Judgment on Church
Does God judge His Church under the New Covenant?
Many of us tend to think that God does not judge those who are redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. True, they are not condemned to hell. Many quote Romans 8:1 and say that there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. But they do not quote the remaining part of this verse which says, "Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" God judges His people if they harden their hearts without repentance. The best and first example under the New Covenant is the judgment of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11. Both of them were disciples of the Lord, redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb and filled with His Spirit. They also decided to sacrifice their land because of their love toward the Church. They committed two abominable acts which invited the wrath of God.
First, they withheld a part of the price of the property sold by them, because they were privy to it. Second, they lied unto God (Vs.4). They allowed the Satan to fill their hearts to commit both these abominations. Apostle Peter did not give them an opportunity to repent and restore the money to the Church. When Peter questioned him, hearing his harsh words, Ananias fell down and gave up the ghost. Sapphira even confessed to Peter revealing the exact amount of the price of the land. She thus did not choose to lie to Peter in this regard. Peter told her that she also agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord. She also fell down and died.
A beloved couple who loved the Lord was judged because they did not love the Church, His Body, with all their heart. They agreed to sell their land. But they kept a price of it for their future. Both of them agreed to deceive the Church by withholding a part of the price. Their agreement to deceive the apostles, the Church, was tantamount to lying to the Holy Spirit.
No doubt, both Ananias and Sapphira died when God judged them. But they were not condemned to hell. Though their flesh was judged, their souls were saved. God does judge and punish us in our flesh if we are not faithful to the Church, the Body of Christ.
Let us note that Ananias who lied to the Holy Spirit fell down and gave up the ghost on hearing the words of judgment from Peter. This shows his righteousness. He was convicted of his sin and repented. But he died due to the judgment of the righteous God. His wife also followed the footsteps of her husband in the death.
We are not faithful to the Church, the Body of Christ because we allow the Satan to fill our hearts to tempt the Lord.
- Job Anbalagan