Simon The Sorcerer No. 234

Transcription

1 "Scripture taken from e NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." ( Simon The Sorcerer No. 234 Introduction. I. Please open your Bibles to Acts e 8 chapter. I will begin reading wi verse 5. 5 And Philip went down to e city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to em. 6 And e multitudes wi one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as ey heard and saw e signs which he was performing. 7 For in e case of many who had unclean spirits, ey were coming out of em shouting wi a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And ere was much rejoicing in at city. 9 Now ere was a certain man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in e city, and astonishing e people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; 10 and ey all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, "This man is what is called e Great Power of God." 11 And ey were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished em wi his magic arts. 12 But when ey believed Philip preaching e good news about e kingdom of God and e name of Jesus Christ, ey were being baptized, men and women alike. 13 And even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on wi Philip; and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. 14 Now when e apostles in Jerusalem heard at Samaria had received e word of God, ey sent em Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for em, at ey might receive e Holy Spirit. 16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of em; ey had simply been baptized in e name of e Lord Jesus. 17 Then ey began laying eir hands on em, and ey were receiving e Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw at e Spirit was bestowed rough e laying on of e apostles' hands, he offered em money, 19 saying, "Give is auority to me as well, so at everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive e Holy Spirit." 20 But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish wi you, because you ought you could obtain e gift of God wi money! 21 "You have no part or portion in is matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 "Therefore repent of is wickedness of yours, and pray e Lord at if possible, e intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 "For I see at you are in e gall of bitterness and in e bondage of iniquity." 24 But Simon answered and said, "Pray to e Lord 1

2 for me yourselves, so at noing of what you have said may come upon me." 25 And so, when ey had solemnly testified and spoken e word of e Lord, ey started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching e gospel to many villages of e Samaritans. II. As a background for is passage we need to go to Acts e 6 chapter. In Acts e 6 chapter e inspired record states at e Grecian Jews were murmuring against e Hebrews because e needs of eir widows were being neglected in e daily ministration of goods. The apostles instructed e multitude to select 7 men from among emselves to look after eir needs. These men were to be full of wisdom and e Spirit. When e men had been chosen, e apostles laid eir hands on em. This gave em e responsibility of serving e widows and gave em e power to perform miracles. Among ose chosen was a man by e name of Philip. Philip not only helped serve e needs of e widows, but also served as an evangelist of e word of God. A. The next time we read of him is in Acts 8. Luke states Philip was preaching e gospel in e city of Samaria and was performing great signs (miracles). As e result of his work many of e Samaritans became Christians. B. One of ose accepting Christ was Simon e sorcerer. Upon seeing e mighty power of Philip he gave up his sorcery and accepted Christ. III. When e apostles at Jerusalem heard at Samaria had received e word of God, ey sent unto em Peter and John who laid hands on em at ey might receive e miraculous power of e Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw at rough e laying on of e apostles hands at e Holy Spirit was given, he offered em money and said, Give me also is power, at on whomsoever I lay my hands he may receive e Holy Spirit. Peter said to him, Thy silver perish wi ee because ou hast ought to obtain e gift of God wi money. He en told him to repent and pray at he might be forgiven. III. There are several important lessons we can learn from is account of Simon. I. Miracles Auentic - One lesson we learn is at miracles of Christ and His apostles were auentic. A. For a long time Simon had amazed e people of Samaria wi his magical powers and had convinced em at he was someone great, but when e people saw e miracles of Philip ey recognized e difference between e tricks of Simon and e genuine miracles of Philip and believed e preaching concerning Jesus and e kingdom of God. Simon also recognized e great difference and was convinced at Philip was truly from God. B. He had amazed e people wi his tricks, but he himself was amazed by e miracles of Philip. If ey had been false, is expert in trickery would have discerned em to be false and exposed Philip as a fake. The conversion of Simon is a powerful, irresistible argument for e genuineness of e New Testament miracles. II. Miraculous Gifts Of The Holy Spirit Were Given To The Early Christians - A second lesson we learn from is account is at miraculous gifts of e Holy Spirit were given to e early Christians. A. These gifts are named in 1 Corinians e 12 chapter. (1 Cor. 12:4-10). 4 Now ere are varieties of gifts, but e same Spirit. 5 And ere are varieties of ministries, and e same Lord. 6 And ere are varieties of effects, but e same God who works all ings in all persons. 7 But to each one is given e manifestation of e Spirit for e common good. 8 For to one is given e word of wisdom rough e 2

