A Clever Deceiver
Lessons from the 1st Century Church | A Study through the Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted
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· 10 viewsMoney and/or religion will not save you: only genuine repentant faith in Jesus Christ, through the redemptive work of the Holy Spirit will save.
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Introduction
Jesus, within His Sermon on the Mount, preaches some hardest words for me to read. He states:
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
He calls his disciple and the crowds to know that works will not save. That one can make a profession without making a confession. They can cry physically but not be broken spiritually. He lets them know that there is only way to heaven and that is through the will of the Father. He would later state what that will is:
40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
How many of us are believing a lie? How many of believe we are saved through our actions? How many of us believe that we are saved because we made a profession, have been water baptized, and our name is on a church roster. I would submit to you that just because your name is on a church membership roster, it does not mean that it is written down in the Lambs Book of Life.
Focus Passage: Ac 8:9-25
Opening Passage: Ac 8:9-13
9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Outline
The Truth Meets Deception (vv.9-12)
9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
The counterfeit messenger v. the true messenger
Satan will always have counterfeits resisting and fighting the truth. More times than not, the counterfeits have been in place long before the true messengers get there. This was the case when Philip arrived in Samaria.
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
Simon was there before he got there
Simon was a clever deceiver and had caused the people of Samaria to believe a lie
Simon had treat influence over the people
However, God’s sends his messengers at the right time to the right people to bring them the right message
When Philip went to Samaria we find that the mission of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was being accomplished. As Jesus testified of Himself:
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Satan comes to still, kill, and destroy, but God comes to give life and life more abundant.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Satan has been a deceiver from the beginning
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Satan walks around a like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
He does this through lies and deception.
The freedom of truth v. the bondage of deception
Simon had brought them into his bonds, his lies. He tricked them, deceived them, and caused them to be a part of his cult. He promised freedom but could not deliver.
Philip promised freedom through the Lord and the Holy Spirit delivered
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.
A decision was required then and today
When the people gave heed to Simon, they found deception (vv.10-11)
When the people gave heed to Philip, they found truth (v.12)
May we understand, that when one hears the good news of Jesus Christ, they brought to a crisis of decision. One will not leave an invitation of the gospel and not make a decision. You will either make a positive decision (accept Christ) or make a negative decision (reject Christ)
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
As stated, any time the gospel is presented a decision is to be made. That decision will follow one of five responses found within the Scripture and drawn out through Jesus’ parable of the sower.
One will flat reject the gospel (Seed that fell on the road)
One will hear the gospel but not commit to the gospel (Seed that fell on the road)
One will hear the gospel and make an apparent acceptance of Christ but no true conversion will be had (Seed that falls in the shallow soil, i.e. no root)
One will will hear the gospel and make an apparent acceptance of the gospel, but they will have a fruitless ministry (Seed that falls in the thorny ground)
One will hear the gospel and make a genuine confession through repentance and faith in Christ (Seed that falls on the fertile ground)
Which describes your condition today? Have you flat rejected the gospel? Have you entertained the idea of placing your faith in Christ, but made no commitment? Have you made a decision for Christ but there’s been difference in you than was before your decision to accept Christ? Have you made a decision for Christ but have no fruit that shows growth and salvation? Have you made a decision for Christ that is genuine and the fruit of your life bears evidence? As Jesus told His disciples:
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Let us be a fruit inspector of our own relationship with the Lord and make sure our salvation. As Peter writes:
10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choice of you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
As we look toward this apparent confession of Simon, we find quickly what he is...
The clever deceiver deceived himself (v.13)
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Simon believed but was not saved - ‘...Then Simon himself believed also...’
You can believe in God and not have salvation in Christ
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Simon made a public profession but was not saved - ‘…when he was baptized...’
Simon was ever coming to the knowledge of Christ but was not saved - ‘…he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done...’
Simon not only followed Philip, which caused him to be amazed, he was really interested in the appearance of Peter and John and the baptism of the Holy Spirit that fell upon the people by the laying on of hands. As Luke writes, Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given…(Act 8:17-18a).
Simon bears the testimony of those Paul wrote to Timothy about, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2 Ti 3:7 NASB).
Simon was interested in the benefits of salvation but not salvation itself.
Simon was willing to pay but not surrender to be saved
Simon offered money for that which cannot be bought with silver and gold
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
Simon wanted to receive all glory rather than God receiving the glory
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
Simon was more afraid of physical pain than spiritual death
The clever deceiver needed what we need, true repentance (Ac 8:20-24)
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. 24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
Simon needed to understand salvation comes through repentant faith - ‘…Repent therefore of this thy wickedness...’
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Simon needed to understand salvation is a gift not a reward - ‘…Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money… Repent therefore of this thy wickedness...’
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Simon needed understand that he alone needed to repent of his sin and call upon Christ to be his Savior
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Simon was more fearful of his physical condition than he was his spiritual condition. Brothers and sisters we need to be more worried about our spiritual condition than we need to be of our physical condition.
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Conclusion
Let us not be confused by what we read in the text. We find that the Peter and John comes from the Jerusalem church to assist Philip with the ministry at Samaria. We find that they come and see that while people had made a profession of faith and received water baptism, they Holy Spirit had not yet indwelt them. Why is this? Is this proof that one needs the laying on of hands to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and genuinely saved? Do they have to speak in tongues or do some other sign to be saved? The short answer is no. However, a few truths need to be brought to light through this text.
A transitional church (Ac 8:14-17, Ac 8:25)
14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they would receive the Holy Spirit. 16 (For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.
25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
The church of God found unity among brothers for the spread of the gospel (vv.14-17)
The church found herself in a time of transition from a Jew centered gospel (Ac 1-10) to a Gentile centered gospel (Ac 11-28)
The church realized that the work of ministry was to continue beyond Judea (v.25)
As we look at our text, we are called to action. We are called to put our faith in Lord and not ourselves. We are called to share the gospel no matter where God may send us. We called to understand that God’s word is a transcending word. It transcends time. It transcends cultures. It transcends socioeconomic statuses. It is a transcending, life changing, soul saving word.
How will you respond tonight? Will you place your faith in the saving work of Christ? Will you accept the call of God to be snatched from the pit of all as Simon refused to do? If you are saved, will you be willing to go and share no matter where God calls you to go? Are you willing to be transcendent with the transcendent word of God? Are you willing to be on mission as the church has called us to be?
What is your decision?