Ananias And Sapphira

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Monday August 17, 2009

Acts 5:3,4
3. Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4. Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."

The reason someone is saved is because they have met the conditions given in the Bible for salvation:
"If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord", and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved." (Romans 10:9)

If Ananias and Sapphira did this, they were saved. The only way they could lose their eternal salvation is the same way anyone else could lose theirs; by denying Christ, no longer filling the requirements of Romans 10:9

They didn't deny Christ.
They also didn't commit the "unforgiveable sin" that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 12:31,32:

Matthew 12:31,32
31. And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

Ananias and Sapphira did NOT speak against the Holy Spirit. This "unforgiveable sin" is described in more detail in Hebrews 10:26-29.

Hebrews 10:26-29 (KJV)
26. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

The "blasphemy of the Holy Spirit" Jesus mentioned in Matthew 12 is talking about rejecting the New Covenant, that Paul mentions in the verses above. Ananias and Sapphira did not reject the New Covenant, the Covenant that saves us.

Acts 5:3,4
3. Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4. Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."

Notice that Peter, although he was very hard on him, did NOT accuse Ananias of blaspheming the Holy Spirit (rejecting the New Covenant); he accused him of LYING TO the Holy Spirit (by lying to a believer, who has the Holy Spirit in him).

Ananias died physically, not spiritually.
Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians how it is better to deliver someone to satan "for the destruction of his FLESH" than to live on in unrepentance, but that the person is still saved even when that is done:

1 Corinthians 5:1-5
1. It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. 2. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
3. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5. To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

There is only one sin that sends people to hell, and that is not believing in Jesus Christ:

John 3:16-18 (NIV)
16. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
18. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already BECAUSE he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

PRAYER
Thank You Father for caring for me. Help me to not get judgemental when looking at other people's situations. Help me to remember that all my anxieties should always be cast on You. Help me understand Your Word so I can know you better and allow you to govern every area of my life.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

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