Unfinished Business

This week we’ll wrap up the Saga

We’ve had Philip arriving and preaching the Gospel in Samaria

Mass conversions and baptisms as a result of the Gospel

The questionable conversion of Simon the magician

Now we tie up the loose ends

It’s far too easy in a narrative like this to fall into the trap of being focusing on the wrong thing

We could have easily made last week, and could again make this week’s message dominantly about Simon

He’s certainly a player, put he’s NOT the main point of the story

Last week’s message was really the universal need and reach of the Gospel and the challenge to follow up with believers

This week, we have to address some things about Simon…but there are bigger fish to fry

That being

The Complexity of the Holy Spirit’s Arrival

First thing to note: Apostolic Authority in this time frame

In this early time frame of the church, things were different than they are now.

Descriptive not prescriptive

We are not told, specifically, why they had been only baptized into the name of Jesus

There is the valid question of the universal indwelling of the Spirit in all believers

Does He not indwell us at the point we trust Christ? Yes, He does: Acts 2 38

Acts 2:38 ESV

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This was spoken in the early days of the formation of the Church—entirely Jewish in nature

Many years into the development of the Church we have...

1 Corinthians 12:13 (ESV)

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

This written in the context of all believers composing the body of Christ

Our account in Acts is before the church had spread, or as it was just beginning to spread, outside the bounds of Jerusalem

This issue will arises again—be aware…when we deal with Peter and Cornelius in chapter 10

So, why didn’t the Samaritans receive the HS when they trusted/were baptized?

It seems to be something of a sign of authenticity—with the Samaritans and with Cornelius, the Spirit only came in presence of the Peter

There may be some linkage to Peter being given the “keys to the kingdom,” but we won’t try to unsnarl that this morning

When the Gospel message was given, received and believed, particularly in the matter of the Samaritans, without this stamp of approval, it could have been plausibly suspected that this mass conversion was just one more component of the Samaritan’s rebellion against the Jews and their history of being in error (which had an element of truth-twisting in it)

One thing we can see is that the presence of the Spirit is a unifying force, making one people—the church—out of a diverse people

Visible Signs of the Spirit?

Simon took notice of the result of the Apostles laying on of hands

What were the visible signs? We don’t know, and scholars have been up in the air on it for centuries

We preached on the gifts when we preached 1 Cor., not going to redo that now

There are some things in which we just trust the text and move on

This would be one of them.

Which brings us to...

The Conundrum of Simon

We started down this road a bit last week, but left it where our text ended, understanding Simon to have been a believer, v.13

“Even Simon believed and was baptized…continued with Philip....”

BUT…was his belief a belief of the heart—a transformational belief—or a belief of the head—a matter of intellectual agreement?

If we follow through with the conversation with Peter, it appears to have been a matter of intellectual agreement (belief) only! We know James 2:19 “Even the demons believe—and shudder!”

If Simon shuddered at all, it was only after Peter called him out

An important piece of the argument is that if the believers had been given the Spirit by the laying on of hands, it appears that Simon was NOT given that gift, therefore, an intellectual believer only, not a true believer

His mind was convinced of the realities of Jesus; but his heart was still still vested in his pattern of personal power and superstition

He requested to buy the power of granting the spirit—more power for HIM

When called out by Peter, there was no regret, no repentance—his request was for Peter to pray for him…and from the text, only for the sake of avoiding punishment

The text, which gives us all the Scripture we have on Simon, leaves us up in the air—kinda-sorta; it was nearly unanimous from the early church, all the way through the Reformation, that his confession of faith was a false confession

By the 5th century, the word “simony” was in use; the Council of Chalcedon forbade the selling of church position, office, or favor—yes, that was named for Simon Magus

The Completion of the Mission

This is the easy part—Peter and John went back to Jerusalem

It would appear from the next piece that Philip went with them…though that’s not critical

What is critical is that didn’t just make a bee-line for home, they preached the Gospel on the way

“…as you are going...” of Matt. 28 19.

What Do We Do with This?

Be sure that our belief is not just intellectual belief—but transformational belief

Story of “Dave Bobison”—preached for years before being saved

Two Scriptures 2 Peter 1 10

2 Peter 1:10 ESV

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

There’s a commercial in there for David’s SS class!!

Philippians 2:12 ESV

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

There is always the concern that some are just “going through the motions” agreeing that Jesus died for them, but NEVER putting that faith into their hearts and LIVING it!

That is the lesson from Simon

We also have the lessons from Heb. 11, the “faith chapter” of those who believed God, and their faith was proven by their works: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Moses and his parents

Common thread through that chapter is they were putting feet to their faith—unlike Simon

Never look to use our faith as a source of personal power

Our faith and all that accompanies it must be directed toward service to Christ our king

There should never be a search for personal gain on account of our faith

Keep on keeping on

The work of the apostles, and the work of Philip did not cease…nor should ours

The methods may change, the venue may change, the work never stops