Acts 8:9-25 "Simon the Sorcerer"

Acts 8:9-25 "Simon the Sorcerer" Marc Transparenti Good morning Calvary Chapel Lake City! I'm Pastor Marc... Thanks for joining us! • For Families with Kids: Children's Ministry & Toddler Room w/ live stream is available. • If you're new to Calvary Chapel... we are a Bible Teaching church... teaching Genesis to Revelation... Chapter-by-Chapter | Verse-by-Verse • So, if you don't have your Bible with you... raise your hand and an usher will bring you one. • Our gift to you today if you don't own a Bible. If you want to connect, please fill out a Welcome Card! If you have prayer needs, we would like to pray with and for you... or if you have anonymous prayers... we have and anonymous prayer basket. Announcements: • Spencer Bartlett: Starting a new group for a ministry he has led several times. • Youth Group... 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Last time we looked at the beginning of the church going into Judea and Samaria... just as Jesus said they would in Acts 1:8 • Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." • And, indeed God empowered them with His Holy Spirit... and indeed they were witnesses in Jerusalem, but they didn't seem motivated to go beyond Jerusalem. • The church numbers were swelling... likely north of 20k Christians... that is until the martyrdom of the deacon Stephen... and until Saul entered the scene. • At that time 'great persecution' hit the church... causing the church to move into Judea, Samaria, Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. • Persecution is a terrible thing, but even worse is complacency and apathy in the church pews. So, God stirred the pot... and the church was scattered everywhere preaching the word. • And, Philip went to Samaria... where Jesus had previously scattered seed in John 4... and now a great multitude of Samaritans "heeded the things spoken by Philip." • Speaking the word of God is powerful... it's life changing... it's life saving. • Romans 10:17 states, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." • And, that's what the church was doing in all Judea and Samaria... and people were getting saved... • And, that's why... here at Calvary Chapel Lake City... we're serious about teaching the word of God. • Signs and Wonders... miracles and the experiential... they come as a benefit, but without the word of God... the church is like a ship at sea without a compass... the word points us to true north...it sets our bearings... it brings us home. So, Philip brought the word... and he was a great messenger for Jesus... not because of his Seminary degree because he didn't have one... he served tables. • But, Acts 6 said he was one of "of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom." • And, if you're ministering the word... those characteristics are far more valuable than a Seminary degree. • Without a calling, a Seminary degree is just an education. One other advantage Philip had was he was Greek... not a Jew. • Which meant that he didn't have a long standing hatred and prejudice towards the Samaritans going back to when Ezra and Nehemiah returned to build the Temple and the Wall. • So, Philip was a great choice by God to evangelize Samaria. And, indeed he was an evangelist... • In fact, Philip is the only evangelist named in scripture according to Acts 21:8. So, that brings us up to speed. Philip is in Samaria... and we pick up after a multitude of Samaritans are coming to the Lord... Philip is evangelizing... he is healing people... casting out demons... V8 left off "And there was great joy in the city." • And then V9 begins with the word "But"... a word that stands in contrast to the prior context of great joy. • And the word "But" introduces us to our next biblical character. • Enter "Simon the Sorcerer"... our sermon title for today. Let's Pray! Acts 8:9-11 "But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God." 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time." 1. So, here we are introduced to Simon the Sorcerer... a character surrounded by many traditions... as well as debate if he was saved. a. 1 John 4:1 exhorts "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." b. Simon is a good case study for us to discern today. 2. The scene is Samaria... the Bible does not identify Simon as a Samaritan. a. Though, Christian apologist, Justin Martyr in his writing "The First Apology" (as in Apologetics) wrote this of Simon, "There was a Samaritan, Simon, a native of the village called Gitto, who in the reign of Claudius Cæsar, and in your royal city of Rome, did mighty acts of magic, by virtue of the art of the devils operating in him." i. Justin obviously had an opinion of Simon. 