I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      It is a great blessing to us that faith in Christ not only offers a second chance, but it also offers a third, fourth, fifth, or as many chances as we need to be forgiven of our sins.

B.      One Scriptural example that illustrates an additional chance for forgiveness is that of Simon the magician.  Let us consider his story to see what we may learn.

II.      A SUMMARY OF SIMON’S STORY

A.      When the disciples were first scattered by the persecution in Jerusalem, Philip the evangelist took the gospel of Christ to Samaria (Acts 8:5-8, 12).

                                                             1.      This was the first time the gospel had been preached to people other than strictly Jews.  Samaritans were mixed in both ancestry and religion between the Jews and various pagan peoples.

                                                             2.      Many of the Samaritans heard Philip’s preaching and witnessed the signs he performed.  Because of this, they believed the gospel and were baptized in the name of Christ.

B.      One of those who believed Philip’s preaching was a magician named Simon (8:10-11, 13).

                                                             1.      Magicians, or sorcerers, were practitioners of magic arts by which they feigned supernatural, miraculous powers.

                                                             2.      By his tricks and deceptions, Simon had gained a reputation among all the Samaritans as someone great and was called “The Great Power of God.”  He had the attention of all the people.

                                                             3.      Even Simon, who knew all the tricks of magic and sorcery, was convinced by what he heard and saw in Philip.

a.       Simon knew that Philip’s works were genuine miracles, unlike his own false works.

b.       Being convinced, Simon also was baptized in the name of Christ.

C.      Although Simon obeyed the gospel, he subsequently sinned against God and was rebuked (Acts 8:14-24).

                                                             1.      When Peter and John came to Samaria from Jerusalem to impart the Holy Spirit to the Samaritans, Simon proposed to purchase their power.  For this, Peter condemned him and commanded him to repent.

                                                             2.      Simon replied to Peter and John, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me” (v. 24).

III.   FOUR LESSONS FROM SIMON’S STORY

A.      Lesson 1: Salvation comes only through obedience to the gospel of Christ.

                                                             1.      The book of Acts records many conversions, and those conversions establish and repeat a pattern for the salvation of all people.

a.       The pattern is that when the gospel was preached, hearers who believed would confess their belief, repent of their sins, and be baptized in the name of Christ for forgiveness of sins.

b.       This pattern is evident through a comprehensive study of each conversion recorded.  Not every conversion story records every detail of the pattern, but when taken altogether, the pattern is established.

                                                             2.      In the example of the Samaritans, it is recorded that they believed Philip’s preaching and were baptized in the name of Christ.

a.       It is implied that Philip’s proclamation of Christ and His kingdom (Acts 8:5, 12) must have included the instruction to be baptized in the name of Christ.

b.       Baptism is a vital part of the preaching of the gospel.

i.         “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)

ii.        “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

B.      Lesson 2: The Holy Spirit was bestowed upon believers through the laying on of the apostles hands.

                                                             1.      The laying on of the apostles’ hands was the only means by which miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit were ever bestowed in the New Testament with only two exceptions.

a.       The exceptions were when the apostles received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) and when Cornelius’ household received the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-48).

b.       Philip received the ability to perform signs from the apostles (Acts 6:5-6).  However, he could not pass that ability on to others, and thus the Peter and John came from Jerusalem.

                                                             2.      For us, this means that miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit are no longer imparted to men.

a.       There are no apostles living on earth today to impart these gifts, so they have ceased.

b.       Miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit were made obsolete by the coming of the complete (perfect) knowledge of God through the Bible (see 1Cor. 13:8-10).

                                                             3.      Notice also that receiving gifts of the Holy Spirit was not a matter of salvation for the Samaritans.  Salvation was, is, and always has been a matter of obedience to the gospel of Christ (see also Acts 10:44-48).

C.      Lesson 3: Sin happens within the heart.

                                                             1.      By modern so-called morality, Simon would be considered innocent.  He merely made a request, and no one was hurt by him.

                                                             2.      However, Peter declared that Simon’s transgression had occurred within his heart.

a.       Notice Peter’s words:

i.         “May your silver perish with you, because you thought…” (Acts 8:20)

ii.        “You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.” (Acts 8:21)

iii.      “…pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.” (Acts 8:22)

b.       When Simon practiced magic, he falsely and arrogantly claimed to be someone great (Acts 8:9).  Now again, that attitude of heart had vexed him into seeking the power of God with money presumably for his own glory.

                                                             3.      Lest we sin in the manner of Simon, we must be careful with the intentions of our hearts.

a.       Notice that Simon’s heart was in the “gall of bitterness” and the “bondage of iniquity.”  Even though he did not get the chance to abuse the power of God (because the apostles refused him), he was still guilty of sin because of his evil intentions.

b.       An evil heart that does not find opportunity to commit overt sin is just as guilty as if it had found that opportunity.  This is evident in the Lord’s teachings on murder (Matt. 5:21-22) and adultery (Matt. 5: 27-28).

c.        Thus, sin begins in an evil heart, and it corrupts the whole man (Matt. 15:18-20).

D.      Lesson 4: Christians who sin must repent and pray for forgiveness.

                                                             1.      Those who have obeyed the gospel (Christians) are still capable of sin.

a.       Christians do not become infallible when they obey the gospel.  John wrote, “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1John 1:8).

b.       When Christians sin, they are subjected to the same consequences of sin as anyone else (death – Rom. 6:23; separation from God – Isa. 59:2).

c.        Therefore, there is no truth to the doctrine of “once-saved-always-saved.”

i.         Simon was a genuine Christian, but he stood condemned because of his sin.  He was told, “You have no part or portion in this matter…” (Acts 8:21).

ii.        Even Peter was condemned by Paul in Galatians 2:11-21.

iii.      See also 1Corinthians 15:1-2; Galatians 5:4; Colossians 1:23; Hebrews 6:4-6; 2Peter 2:20-22.

                                                             2.      Even so, the power of Christ’s blood is effective for Christians to be forgiven when they repent of their sins and confess their sins to God.

a.       Simon was told, “Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you” (Acts 8:22).

b.       John wrote, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9).

IV.    CONCLUSION

A.      We are not told what became of Simon, but we would hope that he followed the instructions of Peter and received forgiveness from God.

B.      Regardless of the outcome of Simon’s story, the lessons are true and the applications are critical.  Let us observe them so that our salvation may be secure.