A Faith That Does Not Save Series

Introduction

Years ago, I read a story about the famous outlaw Jesse James (1847-1882).

He killed a man in a bank robbery and, shortly after that incident, professed faith in Jesus and was baptized at the Kearney Baptist Church in Kearney, Missouri (the church where his father had once served as pastor).

Then he killed another man, a bank cashier, and joined the church choir and taught hymn-singing.

He liked Sundays, but he didn’t always show up for worship.

On two Sundays, he robbed trains.

Now, what are we to make of such a profession of faith?

Did Jesse James have a faith that saved him?

Or did he have a faith that did not save him?

How can we distinguish between a true faith and a false faith that does not save?

Today’s sermon will answer those questions by looking at a faith that does not save.

We learn about such a false faith in the narrative about Simon the Magician in Acts 8:9-25.

Luke’s purpose in telling us about Simon the Magician is to give us a warning.

It’s a warning for people who miss the point of signs and miracles.

The simplest way I can think of illustrating what went wrong with Simon is an experience every mother of toddlers has had.

Suppose you have a one-year-old child sitting on your lap, and suddenly, in the window, there is a beautiful bird, and you hold out your hand to point at the bird and say, “Look, look at the bird.”

What does the child look at?

He looks at your hand and the sign you are making with your fingers. He might even imitate the sign by putting out his index finger. He sees the sign. He is excited because you are excited. He joins in, imitating the sign as best he can.

But the problem is that he never sees the bird.

The whole point of the sign is missed.

That is what happened to Simon the Magician in Acts 8:9-25.

He saw the signs that Philip was doing. They were better than his magical signs. He got excited about them. He followed Philip around and wanted to imitate them.

But he never saw the bird in the window.

He never saw what the signs were pointing to.

He never saw Christ.

He never saw the horror of his sin, the need for repentance, and the glory of Christ in the gospel, who forgives and makes new and clean.

Scripture

Let’s read Acts 8:9-25:

9 But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. 10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” 11 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.

14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” 24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

Lesson

Acts 8:9-25 teaches us about a faith that does not save.