The Spirit - Justice

Acts 5:1-5 (ESV) ¹ But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, ² and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. ³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? ⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” ⁵ When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

Typically, we all think of the Holy Spirit as our BFF. He is the one who resides in us! He helps us to experience the love of God! He guides us and walks with us and nurtures us further and further towards godly living! How amazing is that?! A popular speaker from a popular church once described the Holy Spirit as kind of like the genie from Aladdin! That He is “blue, unplanned, and He is funny and sneaky…”

That is such a cute and endearing thought isn’t it?! It is funny…but it is blasphemy. I don’t say that to strike up a reaction or to cause division. Look, the church in the West has some serious heart surgery that needs to happen. And it needs to happen badly. We often forget who God is…and forget who we are in comparison.

It is completely true that God, in all three persons loves us. He does! He tells us this repeatedly! Yet, we are not on some even playing field with Him. He still hates sin. HATES it. As He describes it in Scripture with a rage that is compared to a raging fire without end.

Let’s look at the Scripture for today with a humble heart and a sense of reverence of the persons of God. In this scripture we have a man who has withheld a promise he made directly to God Himself. Peter, by the eyes and mind of the Holy Spirit, rebukes Ananias for his deceit. Reminding that he did not sin against man…but against God. Without even a chance to respond, Ananias drops dead on the spot.

That isn’t the warm squishmallowy version of The Holy Spirit that might be presented is it? The attribute of being fully Just, means that like the Father and Son, the Spirit DESPISES sin. The Father decrees the penalty…the Son judges the sin…and the Spirit enforces it in this case. We often read this chapter in Acts and just file it away. This is a huge mistake and one we need to remedy.

God is high upon His throne as He deserves to be. He looks down on us…not the other way around. Yes, He is with us and resides within us and guides us and loves us and cherishes us. These are all true things! Yet, we must NEVER forget what it is that the Son died to forgive us from. We must also NEVER forget the part God has in this exchange.

We must have a reverent fear of God. Not of consequences or punishment…but of the sacred state that God is in, and how we stack up. We commit sin. He judges sin. We are imperfect. He is perfect in totality. It is sobering to remember this truth.

Yet, here is the best part. As He is just to judge and punish sin. He is also just to forgive it and extend infinite mercy. This is not a case of, “let’s live right so we don’t get in trouble!” This is a case of, “praise you God for changing my heart so that I can live differently!” Praise you God!!!

Soli Deo Gloria!!!!