In the New Testament, isn't God merciful and grants a new beginning? They were both baptized Christians. But the direct death seems like a punishment of God from the Old Testament...Or was it not God's punishment but the work of the devil alone, as Peter implies?
God does not change from the OT to the NT. Just the covenant has changed.
1 Corinthians 10:1-12 (WEB) Now
I would not have you ignorant, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. 5
However with most of them, God was not well pleased, for
they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were
our examples, to the intent
we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7
Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” [Exodus 32:6] 8
Let us not commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell. 9
Let us not test Christ, as some of them tested, and perished by the serpents. 10
Do not grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer. 11
Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12
Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he does not fall.
God is merciful, and God did grant Ananias and Sapphira a new beginning, indwelling these believers with His Holy Spirit to guide them.
However, they rejected that new beginning to hold onto personal gain, and then lying about it to others to hide their selfishness, relying on their riches, rather than on God. But nothing is hidden from the Spirit of God.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 (WEB) 17 Charge those
who are rich in this present world that they not be arrogant, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy; 18 that they
do good, that they be
rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute,
willing to share; 19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come,
that they may lay hold of eternal life
God was showing that, even if he doesn't kill you on the spot for similar selfishness, he is still very serious about deliberate sin, and will certainly judge His people with harsher judgment than non-believers, because the believer has experienced God's grace, and His Spirit living in them, and then they rejected it for selfish gain.
Hebrews 10:24-31 (WEB)
24
Let us consider how to provoke one another to
love and
good works, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but
exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 26
For if we sin willfully after
we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain
fearful expectation of judgment, and a
fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries. 28 A man who disregards Moses’ law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses. 29
How much worse punishment do you think he will be judged worthy of who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant
with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has
insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance belongs to me.
I will repay,” says the Lord. [
Deuteronomy 32:35] Again, “The Lord will judge
HIS people.” [
Deuteronomy 32:36;
Psalms 135:14] 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 12:25 (WEB) 25 See that
you don’t refuse him who speaks. For if they didn’t escape when they refused him who warned on the earth,
how much more will
we not escape who
turn away from him who warns from heaven
Luke 21:34-36 (WEB) 34 “
So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly. 35 For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth. 36 Therefore
be watchful all the time, praying that you may be
counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and
to stand before the Son of Man.”
Galatians 5:24-25 (WEB) 24 Those
who belong to Christ have
crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. 25
If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (WEB) 3
For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that
you abstain from sexual immorality, 4 that
each one of you know how to
control his own body in sanctification and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don’t know God, 6 that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because
the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also
we forewarned you and testified. 7 For
God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. 8 Therefore
he who rejects this doesn’t reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you.
Hebrews 4:11 (WEB) 11
Let us therefore
give diligence to enter into that Rest,
lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.
1 Peter 1:13-19 (WEB) 13 Therefore
prepare your minds for action.
Be sober, and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ— 14
as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance, 15 but
just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior; 16 because it is written, “
You shall be holy; for I am holy.” [Leviticus 11:44-45] 17
If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear, 18 knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold,
from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish or spot, the blood of Christ
2 Peter 1:8-11 (WEB) 8 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to not be idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For
he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters,
be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For
if you do these things, you will never stumble. 11 For
thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
