The Dangers of Hypocrisy, pt. 2
Acts 5:1-11
1. The problem in the church
If satan cannot conquer the church he’ll try to corrupt it, if not from w/out, then from w/in.
Reminds us of story in Joshua where children of Israel suffered defeat in the little village of Ai…36 men lost their lives/Joshua got on his knees and asked God why/God said these words: there’s sin in the camp!
This was open, flagrant, pre-meditated sin…we all struggle and mess up and sin at times, but when we choose to LIVE there it’s different.
Ill—phone call at 3 am—I was up!
All lying is wrong…but this was clearly different!
Prov.—“he that being often reproved and hardeneth…”
2. The purging of the sin
The source of the sin was satan who planted the thought
The seriousness of the sin was it was lying to God!
…now:
3. The Punishment of Ananias and Sapphira
a. Severe
They died! Saved by grace doesn’t mean you have a license to sin. God judges believers…be sure your sin will find you out. God will not be mocked! We ALL reap what we sow!
Every believer undergoes 3 judgments…
As a sinner, as a servant, as a son
If you’ve been saved, your judgment as a sinner is in the past/as a servant will be in the future, but you are judged as a son right now!
In the past--As a sinner-judged on the cross, you died w/ Christ, God’s wrath toward your sin was poured out on Christ.
Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Sin was fully judged there.
Ill.—prairie fire, stand in burnt patch.
The foot of the cross is the place to stand when judgment comes!
In the future—judged as a servant, during trib. on earth, judgment seat of Christ happens in heaven [not great white throne]…a 1 on 1 personal interview w/ Christ…you’ll be judged not as a sinner, but as a servant, how faithful have you been, what were your motives for service, etc. A time of rewards…if not, then why did Jesus tell us to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven?
Read I Cor. 3—wood, hay, stubble will burn up/gold, silver, precious stones are rewarded!
In the present—you are being judged as a son…right now you are being judged.
Heb. 12:6-11 [turn]
Not positional righteousness in v. 11, but practical.
Ananias and Sapphira were saved. And they were being judged as “sons.” They died because they crossed a line w/ God.
This is not pleasant, and I have not looked fwd. to this…but God sometimes takes a believer home early because of sin.
I Cor. 11—people abusing Lord’s Supper.
1 Cor. 11:29
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation [lit. judgment] to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
1 Cor. 11:30-32
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. [31] For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. [32] But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
That’s one example.
1 Cor. 5:1-5
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. [2] And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. [3] For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, [4] In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, [5] To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
The word destruction does not always mean annihilation, but I’ve sure seen it happen a few times following a nasty church discipline!
1 John 5:16
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death [implies what?], he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
Written to Christians.
You say, you’re trying to scare me! [maybe, no worse than a cancer doctor who says, stop smoking or these spots that I see now will turn to cancer!]
Not only a severe judgment, but…
B. A Saving Judgment
1. for them
This judgment was for the purpose of saving them from further sin. He wasn’t getting even w/ them, God does not take “vengeance” upon His own. He was saving them from further sin.
Ill.—suppose you have a 3 year old, you look out window and they are playing in the street…you warn Johnny to stay in yard/ 5 minutes later he’s back, you spank him this time, and give one more chance, watch carefully…he starts to head that way again, so you bring him on in, to save him!
‘what kind of punishment is that, going to heaven?’
I don’t wanna get benched early, I wanna stay in the game! Johnny lost his privileges, and so may we!
It was a saving judgment for them…
2. a saving judgment for the church
acts 5:11—God did this as an example…He didn’t continue to kill everyone who lied in church, necessarily, but He sure showed how He felt about sin in the church!
God often sets examples for first time offenses.
[Sodom and Gomorrah—
Jude 1:7
Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
There’s God’s 1st statement about homosexuality…yet San Francisco/Amsterdam seem to be ok!
Children of Israel—I Cor. 10—a whole generation wiped out as an example.
The Bible teaches that punishment is a deterrent.
Saved them, saved the church…
3. a judgment to save souls
v. 14 purity brings power!
4 conclusions:
1. sin in the life of a believer is more serious than sin in the life of an unbeliever…for you are bought w/ a price, you are His child, His ambassador.
2. Be very careful not to lie to God.
3. Guard against hypocrisy in your own life…the same at home as at church, in the closet as on the stage! [your walk talks, and your talk talks, but your walk talks louder than your talk talks!]
4. don’t let some hypocrite keep you out of church, follow God, not man!
There’s 1 person in this church that will never disappoint you…and it’s not me!