3. Early church fathers also called him "Simon Magus." i. Magus... from the root word for Sorcery, Gk "magos" meaning "a magus or sage of the magician religion... an astrologer." ii. Very interesting... just two verse prior we read about "unclean spirits" and "many who were possessed." 1. Did Simon have anything to do with this? a. Was Philip undoing his work by casting out demons? 4. Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible defines 'Sorcery' as "A practice whose adherents claim to have supernatural powers and knowledge; the ability to foretell the future and to summon evil spirits through charms and magical spells." a. Sorcery was not parlor tricks... not slight of hand... this was occult... black magic. Evil practices. b. Was Simon summoning evil spirits and infecting Samaria? 5. Now... long ago... God knew Sorcery was a bad practice, so He forbid this practice in His law and made it clear Sorcery was an abomination in His eyes... a. Deut 18:10-12 reads "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you." b. Sorcery was punishable by death in Israel according to Exo 22:18 "You shall not permit a sorceress to live." c. And, as clear as that is... Israel fell into practice with sorcerers (2 Kgs 17:17; 2 Chr 33:6; Mic 5:12) and for this (and other reasons)... provoked God's wrath. i. Mal 3:5 states, "And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness Against sorcerers..." (Plus four other offenses if you continue in that verse) d. In the NT, Paul listed "works of the flesh" in Gal 5:20 and "sorcery" is on that list as well... Gal 5:21 states, "those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." i. So, Simon is caught up in some really bad mojo. 6. Now, why would Sorcery be an abomination to... and forbidden by God? a. Generally speaking, God is NOT a party pooper. There's good reason when He sees fit to forbid sinful practices. i. God's not sitting up in heaven saying, "Oh, they're having too much fun with that... let's add that to the naughty list." 1. Or "No, no, no... too much pleasure there... we can't have that!" 2. People make God out to be a Scrooge, and that's far from the case. b. If you understand the nature of God...it's easier to trust the prohibitions of God. i. 1 John 4:8 shares this about God... "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." 1. Since God is love (agapē)- which is the highest form of love... self-sacrificial love... unconditional love... 2. When He forbids something... even if we don't understand why... even if it's against our culture norms... 3. If God forbids something... know His nature is love... and He's not out to restrict your freedom and joy. 4. In His infinite wisdom God knows that the thing humans THINK will bring them freedom and joy... only results in bondage and misery. a. And, so in love, God restricts because He doesn't want us in bondage and misery. 7. And, sorcery would lead people to that end because it was not of God. a. There are modern forms of magic that are mere slight of hand or illusions of the mind, but there is a darker form of magic that originates from and is empowered by Satan... and attempts to discredit God's true power. b. In Matt 24:24 Jesus warned of yet future sorcery in the end times, "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." i. Great signs and wonders from false messiahs and false prophets will be a form of sorcery. 8. Satan is powerful, and can give a form of power to his followers. a. In Exo 7, Moses stood before Pharaoh and cast down his rod and let it become a serpent. i. Exo 7:11-12 "But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the [notice] sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt [Jannes and Jambres according to 2 Tim 3:8], they also did in like manner with their enchantments. 12 For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods." b. Through their enchantments, Pharaoh's Sorcerers were also able to mimic the first two plagues... turning water to blood... and bringing up frogs on the land of Egypt. i. But, their enchantments were limited and less superior... Aaron's rod swallowed their rods... ii. By the third plague, they bowed out... the magicians could not bring forth lice. They said, "This is the finger of God." iii. But, there was still enough power in their enchantments to deceive Pharoah for a long time... 1. There was still enough power in Simon's sorceries to astonish the Samaritans for a long time... 2. And there will be one who comes... who will deceive the whole world... c. Of the Anti-Christ, it is said, 2 Thes 2:9-10 "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish..." i. God forbids demonic sorceries and magic... NOT to rain on our parade, but because