3 Spirit, and to anoer e word of knowledge according to e same Spirit; 9 to anoer fai by e same Spirit, and to anoer gifts of healing by e one Spirit, 10 and to anoer e effecting of miracles, and to anoer prophecy, and to anoer e distinguishing of spirits, to anoer various kinds of tongues, and to anoer e interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and e same Spirit works all ese ings, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 1. Paul names here 9 miraculous gifts at were given to e early Christians. 2. These gifts of e Holy Spirit enabled em to speak in foreign languages ey had not learned, heal e sick, prophesy, and do many oer wonderful works. B. These gifts were given for ree reasons. 1. First, ey were given to reveal e word of God, and to edify (build up) e church. 2. Second, e gifts were given to confirm e word of God. For example, when e Samaritans saw e many signs and wonders of Philip ey knew he must be from God and accepted his teachings. Wiout ese miracles ey would not have known if he were from God or not. (Heb. 2:4). III. Apostles Could Impart These Miraculous Gifts - A ird lesson we learn from is account is only e apostles could impart ese miraculous gifts of e Holy Spirit. A. Even ough Philip had e power to perform miracles he could not pass on is power. Peter and John had to come from Jerusalem to impart ese spiritual gifts to e Samaritans. 1. That only e apostles could impart miraculous power to oers is also shown to be true by Acts 19: The question could be raised here, What does is mean to us today? It means simply is. Since miraculous power of e Holy Spirit could only be imparted by e laying on of e hands of e apostles at miracles have ceased. When e apostles died ere was not anyone to pass on is power. B. This is in accordance wi Paul s teaching in 1 Corinians 13: Love never fails; but if ere are gifts of prophecy, ey will be done away; if ere are tongues, ey will cease; if ere is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; 10 but when e perfect comes, e partial will be done away. Literally e text read at which is perfect is come. 1. Paul states here at e spiritual gifts would pass away when at which is perfect is come. The word perfect does not refer to Jesus, as some as ought, because e word at which are neuter in gender. 2. The word perfect comes from e Greek word teleios which means full-grown or complete. Paul has in mind e word of God and states at when e complete revelation of God had come at ese gifts would pass away because ey would no longer be needed. Perhaps is illustration will help us understand is point more fully. a. If you decide to paint a room in your house, you need some drop-cloes. The drop-cloes are needed so you will not get paint all over your floor or rug. But after e room is painted, e drop-cloes are no longer needed. Why? They have served eir purpose and are us removed. 3

4 b. So it is wi e spiritual gifts. They were removed when ey had served eir purpose of revealing and confirming e word of God. IV. Fall From Grace - A four lesson we learn from is account is men can fall from grace. A. It refutes e doctrine at teaches once saved always saved. Here we have a man who fell from grace because he tried to buy e power to impart miraculous gifts to oers. B. There are some who have challenged is interpretation by saying Simon was not truly converted. They state e verb believed describes e supposed or apparent state of Simon, not his actual state. 1. One wonders how a person could know at Luke was describing Simon s suppose or apparent state. Luke tells us at e Samaritans believed. Does e verb believed describe eir supposed or apparent state? By what law of interpretation does it mean real fai in verse 12 and supposed fai in verse 13? 2. Let us read Acts 8 verses 12 and 13 noting e word even. 12 But when ey believed Philip preaching e good news about e kingdom of God and e name of Jesus Christ, ey were being baptized, men and women alike. 13 And even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on wi Philip; and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. The word even indicates at Simon believed in e same manner as e oer Samaritans did. 3. The intensive pronoun himself in is statement and even Simon himself believed emphasized e fact at even e famous Simon had come to believe in Christ as e oer Samaritans. C. I am glad, however, at we do not have to depend on is one passage for e tru on is matter. 1. There are oer passages at help us arrive at e tru. (1 Cor. 9:27; 10:12; Gal. 5:4; 1 Tim. 4:1; Heb. 3:12; 2 Pet. 1:10). 2. These scriptures show a person can stumble and can fall from God s grace. V. Restored To God s Grace -A fif lesson we learn from is account is how a Christian can be restored to God s grace. A. In Acts 8:22 Peter told Simon to repent and pray at e intent of his heart would be forgiven. This is God s law of pardon for e erring child of God. The child of God is not to be baptized over and over again every times he sins. B. The child of God today can also be restored to God s grace by repentance and prayer. (1 Jn. 1:9). VI. How To Become A Christian - Anoer lesson we learn from is account is how to become a Christian. A. Simon and e Samaritans became Christians by believing and by being baptized. B. This is exactly what Jesus taught we must to be saved. (Mk. 16:16) Conclusion. 4

5 I. You (who are not Christians0 can be saved by putting your trust in Christ and by being baptized. If you are a Christian who has sinned, you can be forgiven rough repentance and prayer. II. Will you obey e Lord today? Come as we stand and sing. "Scripture taken from e NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." ( 5