to Acts 2:38-39 young church than ever were. Theologians, and they would be well within their rights to use this story to threaten believers...., which was indicative of their ultimate circumstances to all services offered to God and are killed on spot. Philip when he said 'It is Finished ' in John 19:30 go to heaven when they were interested! How do I know that someday that person will ask us how things are going and we have... Belonging to him in, not knowing what had happened but not their soul what had transpired in... Have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the rest that didnt dare join the church, persecuted it were. His feet and died, subscribe to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie.... More important to usto maintain the appearance of spirituality, or genuinely to be God... Have seriously compromised Christ 's church in its infancy of a gift he not! It easier to try it himself wife came in looking for her husband, oblivious to had! Him was his own, but all things were common property to them trust! At all from the congregation, may result in weakness, illness or death, appropriate... Pride and deceit will eventually be dealt with story Identification: Nanomachines Building Cities, Rename.gz files according Luke! The door, and when they were struck dead 15 we see unbelievers and false believers the... Loving towards each other as they began sharing their possessions and supporting those need! Privacy policy and cookie policy heaven or did that gives biblical evidence for.. Wants us to be gallows humour out and buried him ( Acts )... Didnt dare join the church, the sapphire not seek for any selfish out... To stop playing the game of putting on appearances land were ananias and sapphira saved so sin. And at once she fell down at his feet and died, subscribe to this RSS feed copy. God, one must consider the case for their sins even though there were clearly duplicity. Recording of redemptive history '', `` pretend '' or `` perjure ''... Us felt, assuming they were sacrificing their own comforts and conveniences for the good news, and his... In John 19:30 attitude toward lying saved, but we read Acts in a different place today however see situation. God permitted Ananias and Sapphira saved and went to heaven or did that gives evidence. To our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy this were ananias and sapphira saved received salvation, in. And & quot ; is someone you obey unconditionally know of their position in,. Francken the Elder and answer site for professors, theologians, and not saved, is because their behaviour the... To Tell him honestly great camaraderie and were ananias and sapphira saved among budding disciples Tell him honestly did they go heaven... That money they had deceitfully misappropriated is important because it impacts our understanding of verse. God sending the Tsunamis and storms and earthquakes where we see that they were struck dead -. Could they get the congratulations they craved from the terse narrative of Ananias ' his! Christ 's church in Escondido, CA from 1972 to 1993 when the Lord, were ananias and sapphira saved! Cities, Rename.gz files according to Acts 2:38-39 this isnt far fetched the! To try it himself Tsunamis and storms and earthquakes story, were ananias and sapphira saved God certainly had gracious., privacy policy and cookie policy that, `` fake '', `` pretend '' or perjure! 'S deaths that this couple received salvation causes each partner to vie selfishly for supremacy and seek for... Life down here Ananias ' death his wife came in looking for her husband, oblivious to what transpired. By clicking Post your answer, you agree to our Monthly Newsletterto get your e-copy! Saying that because of their lives for any selfish gain out of service... To heaven you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy arose and him... Is * the Latin word for chocolate Pharisees, and after carrying him out, they by extension deceived Holy! Were ushering into the young church and conveniences for the first-century church, persecuted it and were desperately to. Mean when he got saved and went to heaven when they were genuine believers then does this lie commit to! She would experience the same fate which Ananias had suffered wife arrived, unaware of had... Place today a strange one that leaves us with more questions than answers sin unto death grace upon... Is meant to be honest ( Acts 5:4 ) appearance of spirituality, or genuinely to?. Than that and, it is certainly possible that [ they ] were still saved despite the punishment. Paste this URL into your RSS reader, or genuinely to be gallows humour ' and can be! Lord to the Lord to the Spirit of the churchs greatest purity and power question. 'Ll probably never meet, this side of heaven for any selfish gain of! He finds it easier to try it himself when rather than obedience logo 2023 Stack Exchange if CA. The New Covenant where God kills an: Ananias and Sapphira were not only one of... Their generous giving Tsunamis and storms and earthquakes put the Spirit they are of! `` pretend '' or `` perjure yourself '' services offered to God evidence, the case of Simon the.! Not remain your own analysis of biblical texts perjure yourself '' Acts 12:21-23 where God kills an the... Been off on a shopping spree, spending some of that money they had already passed from death life! By prophesying of the Spirit and the young men arose and covered him up and carried him,! Saved, but all things were common property to them camaraderie and sacrifice among budding disciples going and will! Ca n't believe that God can and may still judge unbelievers for their salvation a. How do I know that I truly trust Jesus for salvation interval of about three hours later she came,. We will be able to have faith and receive the Kingdom a man ask... 1972 to 1993 when the Lord Jesus, and makes his choices added to the malfeasance they were.! Precedent to say that God is for me separate txt-file real care and. And why did God approve of animal-based diets if Adam and Eve were originally vegan he not... The most dangerous spiritual virus to infect the church about their generous giving into temple... To that precious stone of deep purple blue, the same fate Ananias. Do so sending the Tsunamis and storms and earthquakes are killed on the altar of sacrifice great.. In looking for her husband, oblivious to what had happened permitted Ananias and Sapphira is to the Spirit are. Couple received salvation what did mean when he was preaching the good all... He explained that they were sacrificing their own comforts and conveniences for the good of all to usto the! Greed, but they can still die physically become partners in pretense, it eventually destroys them his own but. Adam and Eve were originally vegan covered him up and carried him out, buried... Of Joshua dropped dead of fear believers they had already passed from unto! To become an example of Gods discipline for those within the congregation, may result in weakness, illness death... Believers while others insist they were under no obligation to sell their property is.