it originates from Satan... who IS NOT love. God is love. d. Here's some of what Scripture says of Satan and his character.... i. He was cast out of heaven because of pride, and because he wanted to de-throne God... (Isa 14, Ezk 28) ii. He is the accuser of the brethren (Rev 12:10), a tempter (Matt 4:3, 1 Thess 3:5) and a deceiver (Gen 3, Rev 20:3). iii. He blinds the people of this age from seeing the truth (2 Cor 4:4). iv. Satan's very name means "adversary" "opponent," or "enemy." v. His title, the devil, means "slanderer," or "false accuser." vi. John 8:44 states... "He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him." vii. And, his end will be 1000 years of imprisonment... followed by eternal torment... "the lake of fire and brimstone"... "tormented day and night forever and ever." (Rev 20) e. Good people, listen to me... in love God restricts evil, because it will destroy us... because it will lead us to the same end as Satan. 9. Contrasted to Satan... Scripture declares, "God is love." Some of facets of God and His characteristics... a. He is Creator of the heavens and earth... (Gen 1:1) b. The Breather of life... Gen 2:7 c. Alpha and Omega... the beginning and the end. Rev 1:8 d. He is Spirit and He is truth... John 4:24; Jn 14:6 e. God is King, eternal, immortal, invisible... He alone is wise. 1 Tim 1:17 f. He is great and incomparable (2 Sam 7:22) g. He is steadfast... unchanging (Mal 3:6; Heb 6:17). h. It's impossible for Him to lie (Heb 6:18) i. God exists everywhere (Psalm 139:7-12), j. He knows everything (Psalm 147:5; Isa 40:28), k. And has all power and authority (Eph 1; Rev 19:6). l. God is just and judges sin (Acts 17:31; Ps 5:5), m. He is rich in mercy, compassionate, and loving Eph 2:4-5, Rom 9:15, 2 Cor 1:3 n. He is holy... He is light 1 Jn 1:5. o. He is abundant with grace Rom 5:17 p. And, He offers forgiveness (Psalm 130:4). i. When you know who God is and what His character is... even if you don't understand why He places restrictions... you can trust that He has good reason... 10. Satan says, "There are NO boundaries." "Do whatever you want." "You're the king of your castle." "If it makes you happy, do it." "Sin is an illusion... it's not real." "How can something be sin if it makes you happy?" a. What's the character Satan who makes these claims? He's a liar and a murderer... and if he can drag you down with him... to the doom he will face...he will. 11. God says, "There ARE boundaries, and they're good, because I'm a loving Father and guard rails keep you from falling over the edge accidentally." a. They're for your protection... for your safety... they lead you on the right path. i. Ps 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path." 1. And that just sounds better in Old English. 2. Have you ever considered that God loves us so much that He left us with His word as a guide to truth. 3. What did Satan leave us with? Nothing... except for our own imaginations. That's no guidance. b. All that to say... Sorcery... it's a bad practice empowered by Satan himself. 12. Before we move on... notice in V10 the Samaritans give Simon the title "the great power of God." a. They claimed he was "someone great"... V11 "they heeded him"... which means "to hold the mind." They listened to him a long time because of his sorceries. b. The title "great power of God"... some scholars think was a "messianic title", others believe Simon accepted being regarded as god. i. Whatever the case, he accepts their reverence and does not point them to God... which is heretical. c. With this in mind, in 180 A.D. the Christian bishop Irenaeus, wrote a series of 5 books... i. Titled in Latin "Against Heresies." ii. Titled in Greek, "On the Detection and Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis." iii. The false teaching "Gnosticism" was on the rise, so Irenaeus refuted this teaching in his writings. iv. Book 1, Chapter 23 is titled, "Doctrines and practices of Simon Magus and Menander." [the successor of Simon] 1. In that chapter Irenaeus claimed that Gnosticism began with Simon Magus... d. If you are not familiar with this ancient false teaching... i. Gnosticism has many forms, to it's not easy to define, but listen to this simple and generalized definition, "The Gnostic believes in acquiring special, mystical knowledge as the means for salvation. According to Gnostic beliefs, there is a Great God that is good and perfect, but impersonal and unknowable. The creator of the universe was actually a lesser deity-a knock-off of the "true God"-who wanted to create a flawless material universe but failed. Instead of having a utopia, we ended up with a world infected with pain, misery, and intellectual and spiritual blindness; all matter is now corrupt and evil. However, when this lesser deity created man, he accidentally imbued humanity with a spark of the "true" God's spirit, making man an inherently good soul trapped in the confines of an evil, material body." ii. Even today, Gnosticism has an influence on the secular and the scientific. 