Current devotion finds this blogger in Acts 5. The church was in it's infancy and while some may regard the "rules" harsh, it was in the interest of keeping the "bride of Christ," (Eph 5.25-27) clean and unspotted from the world." (Jms 1.27)
In the account of Ananias and Sapphria, a man and wife who apparently had a bit of wealth, we find such a condemnation. Acts 5 opens with "a certain man...with...his wife, sold a possession." However, they "kept back of the price....and brought the rest" to the apostles. Apart from a power unction from the Holy Ghost, it's not clear how Peter knew this man had not given all he said he had sold the "possession" for.
Knowing this, the Apostle rebuked the man for holding back. He censured the man's decision explaining "it was all yours to give and you told us how much you had to give." (5.4) So, "why did you hold back? You not only lied to us but worse, you lied to God. The problem was not that the man had the possession but that the possession had the man.
For a believer, this is a dangerous, spiritual place to be in the economy of God. The lesson seems harsh and unyielding but the point is made. A believer brings reproach on the Lord when he or she does not live upright and honest. Acts 5.4 states, "thou hast not lied unto men, but.unto.God." "The wages of sin is death." (Rom 6.23) We understand that lying was a sin but why should the deception cost the man and his wife their lives?
"Christ died for us 'while.we.were.yet.sinners.'" (Rom 5.6-11) Many scriptures note the Lord's death and sacrifice for His people and their sins. We will not labor those here except to point out what a price was paid for "the bride of Christ." (Eph 5.27) The goal was to present a "spotless bride, unspotted from the world," to the Bridegroom. Whilst we understand we can are not perfect we are to "strive" to be so. (Lk 13.24)
In truth, any deception, half-truth or misleading conduct mars the purity of things of God. Thus, the example of death to this couple because of their deception was a warning to anyone who would choose this path for their lives as believers. Much could also be said regarding further teaching about sanctification, justification and consecration for believers but suffice it to say this account is warning enough to those who would heed its message.
