False Faith Exposed

Context

Who are Samaritans?

Background on Samaria

Philip is sharing the Gospel and the power of God is moving through him. These aren’t just parlor tricks or sleight of hand. Lame are walking, evil spirits are leaving people (screaming as they go). People are being healed and it’s only attributed to the power of God accompanied by the message of Jesus Christ.

Textual Observations

Why does Luke tell us that Simon believed and was baptized if he knew at the time of his writing that he wasn't truly repentent?

After they heard Philip share about the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ...people believed and were baptized. There was great joy in the city as evil spirits came out of people, lame and paralyzed were healed. The evil spirits didn’t just go away quietly, they left screaming, evidence they were once present and now leaving the people they resided in...

Joy or Astonishment:

Luke describes two reactions...

One of astonishment...he did hold the people captive

One of Joy… people didn’t just observe the magic show, they were impacted by the message and true power of God. Peoples lives were not changed by Simon’s influence.

Peoples lives were greatly impacted by the message of Kingdom of God and Name of Jesus

Evil spirits left people

paralyzed healed

lame walked

The families, friends, loved ones of all those healed were also impacted...

Simon lost influence

Simon follows Philip, and now he stands amazed… thinking he (Philip) is the source of the signs and great miracles.

A changed heart is everything.

Simon wanted to learn “Philips tricks” he wanted to buy the rights to “dispense the Holy Spirit”. He wanted the platform/power/properity. He was once referred to as the “Great Power of God”...

Now he has lost a lot of his influence...he sees it as a competition He wanted the Kingdom of God without God.

Simon wanted to be the center of attention, he wanted what he perceived the Kingdom of God would give him, so long as he could remain the center and king.

SPACE PETS

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Application Points

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Hope | Healing | Purpose

Salvation

Potential Titles

False Faith Exposed

True Salvation

True Faith

Can I be sure my faith is genuine?

Simon the Sorcerer

Is my heart right?

Hearts Not Right

Supplemental Text

Matthew 21:28–32 ““But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in the vineyard.’ But he replied, ‘I do not want to.’ Yet afterward he regretted it and went. And the man came to his second son and said the same thing; and he replied, ‘I will, sir’; and yet he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even have second thoughts afterward so as to believe him.”

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”