1. Famous Psychologist Carl Jung acclaimed Gnosticism as a superior way of thinking then Christianity. iii. The modern gnostic sees the world as flawed and incomplete... and people become the "deity," or "saviour"... in that they are improving the body and the world through wisdom... through Gnosis... Gk for "knowledge." iv. We live in a world filled with Simon the Sorcerers. They worship knowledge... they want recognition for their knowledge... they deny Christ in the name of knowledge... and believe they can be the saviour of the world because of their knowledge. 1. This modern form of Gnosticism is alive an well... 2. Solomon would write, "there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecc 1:9). a. People who don't know history, are bound to make it's mistakes. 13. Continuing on... contrasted to Simon... enter Philip in Samaria... Acts 8:12-13 "But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done." 1. As much as Simon was praised, when Philip arrives preaching the truth about Jesus.. many people were saved and baptized. 2. And, V13 we read Simon "also believed"... "was baptized" and "continued with Philip." a. All that sounds really good but, I'm skeptical of Simon's authentic faith conversion. b. I remember my first missionary trip to the Philippines. We went street witnessing and 16 people said the salvation prayer with me in about 2 hours. i. How many were authentic? And, how many were motivated by politeness... or hoping to get something free... ii. I hope they were true professions of faith, but sometimes confessions are not authentic. c. In Matt 13:31-32, Jesus shared this parable, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches." i. You may have heard that parable interpreted as the church started humbly and has grown throughout the whole world (the field) becoming a safe haven and a source of sustenance for all people (pictured as birds nesting in it's branches). 1. I don't subscribe to that view for several reasons... listen to my sermon on Matt 13 on our website... 2. But one reason is because birds are often pictured as evil in the Bible. ii. I see this parable as Christianity has spread throughout the world, but this unusual growth was not necessarily all good growth...there has been much corruption in the kingdom. Christendom is a mix of true and false believers. 1. And, I think Simon was a bird... and I'll share why in a bit. 3. Now, I will say, there are Pastors I highly respect who think Simon was saved. a. And, they cite the word "believed" in V13. Simon believed... which is all that is required for salvation. b. Further, the word believed in Gk. is pist-yoo´-o | pistĕuō, meaning "to have faith." c. It's the same Gk word for "believe" in John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes [same word] in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." i. So, his faith must be authentic... right? d. I'm not sure...the same word "believed" is applied as misguided in John 2:23-25... "Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed [pistĕuō] in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man." i. A faith based on signs alone is not genuine. Being moved by fancy words... an emotional experience... it's just temporary excitement... ii. Seed sewn on stony places or amongst thorns. It won't last. iii. Faith cannot be placed in miracles, but only in the maker of the miracles... in Jesus Christ alone. iv. And Simon... like the Jews in John 2... seems to have a misplaced profession of faith. 1. Faith in the miracle, but not in Jesus. 4. In V13, Simon observed the power of God through Philip... Simon was amazed at the miracles and the signs... and he wanted that power. We will see that he will try to purchase that power. a. Simon was a man who had a following, and was bitter (V23)... probably about losing his following to Philip. i. And, so he fought... with craft... with stealth... he infiltrated the camp of the Christians... he confessed Christ... and he ritualistically was baptized... b. V13 we read... "he continued with Philip"... i. Which is one of the most treacherous things I observe, because this means he "devoted himself" to Philip. 1. And, I think that's a key phrase... his devotion was misplaced. 2. Please never devote your faith to Calvary Chapel... never devote your faith to me... 3. Simon needed to be devoted to Jesus Christ... not to Philip. 