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NASB | Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is [eternally changeless, always] the same yesterday and today and forever. |
Bible Question:
I have a question about Acts 5:1. I'm a relatively new Christian, and I am working my way through the Bible. I found the Old Testament to be somewhat violent...people being killed immediately for sins, stoned to death, falling over dead. I sure am glad for Jesus even more after reading the OT. But, in the NT, in Acts 5:1, Paul is accepting gifts from those who sold their property to give the money away. There is a couple that lied about how much money they got, and they were instantly killed for that. Being new to reading the Bible, please forgive my ignorance, but that seems a little over the top for being post-Jesus. Am I way off base here? I'm just not sure what to think. Seems like they should have been given a chance to repent and ask for forgiveness before being immediately stricken with death. I'm sorry to sound negative, and I love Jesus with all my heart. I just wondered what others' opinions were. Thanks, Dan |
Bible Answer: Hi Dan, Our culture does not respond well to prompt and strong punishment. We are raised in such a way as to be passive and tolerant of sin. But God is the holy God! These two deliberately lied to the Holy Spirit of God! Let me challenge you as a new believer not to judge the Word based on what you think or believe, but rather ask God to open your eyes to see Him as He is. Do you wonder why people are not falling dead this way today? Has God changed? No, I believe it is the same reason we are not seeing the miracles in abundance as in the early church...we as children of God have departed from holiness and God has withdrawn His Presence. Not totally, but enough as to keep us from all falling dead in our unholy treatment of that which is holy. So when you read that these two died instantly for lying to the Holy Spirit, a sense of the need to humble ourselves before God should be our response. Read Exodus about the holiness of the presence of God and how God could only reveal Himself in small portions and behind the vail. |