Acts 8:9-24  “Counterfeit Christianity”

 

It is a phrase that we heard a lot in School -  From our Parents – Coaches – Drivers Ed instructors – Military - The Phrase “Pay attention”

A)Pay attention Class / Son / Are you paying attention Soldier?

 

B)Pay attention – that is a loaded phrase!

                       Why Pay?

 

C)Pay implies a price. Pay implies cost. Pay implies giving away something of Value.

1)There are Certain things we don’t pay attention to because we know there is a cost.

 

D)Cost you time – Cost you money – cost you comfort

 

Example

The reason why some of us do not pay attention to our health is because doing so will cost us something.

A)Time in the Gym/ Eat better / cut down on the ice cream/ notice didn’t say – CUT OUT!

 

B)Some of us end up saying – no thanks or I will deal with that later!

 

2 Peter 1:10

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;

Pay attention to your spiritual condition

A)When we pay attention to our Spiritual life – what we are saying is this – to walk with Jesus might cost me something.

 

B)It means investing some time in my relationship with Jesus Christ.  !

 

C)It means that there might be something I have to give up in following Jesus

 

D)Make sure, Pay attention that your calling and election is sure! 

1)Because One of the most fearful realities in all of Scripture is that some who think they are saved will be eternally lost.

 

E)Thinking they are on the narrow way of saving truth that leads to heaven, they are in reality on the broad way of religion that leads to destruction (cf. Matt. 7:13–14

 

In our text today we are going to meet a man who appeared to have a conversion.

A)Even Made some steps that seemed like they were in the right direction.

 

B)But time would reveal that his conversion was really counterfeit.

1)Title of message Counterfeit Christianity

C)As we look at this man we are going to gain some insights into the difference between a true and false conversion

 

D)Sad to think that some people hear these words from Jesus. Depart from me I never knew You!

1)They think they are saved – really not! –

 

E)Plan of attack this morning!

1) Read the entire story to see the context and then go back and break it down.

 

Quick review – Persecution breaks out in Ch.8

A)The Church is dispersed – Scattered – God’s way of getting the gospel out

 

B)Church taking the gospel like a farmer – spreading it around

 

C)Phillip goes to Samaria!

1)Great tension among the Jews and the Samaritans

 

D)Half breeds who intermarried with the Assyrians when they were taken into captivity.

1)Not accepted by the Jerusalem crowd

 

E)Phillip gains favor- Preaches Christ – His message is received and Revival Breaks out

                          Read V. 5-24

 

 

So Phillip goes there and preaches the gospel and revival breaks out – pp were coming to Christ right and left

A)Whenever the gospel is preached, it will inevitably produce both genuine saving faith and false faith.

 

B)The seed of the Word will fall on good soil and bad soil.

1) Jesus said it would be that way: Parable of the Sower -    Road/ Stones/ Thorns / good

 

C)Harvest Crusade – we see 1000’s come forward but in reality less than half walk with the Lord

1)Doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be doing them

 

D)How many here saved at a Crusade?

 

E)Rejoice in that!

1)Not everyone who goes forward and prays is really truly giving their life to Jesus.

 

We see an example of that in Samaria in this man named Simon.   Who was this Simon? V.9-11

V.9 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.

So right away this is what we learn about Simon – he was an enchanter – practiced sorcery.

A)Astonished the people with his tricks

 

B)Also a Charismatic guy – From the least to the greatest they were mesmerized by him.

1)He claimed to be someone great – most pp can’t pull that one off!

 

D)In my mind I picture{ a cross between David Copperfield – Chris Angel – Tony Robbins

 

E)This guy was so engaging – that they viewed him as a Deity – they viewed him as God.

1)Language in V.10 is interesting "This man is the great power of God."

 

 

Notice they weren’t saying – this man moves with the Power of God – or even has God’s power!

A)Luke wants us to be clear that the language here is much stronger

 

B)This man IS the great power of God

 

C)That title shows that Simon Claimed Diety.

 

D)Some theologians speculate – Simon Magnus was the founder of the Gnostic Heresy.

1)He and his successor – Menander – claimed Diety

 

Now the passage reveals for us 4 problems with perspective that Simon had that hindered him from really being saved.

A)#1 He had a wrong view of Himself

 

B)He is a man filled with Pride!

1)Pride is a universal and deadly sin.

 

C)It is the most characteristic and controlling sin in all human fallenness.

1) Pride is an easy sin to indulge in, since it does not entail the loss of public reputation, prestige, health, or wealth associated with other socially unacceptable sins.

 

D)The Bible has much to say about the evil of pride.

 

Proverbs 6:16–19 describes seven things the Lord hates. Heading the list is “Proud look.”

A)Proverbs 8:13 reads, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way,”

 

Proverbs 16:18 warns that “pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall,”

 

No one can be saved while clinging to their pride, because “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

 

Simon had a wrong view of Himself – which led to his 2nd problem – A wrong view of Salvation.

A)The language in the text is very interesting-

B)Luke is talking about this guy Simon describing who He is what he is about and how everyone in Samaria was enamored with him and then he says in

V.12 

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.

 

C)The But signals a Change in the peoples relationship with Simon – They were now following someone else.

1)They embraced Phillips preaching about Jesus

 

D)Note V.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.

 

E)When did Simon believe?– when everyone else did

1)Can’t beat them join them!

 

I think the last line of V.13 is Key That last line is key – he was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.

