The Birth of the Church | Acts 4:32-5:11 The Fearful Example of Barnabas v. Ananias

Acts 4:32-5:11

The good news of the great gospel exchange is that while we all deserve death and eternal separation from God, those in Christ receive forgiveness of sin and eternal life with God instead!

Romans 1:29-32, 6:23, 8:6-9, 13 // Ephesians 2:4-5

“The Lord Christ comes to convinced sinners with His invitation: “Poor creatures! How sad is your condition! What has become of the beauty and glory of the image of God in which you were created? You are now in the deformed image of Satan and even worse, eternal misery lies before you. Yet look up once more; behold Me! I will put Myself in your place. I will bear that burden of guilt and punishment which would sink you to hell for ever. I will be made temporarily a curse for you, that you may have eternal blessedness.” — John Owen

The gospel radically changes all who receive it into people who freely overflow with generosity to others, especially fellow members of God’s redeemed family.

2 Corinthians 8:9, 9:6-8

Sometimes, God allows His coming wrath on unrepentant sinners to be poured out sooner than expected as a fearful reminder to others that faith really is a matter of life and death.

Ref. Leviticus 10:1-7 // Joshua 7:1 // 2 Samuel 6:6-7

The shocking divine execution of Ananias and Saphira is a reminder to us:

– To speak the truth with one another. (Eph. 4:24-25)

– That salvation is by grace through faith, not by works. (Eph. 2:8-10)

– To confess and repent of known sin. (Acts 3:19 // 1 Jn. 1:9 // Prov. 28:13)