The Sins of the Early Church

Christopher Lee

Acts • Sermon • Submitted 2 months ago • Presented 2 months ago

Acts 5:1–11

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Background

Annias and Sapphire two names most in the Church know and perhaps not for reasons of honor. These two individuals were brought to death by the Lord, because of their deception and lies to the church.

It here we witness the doctrine of Church discipline and the rightful use of church discipline. We have in our previous sermon discussed that which is healthy in a church, today we must examine that which is not healthy within the church.

We will be dealing with matters of giving, of spiritual pride, and church discipline. These things matter to Christ. The church is the bride of Christ, and Christ calls the each member to a life of holiness.

It is not a life of holiness to salvation, but rather out of ones salvation comes a life of holiness and purity. Christ has freed us from the Dominion of sin, but yet still in the flesh we wrestle against God. The question is will tap out to sin or submit to God.

Today’s reading of the early church we see two members of the church who rather than submitting to God, chose to tap out to sin.

What exactly was their sin? First their sin was not holding back a profit for themselves, their sin was lying about it to the Church which represents Christ.

It does pose two questions:

Were Annias and Sapphire true believers? There is more indication from scripture that were believers. They were counted among the church who believed.

Why death if forgiven in Christ? This is perhaps the challenge of this scripture and to the point we must understand. Christians are not called to go unto sinning, sin still has the consequences of death. Now is sin forgiven and are the two members with Christ today? There is no reason to believe they are not.

The point of this teaching is that Christians can fall into sin, must stand against sin, and God cares greatly about church discipline.

What lessons does Annias and Sapphire teach us?

Generosity for the glory of God, not Self

Barnabas gave his possessions unto church. His giving was not for selfish gain of look at how spiritual I am. He was not like the Pharisees who take the coin to drop it in with such showmanship as to draw attention to their position in life.

Barnabas while he had more than a widows mite, has her spirit of giving. I will give unto the Lord for His glory and purposes within the church. He gives and makes no showmanship of it.

It was not commanded that the others follow suit, Annias and Sapphire did not have to sell their land? Did not have to give all the proceeds. The trouble was they lied about what they had given.

John Mac’Arthur points us they gave and hid as to double dip. One for their own gain while looking like spirtual warriors of the fatih. They desired the showmanship and honor that would come their way.

How does a Christian give like Barnabas

Giving, tithing, it is part of the Christian life. It is one way we worship the Lord and has been of God’s people. Offerings are worship to God.

Barnabas was worshiping God, Ananias ans Saphhrie were worshiping self. How does one become like Barnabas in the giving of tithes and gifts unto the Lord?

A. Is to a rightful doctrine of tithes and givings that produce a heart of generosity. You will not find me placing the tithing place during our worship service. We have a spot for it and your tithing are between you and God.

There will not be a place of showmanship at this church or entitlement for whoever is able to give more than someone-else.

When you see your giving unto the church as your worship to God rather than obligation, law, or selfish pride you have the heart of Barnabas.

Having grown up in the church, I recall without knowing the exact amount of money each person was giving. You had two people the ones who complain and give nothing, and the ones who give a lot but lack the heart of Barnabas.

Both seem to find their way in leadership roles in the church and end up hurting the body of Christ in some fashion. Because they complain because the gaze is on Christ and their selves.

It is good Annaias and Saphhire by the mercy of God were killed. Their death preserved the rightful heart of generosity that was the church of Acts.

If they were permitted to remain in the church, their influence could have taken the church’s eyes from Christ and upon themselves as the family who gives, rules the church. This is not how God has His church.

Warning to those of the Annias Spirit

Let me give this fair warning my duty as the shepherd of you Gods sheep is ensure that we do not have the spirit of Annias here.

There is no place for the prideful giver and their is no place for this is my church mentality. This is Christ Church and we are in one accord with our worship through giving, prayer, and mission.

Lying to the Spirit: Kill Sin

Annias and Sapphire lied to the Sprit of God and this was the cause of their death. They chose sin over holiness. For them their sin was spiritual pride and deception.

You maybe sitting here today on the threshold of lying to the Spirit of God or taping out to a carnal Christian life, which is no saving faith. Carnal Christianity does not belong in the Church, it does not belong in your life.

Christ calls us to pursue holiness and this is the calling of the church. Annias and Sapphire fell to sin’s temptation, they fell right into the devil’s trap.

What could have prevented this beside the obvious of tell the truth. They needed to walk with Christ and see their selves as children of God.