A)Now at this point in the story we would think that it was normal and appropriate to be amazed by the miracles

 

B)But as the story plays on we see that this was the main attraction for Simon

 

C)It wasn’t so much that he wanted the Salvation that Christ was offering as he wanted the power that came with it.

 

D)He was looking to advance his repertoire

 

E)He was thinking about personal advancement and nothing more.

 

 

Simon was the kind of guy to think – I am a great catch for God

A)This is the problem with the type of theology which is so prevanlent today that largely advocates that Christianity is about making a better you.

 

B)Wrong View –Being a Christian is not about making a better me –

1)it is not about finding the missing element – that is going to make my life complete.

 

C)It is really about realizing that without a relationship with Jesus I am lost – on my way to hell – hopeless

1)There is nothing about me in and of myself that is of any redeeming value.

 

D)John the Baptist said it well – we need to decrease that Christ can increase

 

 

Some people have the idea that Jesus is the missing link to their almost perfect life.

A)Not being honest ! In reality I need to get out of the way because – my biggest problem is me

 

 

B)Listen apart from Jesus Christ

Rob is selfish

Rob is critical

Rob is full of Pride

Rob wants to be first

 

C)Why Paul said whatever things I was in the flesh in my self before Christ I count as rubbish

 

God’s goal in my life and yours is not a remodel!

A)It is a complete rebuild – complete transformation

NEW CREATION – OLD PASSED AWAY

TRANSFORM INTO THE IMAGE OF JESUS!

 

B)More I grow in Christ the less I am going to look like me and the more hopefully I am going to look like Jesus

 

C)Simon epitomizes that what is in it for me mentality that just permeates the Church today.

 

D)But at first glance – his conversion seemed real

1)He believed – professed Christ in Baptism –

He continued with Philip – going to Church

But his later conduct shows, he wanted to figure out how to acquire that power for himself.

A)Magicians often sold each other their tricks and incantations.

 

B)Note V.12 Phillip preached the Kingdom!

 

C)Jesus message about the Kingdom was simple

1)Not of this world – Eternal -

 

D)Kingdom of God was among them – because it’s king was among them

 

E)Entering that Kingdom was about – yielding ones life to it’s king

 

F)Simon was still intent on being the King of His own life.

 

Faith that does not transform the life is not saving faith!

A)Yes Gradual – at times - but transformation is real

 

B)Dad drinker - Anger – NO WAY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A WRONG VIEW OF THE SPIRIT!

14 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.

 

Confusing Born again indwelt right – yes

Talking baptism of HS

 

Key Phrase V.16 For He had not yet fallen upon none of them.

A)Disciples indwelt ? John 20 – Baptized Acts 2

 

B)HS shall come upon –

 

C)Samaritans believed – were indwelt – but needed to be empowered.

 

Why did they need for the apostles to come lay hands on them. Why not Philip?

A)Newness of the move of the Spirit – pattern had been the apostles

 

B)More important reason was connection – connect this new work in Samaria with the believers in Jerusalem

 

Philip was linking the Samaritan Christians to the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem.

A)He was not starting a separate movement in Samaria nor a distinct denomination of believers.

 

B)They were all one body. Sending for Peter and John verified the linkage and support between the believers in Jerusalem and those in Samaria.

 

C)So Peter and John traveled to Samaria laid hands on them and  prayed for the believers

1)The Holy Spirit fell on them.

 

D)Simon sees this – his true colors really come out

Acts 8:18-19

18 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."

 

The First thing I want you to now is that Something visible happened!

A)But the Holy Spirit inspiring Lukes writing doesn’t tell us what it was.

 

B)We read of the HS falling upon 5 times in the book of Acts – 4 of the 5 times tongues is the evidence

1)This is the one exception

 

C)NO FORMULAS

The Purpose of the Baptism of the HS was power to be a witness!

A)Continually being filled ! Daily

 

B)Simon – was not interested in the Person of Jesus he only wanted the Power

 

C)Not to be a witness – but rather to control people.

"Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

 

D)Simon wants to buy that trick – Power over people.

False teacher always wants power over pp

 

Peter’s reaction:

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."

 

 Peter was irate, as his inflammatory prose indicates. The literal meaning of the Greek text has been softened by most translations. J. B. Phillips’s rendering, “To hell with you and your money!” conveys the actual sense of Peter’s words.

 

Simon’s view of the Spirit as a commodity to be bought and added to his repertoire was utterly and blasphemously wrong, and betrayed his lost condition.

 

 

Wrong view of Sin!

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."

 

Peter calls Simon to repent – Turn from his sin and turn to God

A)Main Problem – Simon thought that he could have his sin and Jesus too.

 

B)Jesus came to cleanse us from sin – also set up free from it’s power

 

C)Simon’s Problem – poisoned by bitterness

1)Bitter at Philip for taking his following

 

Simon’s response

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."

 

Focused on the temporal – not the eternal

 

 

Hebrews 2:1 “Let us pay more careful attention therefore, to what we have heard lest we drift away.”

 

True conversion

 

Right view of self – apart from Jesus I am lost! I am a mess!

 

Right view of Salvation: Joining His Kingdom – Jesus becomes King and not me!

 

Right view of the Spirit – Holy Spirit indwells me upon conversion and desires to empower me to live the Christian life.

 

Right view of Sin! – Sin is not to be tolerated in my life, but turned away from as I further yield myself to God.

 

See this next week as we look at Conversion of Saul

Becomes Paul the apostle

 

 

 



cf. confer (Lat.), compare