Christian Life Church
September 7, 2025 at 8:30am & 10:30am
We must come to God as He is, not as we wish Him to be.
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Sunday 8:00 AM
THE BOOK OF ACTS SEPTEMBER 7, 2025
REMEMBER WHO YOU’RE DEALING WITH
SCRIPTURE
Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” She said, “Yes, that is the price.” Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” At that moment 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. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. Acts 5:1-11
“THE MODERN HERESY”
We must come to God as He is, not as we wish Him to be.
The isolation of God’s love from His other attributes is “The Modern Heresy”.
GOD AS HE IS
Paradoxes are hard, because they violate our understanding and human categories.
Loves & Hates Just & Merciful Outside & Within
Hidden & Revealed Peace & Wrath Servant & King
Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in His kindness. Romans 11:22
And God passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished.” Exodus 34:6-7
UNDERSTANDING ACTS 5
1/ Ananias and Sapphira’s act was sinful.
Ananias and Sapphira acted in an intentional and premeditated way.
Ananias and Sapphira allowed the enemy an entry.
Ananias and Sapphira lied to the entire church family.
Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit.
Ananias and Sapphira tested the Spirit of the Lord.
Ananias and Sapphira embraced hypocrisy.
2/ God’s act was severe.
God issued immediate judgment.
3/ God’s act was merciful.
God showed mercy by giving an opportunity to come clean.
God showed mercy by protecting the Church.
Reverent fear brings wisdom. This is why most avoid narcotics.
Often, the severity of God is seen when people are entering a new period (Nadab and Abihu, Achan, Ananias and Sapphira).
Greater levels of God require higher levels of accountability.
God showed mercy by saving their souls.
The Lord is righteous in all His ways. Psalm 145:17
Even God’s severity is laced with kindness.
THE LORD IS SEVERE
1/ God is severe with those outside of Christ.
God will judge unrepentant rebels.
“There is no doctrine which I would more willingly remove from Christianity than Hell, if it lay in my power. But it has the full support of Scripture and, especially, of Our Lord’s own words.” C.S. Lewis
2/ God is severe with those in Christ.
God will discipline His children.
If God doesn’t discipline you as He does all of His children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really His children at all. Hebrews 12:8
God will allow consequences to affect His children.
He does not treat us as our sins deserve. Psalm 103:10
THE LORD IS KIND
1/ God is kind to those outside of Christ.
God offers earthly life.
God offers eternal life.
“There is nothing that keeps wicked men…out of hell, but the mere pleasure (and patience) of God.” Jonathan Edwards
2/ God is kind to those in Christ.
God gives us what we do not deserve (grace).
You can’t grasp the grace you’ve been given, until you grasp the judgment you deserve.
God withholds what we do deserve (mercy).
God loves us.
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners (enemies), Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
God adopts us.
God is faithful to us.
If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful. 2 Timothy 2:13
God is patient with us.
God is with us in all places and at all times.
God knows us inside and out.
God gives us peace.
The list of His love and kindness is unending!
“The kindness of God is not a doctrine to be proved. It is a reality to be experienced!”
A.W. Tozer
REMEMBER WHO YOU’RE DEALING WITH
SCRIPTURE
Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” She said, “Yes, that is the price.” Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” At that moment 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. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. Acts 5:1-11
“THE MODERN HERESY”
We must come to God as He is, not as we wish Him to be.
The isolation of God’s love from His other attributes is “The Modern Heresy”.
GOD AS HE IS
Paradoxes are hard, because they violate our understanding and human categories.
Loves & Hates Just & Merciful Outside & Within
Hidden & Revealed Peace & Wrath Servant & King
Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in His kindness. Romans 11:22
And God passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished.” Exodus 34:6-7
UNDERSTANDING ACTS 5
1/ Ananias and Sapphira’s act was sinful.
Ananias and Sapphira acted in an intentional and premeditated way.
Ananias and Sapphira allowed the enemy an entry.
Ananias and Sapphira lied to the entire church family.
Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit.
Ananias and Sapphira tested the Spirit of the Lord.
Ananias and Sapphira embraced hypocrisy.
2/ God’s act was severe.
God issued immediate judgment.
3/ God’s act was merciful.
God showed mercy by giving an opportunity to come clean.
God showed mercy by protecting the Church.
Reverent fear brings wisdom. This is why most avoid narcotics.
Often, the severity of God is seen when people are entering a new period (Nadab and Abihu, Achan, Ananias and Sapphira).
Greater levels of God require higher levels of accountability.
God showed mercy by saving their souls.
The Lord is righteous in all His ways. Psalm 145:17
Even God’s severity is laced with kindness.
THE LORD IS SEVERE
1/ God is severe with those outside of Christ.
God will judge unrepentant rebels.
“There is no doctrine which I would more willingly remove from Christianity than Hell, if it lay in my power. But it has the full support of Scripture and, especially, of Our Lord’s own words.” C.S. Lewis
2/ God is severe with those in Christ.
God will discipline His children.
If God doesn’t discipline you as He does all of His children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really His children at all. Hebrews 12:8
God will allow consequences to affect His children.
He does not treat us as our sins deserve. Psalm 103:10
THE LORD IS KIND
1/ God is kind to those outside of Christ.
God offers earthly life.
God offers eternal life.
“There is nothing that keeps wicked men…out of hell, but the mere pleasure (and patience) of God.” Jonathan Edwards
2/ God is kind to those in Christ.
God gives us what we do not deserve (grace).
You can’t grasp the grace you’ve been given, until you grasp the judgment you deserve.
God withholds what we do deserve (mercy).
God loves us.
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners (enemies), Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
God adopts us.
God is faithful to us.
If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful. 2 Timothy 2:13
God is patient with us.
God is with us in all places and at all times.
God knows us inside and out.
God gives us peace.
The list of His love and kindness is unending!
“The kindness of God is not a doctrine to be proved. It is a reality to be experienced!”
A.W. Tozer