Acts 5: 1-4

(Acts 5: 1-4)

『But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.  But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?  Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.』

 

In Acts 2-4, it was said that because the Holy Spirit came, no one considered their property to be their own. Salvation today is often regarded as a personal matter. The kingdom of God is accomplished with the saints in the Holy Spirit. Therefore, there must be communication between the saints. The appearance at the time of the book of Acts is the perfect communion between the saints in the Holy Spirit. It is changed in the Holy Spirit. At that time, the saints sold their property and put it under the apostles' feet to sell and share with others. This can be said to be Agape's love.

Ananias said he sold his own land, but concealed some. Why do you hide it because it's your own? It seems that he gave an implicit consent to give up all his possessions in an urgent situation that was persecuted at the time. Complete obedience is impossible without repentance. Through Ananias, it makes us realize that “self” is “the existence of disobedience” to God's Word. Repentance is self-denial. So, if you repent, you will be born again. And the regenerated people meet in the name of saints and become one with God in Jesus. This is the appearance of those who are not born of the flesh, but of the Holy Spirit.

Ananias was a believer, but Peter said, "Satan is full." Ananias thought she believed in Jesus, but she was the master. This is the image of the unsaved. Even though they say they believe in Jesus, they cannot be saved. The master must be Jesus. Only when you come into the cross of Jesus, the master becomes Jesus. In order to enter the cross, you must deny yourself. Only those who realize that "self" is the source of evil can repent. The Bible says, "Don't miss your chance to repent." It is a contradiction to think that I can repent at any time I want. Repentance leads to the revelation of Christ. Because the revelation of Christ is the death of the cross. Christ's revelation is given to those who repent.

Ananias believed in Jesus, but Ananias did not have Jesus. Satan was full. Even in today's church, among the many people who say "believe in Jesus," there may be "those who are full of Satan," whose masters are. It is not my faith, but Jesus' faith is given to the repentant through the revelation of Christ to be saved. It is not my faith that I must come into the 『Jesus' faith』. Repentance is giving all of me to God. To do this, there is no way other than self-denial.

On the cross, Jesus gave all of himself, but those who say they believe only receive it because he is the master. Jesus said, "A man full of Satan," whose master is "your father is the devil." In many churches, if you say “God is the Father”, but God says, “Your father is the devil,” how would you feel?

There is no middle ground. They are children of light or of darkness. It's been several decades since I've been in church, and if I think about 99% of Christians, it means "a child of darkness like Ananias." Peter tells Ananias that in "You couldn't do it at your own discretion after the plate," in Greek, "in your authority" (expressed in English). Is it Jesus or Satan? If the power came from Jesus in everyone's heart, it would be “the one who does the will of God”. Otherwise, they say they believe in God with their mouths, but they are "those who are under the power of Satan."

Those who repent, my life becomes the Lord's. And all of me becomes the Lord's. Those who do not are said to be the Pharisee's ritual of shame. Salvation is repentance and being born again with water and the Holy Spirit. Repentance is a change of owners. It is salvation to realize the God who made me and to live according to God's will. God's will said, "Love your God with all your heart, with all your life, with all your will, and love your neighbor." Love is to participate in saving the spirit from evil. Brotherly love was spoken in 1 Peter 1:22, Romans 12:10, and 1 John 4:19. If anyone says that he loves God but hates his brother, he is a liar.

Most of the words in the Bible refer to wealth. Simon, the magician, did not tell Simon because of his magic, but because he saw the Holy Spirit come upon him when he laid his hands on his hands, and he tried to pay money to buy power. Peter said to Simon, "You are full of evil." However, he said, "Repent and pray to the Lord, or he will forgive what you have in your heart." If you do not repent, believing in Jesus is also believing in your own way. Thinking and believing at your own convenience. Salvation is also regarded as being accomplished according to one's thoughts. Faith without repentance cannot be saved. The devil is the master of those who believe without repentance. Because repentance is a way of self-denial.