True/False Conversion
Notes
Transcript
Some People are Changed by The Powerful Message of the Gospel.
Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.
The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.
For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.
So there was much rejoicing in that city.
Philip - One of the Seven
Samaria - Mixed race people. Jew/Gentile. Hated by true Jews and True Gentiles
Scattered by Persecution...still ministering.
The Powerful Message of the Gospel Changed Philip. It changed Peter, It changed John. It changed Matthew, It changed James. These ordinary men became changed disiples of God. These men were never the same after encountering Jesus.
They go from fishermen to evangelists. Tax Collectors to preachers. Ordinary people to extraordinary ministers of the gospel.
Philip Proclaims Christ (He preaches This Powerful Message of the Gospel)
Crowds with one accord gave attention. They listened
Unclean spirits were coming out (Exercisms)
Paralyzed and Lame were healed (Signs and Wonders)
MUCH Rejoicing in the city.
Remember: Some People are Changed by The Powerful Message of the Gospel.
Some People are Curious about the Powerful Message of the Gospel
Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great;
and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God.”
And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts.
But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.
Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.
Simon the Magician, Simon the Scorceror, Simon Magus
Well known in the City
Claimed to be great.
Would Astonish people with his craft.
Known as “The Great Power of God”
Had been practicing his craft for a long time.
This unbeliever, practiced witchcraft and magic. Deceiving people, making them think that he had the Power of God. This man becomes curious about the TRUE GREAT POWER OF THE GOSPEL.
v12, the people of the city began to believe and follow the disciples. They got baptized.
Even SIMON gets baptized. So here we have people who are curious about the Great Power of teh Gospel...RESPONDING to the Gospel.
We already know that this gospel changes people. Radically changes people.
Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John,
who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.
Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
So now...the word spreads and the Disciples come to help. Peter and John show up.
This next passage is somewhat controversial (or at least sometimes misinterpreted)
The question is, why did the Holy Spirit not fall on the Samaritans at once?
Some people say that since the Spirit didn’t come, that we must seek a seperate experience (Speaking in tongues) you can be saved, but devoid ot the Holy Spirit
Some people say that these believers had “Some” of the spirit, but was missing the gifts.
Some people say that the Samartians fatih was defective.
Here’s a better option...
“The Spirit was withheld until the apostles could verify the gospel work.” Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Acts (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 117.
Think about the context of this situation. The gospel is fairly young. This is all new. The Samaritans were the first group other than the Jews to receive the gospel since the Holy Spirit came. It makes sense that the disciples needed to verify this work. So the Divine Withholding of the Spirit here, was a protection Mechanism. They wanted to ensure that this was indeed real. It gave a public validity that the disicples were present for this.
But once the Disicples started laying on of hands, Here comes the trouble,
Simon sees this as an opportunity. Here’s some money...I want that authority.
Here’s a lesson...THE GOSPEL IS NOT FOR SALE.
THE GOSPEL IS NOT FOR LEASE.
THE GOSPEL IS NOT TO BE TRIFLED WITH.
But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
You cannot buy or sell the Gospel.
The Title of this Sermon is TRUE/FALSE CONVERSION.
So the question is...was Simon a true convert or a false convert?
Four reasons why Simon was a true convert:
He responded to the gospel.
He confessed that he believed.
He was baptized.
He followed the disciples.
“You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
“Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.
“For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”
But Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
Four reasons why Simon was a false convert
He thought he could buy the gifts of God.
His heart was not right with God. He was told by the disciples he need to repent.
The disciples could see the gall of bitterness and the bondage that he was still under.
Simon himself asks for prayer.
There are some valuable lessons to be learned here.
I did a sermon last May called How to Spot a False Prophet
False Prophets Engage Deceptively
“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
“You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
False Prophets Express Themselves Destructively
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;
and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
False Prophets Must be Exposed Deliberately
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him.
“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.
False Prophets are to be Estranged Decisively
Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.
For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
It would appear, contrary to apocryphal and Gnostic texts that seek to glorify his role as sorcerer and his previous satanic abilities, that Simon was repentant and may have continued to be a member of the local church in Samaria. However, Justin Martyr and other Christian apologists like Irenaeus insist he was an antichrist and continued his sorcery, even founding Gnosticism itself.
Got Questions Ministries, Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2002–2013).
