Lessons From Acts – Lesson 5
Before we get into Acts chapter 5 we need to go over some biblical principles that help to understand what happens in Acts chapter 5.
Last week we watched that object lesson of the reaction of oxygen begin given off by Hydrogen peroxide was constantly going on even if you could not see it.
But when different catalysts were thrown into it the reaction was much larger and quicker.
It was a great object lesson that visually showed how catalysts effect a reaction.
The reaction of God’s judgment upon sin is also constant, even if you can’t see it. He watches all and keeps track of all. The Bible says we will give an answer for every idle word.
Sin is not all the same and thus does not all get the same reaction. O’ it does as far as going to hell or going to heaven. The standard there is a perfect standard. No sin is allowed in Heaven. Even one lie that is not under the blood of Christ is enough to keep you out.
But we are not talking about salvation and going to heaven. We are talking about God’s reaction to sin and the strength of the judgment in this life.
If you throw the sin of getting in the flesh and being rude to someone. The sin of not loving your neighbor as yourself. Or the sin of not being thankful for something. You throw that sin at God’s judgment and you do not get the judgmental reaction of your country being destroyed.
Does God still see it. Of course. Is He keeping track. Yes. But you don’t get the same reaction as if you worship idols in God’s house and build groves and do all kinds of wickedness and throw it in God’s face for 430 years.
Understanding this truth clears up a lot in the Old Testament. I was at a preacher’s house one time having a discussion on something he had wrong and I happened to use both the New Testament and the Old Testament to show that he was off. That is the biblical way. Compare scripture to scripture. It is all one book and all fits together.
His answer kind of shocked me. He said well there is a lot of confusing things in the Old Testament. Here was a man who makes his living preaching a book that he does not understand.
As far as in this life and the judgment that comes in this life for sin, sin is not just sin. All sins are not the same, they bring different consequences. The super strong judgments against sin in the old testament is best understood by looking that the strength of the catalyst of sin that was thrown in God’s face over and over until the point that longsuffering and patience could no longer hold off judgment.
This explains Noah’s flood, Sodom and Gomorra, Pharaoh and the Egyptian army in the Red Sea, the judgment on the Amorites, and the walls of Jericho and the giving of the land to Israel instead of the wicked people that were in the land.
If you understand the principal of the strength of the catalyst of sin on judgment, then nothing about any of that is confusing. It all makes sense and it all lines up perfectly with God’s perfect and perfectly balanced character.
God is love and longsuffering and patient and faithful, and loves to show mercy, but He is also Holy and Just. So He must judge but He does not send destroying judgments without a strong catalyst of sin thrown in His face.
Understanding this brings most of the Old Testament into focus and clear, but not all.
What about the first man to pick up sticks on the Sabbath who received the judgment of being stoned.
There is one more principal involved. This one has to do with two things. The law of first mention and what is the main theme of the entire Bible. What is the overall huge big picture message of the entire Bible?
- In the beginning God. He created all, He has the right to make the rules.
- The wages of sin is death.
- Man is a sinner, he breaks God’s rules and the wages of sin is death.
- God delights in showing mercy. Mercy is great. Mercy is not getting what you deserve.
- Man cannot work off his sin debt it must be paid for him.
- God sent His own Son to the cross to pay our sin debt.
- The wages of sin is death and Jesus died to pay those wages.
- Jesus rose from the dead to show that those wages had been paid.
- Salvation is a free gift to all those who choose to believe and call upon God with a repentant heart.
Salvation has to do with unmerited mercy. But how do you learn to appreciate judgment with mercy? One very strong way is to show without a doubt what would judgment look like without mercy.
Seeing things is a very great teaching tool. Much more powerful than just hearing about it. Add hearing with a strong visual object lesson and that is a very powerful combination.
So all thru the Old Testament the first time a particular sin comes up God shows what would judgment on that look like if there was only judgment and no mercy. God shows this once and then after the picture is shown God does not show that picture again.
Once judgment without mercy is shown forth on a particular sin, then no need to show it again. You have seen what judgment without mercy on that sin would look like. So that should really make you appreciate just how great and wonderful judgment with mercy looks like.
It should make everyone thankful that we have a God who deals in mercy instead of a God that only deals in judgment.
This explains the first man who picked up sticks on the Sabbath. He became the object lesson of what judgment on that sin would look like without mercy. And you never see God deal that way again. After the revival in Nehemiah’s day the people were picking up sticks so to speak on the Sabbath and Nehemiah could not get them to stop and none of them were dealt with the same way as the first guy.
The first time is judgment without mercy to show what that sin deserves under cold hard justice. And after that picture has been shown it is not shown again.
Let’s look at a New Testament example.
The law of first mention applies to Acts chapter 5.
The church is New. Never been a New Testament church before. The Holy Spirit is indwelling believers permanently for the first time. This is a first mention situation. And this is the first time that Holy Spirit indwelt believers lie to the Holy Spirit.
What would judgment without mercy look like upon a sin like that? We see that here.
Acts 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
Acts 5:2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
The verses before this a man sold some property and brought all the money and he received notice and thanks for it. So Ananias and his wife saw that and wanted the notice and thanks for it, but they did not want to give it with a cheerful heart.
They wanted everyone to think they gave it all like the other guy, but they did not want to give it all. So they lie about it. They say that they gave it all but kept some.
Acts 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Here the sin is exposed. The sin is actually lying to the Holy Ghost. They were free to give any part they wanted that is made clear in verse 4. Keeping some was not sin. Lying was the sin.
Acts 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
Acts 5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
Acts 5:6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
Acts 5:7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
Acts 5:8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
Acts 5:9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
Acts 5:10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
Acts 5:11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
They saw what the sin of lying to God deserves and they saw what would happen if God only dealt in cold hard justice without mercy. Picture shown.
You never see God showing that picture ever again. Do you have any idea how many people, saved born again people, have lied to God about something.
Good thing that God only shows the picture once and then deals with mercy afterwards. Because if He did not Christians would be dropping dead all over the place.
I have actually heard a preacher preach that if you don’t smash your music CD’s that God might strike you dead like Ananias. Totally not true. He went on and talked about God is the same yesterday today and forever and about how you are no better than Ananias.
He obviously did not understand the law of first mention and was abusing the pulpit and misusing the Word of God. You cannot apply an object lesson of the law of first mention type of what judgment would look like without mercy and apply that to when God is now dealing with that sin under His laws of judgment with mercy.
These first mention object lessons scare some people, but it is important to look at the example of how New Testament believers should handle them.
Acts 5:12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
Acts 5:13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
Acts 5:14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
Acts 5:15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
Acts 5:16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
How did they handle it? They took note of it but did not stop the work. They kept on serving the lord and helping people and kept on worshipping Him.
When we read a law of first mention type of judgment, we should
- Be thankful for how God shows it but afterward deals in mercy.
- Keep praising God and serving Him. His mercy is great and He is worthy.
We should never judge God. Ananias and his wife lied to God and God did a law of first mention type of judgment showing what judgment without mercy would look like on church members lying to God.
And the reaction of that church was to not pass judgment on God. Instead they just kept working and serving and praising God. That is a good example for us. Why? There will always be things in this life that come our way that we simply cannot understand.
And we cannot always understand God’s ways, or His timing. Someone was once saying if I was God then I would do this or would not do that, and the truth is nope. God is perfect and all-knowing and if you were God and had all of His knowledge and understanding then would not do anything different.