Acts 8:9-25

Review

COMMENTARY: Talk about Philip in Samaria

COMMENTARY: And we want to continue looking at how God uses Philip. And the first thing we want to look at is...

The Salvation of the Samaritans Vs. 9-13, 18-24

1. Introduction to Simon Vs. 9-11

COMMENTARY: So this guy Simon, also known as Simon Magus. The early church fathers referred to him as the father of Gnosticism. gnosis: Knowledge. They taught that salvation didn't come by the finished work of Christ but by special knowledge about God. And for 49.95 we'll sell you this special knowledge so you can be saved.

COMMENTARY: This Simon practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. And because of his "sorcery", the ability to exercise control over nature and/or people by means of demonic power, people called him the Great Power of God in Vs. 10. And as a result Simon boasted that he was someone great & the people of Samaria believed him.

2. Real Salvation Vs. 12

COMMENTARY: Now note carefully here in Vs. 12 that their believing in Jesus Christ came by Philips preaching the Gospel, not the miracles they saw back in Vs. 6-7.

COMMENTARY: This is significant because there are those who say, if I just could see a miracle, or some sign or wonder then I'd believe, riiiiiiggggghhhht.

COMMENTARY: In Luke 16 the rich man & Lazarus died, the rich man tells abraham to send Lazarus back to tell my brothers to believe in God.

Luke 16:31=

COMMENTARY: True saving faith, true salvation comes from Preaching the Gospel, not signs & wonders.

Romans 1:16=

1 Peter 1:23= We have been born again... through the Word of God...

3. Fake Salvation Vs. 13, 18-24

COMMENTARY: So Simon believed, he gets baptized & follows Philip, but I'm not sure he really got saved. And I want to give you 7 reasons why I believe he didn't get saved.

1.Wanted to Buy H.S. Vs 18-19

COMMENTARY: Simon wanted to buy the HS, when the HS spirit cannot be bought or earned, it is a gift of God.

2. He is Going to Perish Vs. 20

COMMENTARY: It says, not just his money would perish but he would perish also.

3. He Had a Wrong Heart Vs. 21

COMMENTARY: He wasn't a part of the true believers in Samaria. Talk about the heart.

Matthew 15:8 - ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.

4. He Needed to Repent Vs. 22

COMMENTARY: So Peter tells him to repent of wickedness.

Matthew 3:8= Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,

Luke 5:32= I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

2 Peter 3:9=

5. He is Bound by Iniquity Vs. 23

COMMENTARY: Sin had dominion over his life, if he was saved sin would not have that power of his life.

Romans 6:14= For vsin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

6. Scared of Judgment Vs. 24

COMMENTARY: He wanted Peter to pray that he would escape judgment not for the forgiveness of sin.

7. Because Other People Accepted Jesus Vs. 12a & 13a

COMMENTARY: Talk about Summer camp how people sometimes accept Jesus because others do.

James 2:17-20= Says we can miss salvation by about 18", the distance from the head to the heart.

COMMENTARY: Believing in Jesus is not just about intellectual knowledge, its about a changed life. Turn with me to...

James 2:17-20= Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” wShow me your faith without 6your works, xand I will show you my faith by 7my works.

19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is 8dead?

The Holy Spirit for the Samaritans Vs. 14-17, 25

The First & Second Works of the Holy Spirit

COMMENTARY: According to Vs. 12 they believed in Jesus & here in Vs. 16 they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. So clearly they were saved, they received salvation, which speaks of the first 2 works of the HS.

John 14:17= the Spirit of truth, vwhom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you wand will be in you.

COMMENTARY: The First work or ministry of the HS is to be with us, para, alongside of us, prior to salvation.

COMMENTARY: The Second work or ministry is to be in us, en, the indwelling of the HS at salvation. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ the HS dwells in us.

John 20:22= breathed on them

Romans 8:11= But if the Spirit of mHim who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, nHe who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies 4through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Acts 5:32= And ewe are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit fwhom God has given to those who obey Him.”

1 Corinthians 6:19= Or tdo you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, uand you are not your own?

2 Timothy 1:14=

COMMENTARY: This is what happened here with the people of Samaria, they received the Spirit for salvation.

The Third Work of the Holy Spirit

COMMENTARY: The Third work or ministry of the Holy Spirit we get from Acts 1:8.

COMMENTARY: This is the baptism with the HS, Acts 1:5. or the filling of the HS or the overflowing of the HS.

COMMENTARY: Peter & John laid hands on them and they received the HS, we see the same thing in...

Acts 19:6= Paul in Ephesus, same thing.

COMMENTARY: And in light of that great persecution mentioned in Vs. 1, the power of the HS is much needed.

COMMENTARY: And if the early church needed the Power of the HS to come upon them, so do we. We need that fresh filling, that fresh overflowing, on a daily bases.

Luke 11:13= If you then, being evil, know how to give ggood gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

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