Somewhere along the road of their Christian life, they began to get choked out by the weeds. Did the seed fall on good soil? I am never one to assume salvation. John MacArthur is under the impression they were saved and there is not indication they were not.

However let me warn you the seed that gets the chocked by the world has never been of Christ, has not known salvation. Christ death and Resurrection freed us from the dominion of sin.

Does this mean you won’t sin? No, you will wrestle with sin until the day you are with the Lord. Could Annias and Sapphire just had a slip up? God had their death and perhaps that was the mercy of God before the fell into deeper sin.

The warning in this passage is clear; be killing sin or it will be killing you.

This is where Annias and Sapphire overlooked their own wrestle with the flesh.

How do you kill sin?

First: Submission to Christ and not to self. Samuel Rutherford prayed Lord everyday submit my will to yours and let mine die. Are you submitting your will to Christ or just partially?

Second: Prayer, wrestle with the Lord in prayer. You can not fight sin without Christ intervention.

Third: Active obedience to His word. Meaning you must be in the word of God

Fourth: Submission to the body of Christ. Be open with the body of your sins so that the church may gather around you to pray, battle with you, and call you out.

Last week I called a council of brothers for my ordination within the SBC to either deny, challenge, or call me to ministry. I could have selected yes men, but I did not. One of the men on the board is my Pastor, mentor, and friend. I’ve known Pastor Charles before covid, he trained me as a church planter, he is not afraid to call me out on my sin.

Do you you have a Charles in your life? This comes from the church. While it is healthy for your Pastor to speak into your life, you also need a true friend who won’t let you keep on sinning.

The list of things can go on for days, but prayer, word, and submission into the local church is vital in fighting sin.

Church Discipline

As we see God carried out discipline with his church, by killing Annias and Sapphire. Peter offered the opportunity to come clean, both refused.

They chose their sin. If they were permitted to stay within the church, the purity of the church would have been compromised and perhaps lead to a cancer that would harm the body.

Church discipline is proper and should be practiced in every church. It is the duty of the elders to put this into practice as shepherds of the church.

Why Church Discipline

First: To save sinners from their sin and call them to repentance. I do not favor the view that everyone who made a profession of faith is saved. Profession leads to fruit. Jesus is clear in Revelation 3 the Luke warm he spits out. There is not such thing as carnal Christianity, that is a false gospel. Please understand I am not saying you are saved by works, you are saved by Christ alone. However saving faith does produce holy seed and you shall know them by their fruit.

Second: To restore the fallen Christian from furthering into a life of sin. There are times in each Christian life that a Christian may lean back into the life of flesh. A good shepherd will call the Christian to repent and restore them to a healthy Christian walk.

Just I am open with my sin to my Pastor *yes Pastors, have Pastors or they should* you need to be open. Not all sin will lead to coming before the council of elders and being thrown out. There is proper procedure which will discuss.

Third: For the glory of God and the purity of the church which on the day of glory shall be presented to Christ at the grand wedding. Are you in proper garment? Don’t come to the wedding in your fifth. The atonement of Christ has released you from the dominion of sin.

Notes of Church Discipline

The brother/Sister is approached with their sin from one Christian to the next. Hopefully it is a quick repentance and we move on.

If the member will not listen, two elders shall brought in to confront the Christian.

If there is still no repentance, the member is brought fourth before the church as unrepentant and removed from church membership, the Lord’s supper and shall be treated as an unbeliever.

The goal of church discipline is not shame and guilt, it is to restore the member to a life of holiness which is the calling of a Christian.

Application

Examine your giving and tithes. If it is for spiritual pride your not worshiping Christ, your worshiping your self.

Pursue a life of holiness as a Christian. This is your calling to become more and more like Christ each day.

Church discipline has a place in the church. I have used church discipline and it is never easy to see a sinner not repent. Church discipline is for the purity of the church, and the glory of Christ.

Conclusion

While this account of scripture is not an easy one to submit to, it is a passage that teaches great lessons for the church today. While the mercy of God is permitting the blasphemy of His name in many churches today such as those found in the Church of Rome, Pentecostal churches. There is a day of judgement where any man blaspheming God with an unrepentant heart will be cast into the lake of fire and those who blaspheme against the Spirit of God has commited the unpardonable sin.

Christ cares deeply for His church, the purity of her, and His name shall not be cursed or used with such vain speech.

You can repent

Perhaps it is today, you have been convicted of your sin or maybe you realize that you have never been born again. Do not leave today without repenting and coming to Christ.

The offer of salvation is had in Christ and Christ alone. From the salvation given to you, you are saved, your being saved, and will be saved.