4. I think Simon had his eyes on a man... and not on the Lord. c. And, for Philip... it's a heartbreaking experience when you walk with someone... you think they are your brother or sister in Christ, and in fact they are a wolf in sheep's clothing. i. In Matt 7:15-16, Jesus warned, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits." ii. And, perhaps Philip in his newness to ministry... moving quickly from serving tables... to being entrusted with evangelizing Samaria... though he was faithful, just maybe he wasn't a good fruit inspector. 1. And, so enter the Apostles. Acts 8:14-17 "Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit." 1. So, now the Apostles hear a report back at HQ in Jerusalem of this revival... this spiritual awakening at Samaria... and they send Peter and John. 2. What was John thinking? If you recall, close to the end of Jesus' ministry, Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem and sent messengers ahead to a village of the Samaritans to prepare for Him, but they did not receive Him. a. In Luke 9:54-56 we read, "And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?" 55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." b. What was John... one of the Sons of Thunder thinking as he now comes back into Samaria? c. "These are the people I asked Jesus to destroy." i. Praise God that He is a God of second chances... and sometimes third chances... and fourth chances... ii. "Longsuffering" or "Patient" is another characteristic of God that we could add to that list (Num 14:18; 2 Pet 3:9) 3. Peter and John, when they arrived prayed for the people to receive the Holy Spirit. a. Now this is not them getting saved a second time... they were saved in V12. i. God is efficient. One and done. If you truly believe, you are saved. b. So, why do Peter and John need to pray for them again if they are saved and in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit. i. Well, notice in V16 the word "upon." ii. If you recall my teaching on Acts 1:8 where Jesus said, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you..." iii. There are three experiences with the Holy Spirit.. 1. He is "with"/ Gk. para... unbelievers. Regeneration. 2. Hi is "in"/ Gk. en... believers. Sealed. 3. He falls "upon"/ Gk. epi... believers. a. We call this being Baptized with the Holy Spirit -or- Empowered with the Spirit -or- Overflowing with the Spirit. 4. That's what's happening here in V16. a. They were filled with the Spirit prior, but now their cup runneth over... and they will be mighty witnesses for Him as a result. 5. If you've never prayed to receive the Baptism with the Holy Spirit... ask your Father above... He has good gifts for you. 4. And, notice what doesn't happen to the Samaritans... there is no record of them speaking in tongues. a. There are some who say there must be a sign gift of tongues to confirm the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. b. Well, we don't see that here. God is diverse in how He distributes gifts. c. Paul in 1 Cor 12:30 said, "Do all speak with tongues?" Rhetorical question... the answer is NO. d. In 1 Cor 14:5 Paul said, "I wish you all spoke with tongues." Implying some do not. i. Spiritual gifts are diverse so we can be a healthy body. ii. Don't feel like you're less of a Christian if you don't speak in tongues. You're not. 1. Don't worry about keeping up with the "holy Jones'." 5. Well... the Apostles arrive... they pray over the people... the Holy Spirit falls upon them... a. And, something happens... scripture is silent what happens, but Simon observes this power, and he wants some... Acts 8:18-23 "And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit." 20 But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity." 1. So, now... Simon's heart is being revealed. "You will know them by their fruit." a. Simon wants power... he wants to be an influencer... he wants to learn this new magic trick and tries to purchase it... like a magician would buy a trick off another magician. b. But, you cannot buy the free gift of God. Eph 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast." c. Here's what Irenaeus on Simon in "Against Heresies": "This Simon, then - who feigned faith, supposing that the apostles themselves performed their cures by the art of magic, and not by the power of God; and with respect to their filling with the Holy Ghost,... suspecting that even this was done through a kind of greater knowledge of magic, and offering money to the apostles, thought he, too, might receive this power of bestowing the Holy Spirit on whomsoever he would..." - i. So according to Irenaeus, Simon faked faith... he mistook the Apostles as magicians... and he thought the Baptism with the Holy Spirit was a greater magic. ii. Wrong on all fronts. 