What can we learn about God's holiness from Acts 5:10? The Immediate Setting Acts 5:10 — “At that instant she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.” What Happens Here • Sapphira’s death is immediate, public, and unmistakably linked to her deception. • The verse completes a pair of judgments (Ananias in v. 5, Sapphira in v. 10) that bookend the same offense—lying to God (v. 4). Key Insights About God’s Holiness • God’s holiness is uncompromising. – The sin seems “minor” (a private financial lie), yet God treats it with the same gravity as overt immorality or idolatry. – Leviticus 10:3 reminds us, “Among those who approach Me, I will show Myself holy.” • Holiness means God cannot be partnered with deceit. – Psalm 101:7: “No one who practices deceit shall dwell in My house.” – The Spirit’s presence in the church demands purity; lying to the apostles is tantamount to lying to God Himself (Acts 5:3–4). • Holiness includes righteous judgment now, not just later. – 1 Corinthians 11:30–32 shows that God sometimes disciplines believers in the present “so that we will not be condemned with the world.” – Hebrews 12:29: “Our God is a consuming fire.” His holiness cannot be deferred indefinitely. • Holiness protects the fledgling church. – By removing hidden corruption early, God safeguards the gospel’s credibility (see Joshua 7 for a similar pattern). – Acts 5:11 records the result: “Great fear seized the whole church.” Awe and reverence are appropriate responses to a holy God. Practical Takeaways • Take every sin seriously—especially sins of the heart and tongue that others might never notice. • Guard honesty in worship, giving, and community life; God examines motives, not just actions. • Cultivate reverent fear alongside love; both belong in a healthy relationship with a holy God (Psalm 2:11). • Invite continual self-examination (2 Corinthians 13:5) so that hidden sin is confessed rather than exposed through discipline. Supporting Passages for Further Reflection • Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:16 — “Be holy, for I am holy.” • Isaiah 6:3 — “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts.” • Hebrews 12:14 — “Without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Acts 5:10 stands as a sober reminder that God’s holiness is living, active, and deeply concerned with the purity of His people. |
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