Acts 5:1-11

 

Acts 5:1-11

 

A few days ago I wrote a paper on John 20:21-23, today as I was reading in Acts 5 I felt that the story of Ananias and Sapphira related to what JESUS told the disciples when He breathed on them His SPIRIT and told them that whoever’s sin they retained or forgave were retained or forgiven.

 

Peter was not acting out of his own understanding or wisdom but was led by HOLY SPIRIT as he retained the sin of lying to HOLY SPIRIT and the Church of Ananias and Sapphira. Neither Ananias nor Sapphira had a chance to repent.

 

Now their sin was not in that they kept back part of the money from the sale of their property but that they said that they gave all of the proceeds to the Church when they had not. Peter made it clear that the property and the proceeds from the sale were theirs to do with as they pleased. Their sin was that they lied about how much they sold it for and secretly kept back part of the money.

 

The sin was not in the money, the sin was in the lie!

 

This sudden and final judgment created fear in all who heard, believers and non-believers alike. And that was the point of that judgment by HOLY SPIRIT; GOD values honesty and integrity and all believers are called to live by them. GOD is Truth and GOD is True.

 

Honesty and integrity in the small things of life will give us a reputation in the Church and in society so when we speak of GOD people will know we are telling the truth.

 

When I was growing up in the 50s and 60s we were told that honesty was the best policy, but I saw many adults who lied and so I learned to lie. After I became a Christian I learned the hard way that honesty was better than lying even though it was not always easy at the beginning of the process.

 

Not lying is the result of living a life of integrity and living a life of integrity can only come from seeking to serve GOD and do His will with our life.* The Bible is full of examples of people who lived their life with integrity and those who did not live their life with integrity, Proverbs is full of teachings on living a life of integrity before men and GOD. This is why it is important for Believers to read, study and meditate on GOD’s Word The Bible!

 

*Some people who are not Christians can live a life of honesty and integrity they (even if they do not know it) are living by the Biblical standard. It should make it easier for them to believe the truth about JESUS.