2. Because of his actions of trying to buy position or "use religion as a means of profit," a term has been coined after him called "Simony." a. Historically, this crime is mostly in the histories of the Catholic Church in the 9th-11th centuries, and the Church of England after separation from Rome... where certain men paid bribes for promotion within their ranks. 3. But, Peter is not having it with Simon... look at all of these rebukes... further supporting why I suspect Simon was not saved... Peter says (starting in V20)... a. "Your money perish with you..." Simon and his money were destined to perish... by def. "destruction." i. And, no true believer perishes. b. "You have neither part nor portion in this matter..." ...Simon had no share...no inheritance in the ministry...no portion of salvation... i. Implying he was not a Christian, he was not part of the fellowship. c. Peter also said, "your heart is not right in the sight of God." i. The lost... the unsaved are those whose hearts are not right before God. d. Peter rebukes Simon, "Repent therefore of this your wickedness..." i. Simon needed to turn from wickedness and turn to God... something he seemingly had not yet done. e. Peter said, "pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you." i. Simon was in need of forgiveness for the intentions of his heart. f. Peter observed, "you are poisoned by bitterness." i. Simon was likely bitter towards Philip and the work of God that took away from Simon's bewitchment. ii. And, the fruit of the spirit is not bitterness. iii. Gal 5:22-23 "... the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control." iv. Eph 5:9 "... for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth... " 1. But, Simon was bitter. "You will know them by their fruits." v. We need to watch what's in our hearts... watch the reflection of our hearts in our speech... are WE exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit? 1. You should be! Many of you do. Pardon me though... I'm a work in progress. g. Lastly, Peter said, "you are bound by iniquity." i. Believers are not bound. ii. In John 8:36, Jesus said, "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." 1. Praise God for freedom in Christ! h. With this long list of rebukes, and the external evidence from early church fathers... sadly, I have a difficult time accepting Simon was truly saved. 4. Moving on... the response of Simon... Acts 8:24 "Then Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me." 1. Was this true repentance or remorse? a. Did Judas Iscariot repent when he returned the blood money... or was that remorse? i. Most would say remorse. b. The context seems to lean toward... Simon was sorrowful about his impending consequences, but not truly repentant over his sin. 2. Irenaeus would add, "He, then, not putting faith in God a whit the more, set himself eagerly to contend against the apostles, in order that he himself might seem to be a wonderful being, and applied himself with still greater zeal to the study of the whole magic art, that he might the better bewilder and overpower multitudes of men. Such was his procedure in the reign of Claudius Cæsar, by whom also he is said to have been honoured with a statue, on account of his magical power. This man, then, was glorified by many as if he were a god..." a. Simon was so close to the truth... he was under the wing of Philip... he was present for the word of God... he was witnessing revival, miracles and the power of the Holy Spirit. b. If you are sitting here today, and you've never welcomed Jesus into your life... if you've never said, "Yes" to Him as the Savior of your life... i. Then you're as close as Simon was to truth... please don't let his end be yours. ii. Be like so many others in Samaria who would truly believe... you can do that today... and you should because life is but a vapor. 3. Well... closing out on a good note... Acts 8:25 "So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans." 1. They "...preached the word of the Lord..." a. So, highly important... 2. Peter and John... Jewish Apostles... now breaking generational prejudices between Jews and Samaritans as they witness to them. Marvelous. a. They came as fruit inspectors... they found one bad apple, but they put their stamp of approval on the work happening in Samaria through Philip. b. And, they preached in many villages on their way back to Jerusalem... i. Sewing seeds... harvesting souls. ii. Let that be your week ahead! Let's pray! "The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace." ' Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 10:30 PM August 13, 2022.