....far too often, when they are reproved for a fault, they become defensive and angry. This then often leads to greater sins, until a complete falling away is manifested. God's purpose in dealing so harshly with Ananias and Sapphira was to ensure that His people learned early that a pure church without blemish and without spot was God's desire. Hypocrisy, lying, dishonesty, covetousness, greed, these sins were not to be tolerated among God's people. So much for the contention by some that God's commandments needn't be observed. Here is a salutary lesson indeed that God's commandments were as meaningful and applicable to the New Testament Christian as they were to anyone from the time of Adam.
Ananias and Sapphira acted the part of deceivers. Pretending to make an entire sacrifice to God, they covetously and selfishly kept part of the sale price back to use for themselves. The Holy Spirit revealed the truth to the Apostles, revealed the true nature of these pretenders to the faith, and the immediate judgement of God was to rid the church of this blot upon its purity.
This was sure evidence of the presence of God among the early church, and this act became a terror to hypocrites and evil doers. Such could no longer remain in connection with those who in habit and disposition were constant representatives of Christ; and as persecutions arose shortly thereafter, I can imagine that only those who had forsaken all, only those who had consecrated themselves entirely and surrendered their whole lives to Him for truth's sake endured. Christ's true disciples give 100%.
Matt.16:24 ¶ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Lu 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
In the matter of whether Ananias and Sapphira were Christians, I am inclined toward Jari's view, though loathe to make a conclusive judgement. That they died as non-Christians there can be no doubt. If they were Christian at some stage, if they had accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour, at what stage did they lose their salvation? When they devised their lie together? Or when they acted upon it before witnesses? Mmmmm. Raises a heap more questions doesn't it.
It could be that the scripture, although stating all were filled with the Holy Spirit, didn't immediately state ...except (Ananias and Sapphira)...but left it to a few verses later to describe the nature of that exception.
This is a lesson also for these final days as God prepares His people for His coming. As we appraoch the final crisis, only 100% consecration and surrender will empower us to endure the temptations and persecutions that will no doubt assail the children of God in these last days. Half-heartedness, hypocrisy, lawlessness, disobedience and worldiness will surely place us in jeopardy of missing out on being a vital part of the greatest event in the history of mankind. The soon coming of our Lord and Saviour to take His people home.
