The Holy Spirit, given to believers at the moment of salvation, is the source, the cause, of unity within the church. This unity is worked out in community by the love and care given to each other. This was evident within the first church. But, where there is truth, there often follows deceit. Where there is genuineness, there often follows hypocrisy. The early church was not immune to the impact of sin. Ananias and Sapphria are deceived by Satan and lie to the Holy Spirit. God’s judgment was swift, and its impact on the church was to bring “great fear upon them all.”

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