Conversion

Afternoon all

Jesus said in John 3:3 I tell you the truth, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again. Being born again is to be converted, and that’s what I would like to talk about today.

What is conversion? Is it as easy as simply believing in Jesus and being baptised? In the book of Acts, chapter 8 verse 13 it reads Simon the sorcerer himself believed and was baptised. Was he then coverted born again saved?

Well I would like to work through this question with you today.

Acts 8 verse 13 Simon himself believed and was Bapisted. However if you were to read on It becomes clear that Simon was not coverted hence not saved. Wait a minute here we have someone who believed and was baptised and yet not coverted not saved, Why?

It’s quite a scary thought isn’t it, that any one of us could be just like Simon, believe in Jesus baptised but yet not coverted hence not saved

Acts 8:9 reads Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people. He boasted that he was someone great and all the people both high and low gave him attention and exclaimed this man is the divine power known as the Great power, They followed him because he had amazed them for along time with his magic. As I read the life of Simon I begain to relise my early life was not that different. I didn’t go practicing sorcery, but my drive to in life was to impress people and that too is really boasting that I was someone great, desiring to get their paises and acceptance. I did it though what I was good at, that was sport; as a young man I lived for the roar of the local crowd as I race up the wing boucing the football, I trained hard and put my body on the line for that.

And I also loved to remind of how fast I could bowl and the cricket side who appealed against the light late afternoon because they fear the speed of my bowling. In a sence I too boasted that I was someone great and failed to acknowlegde that God is the Giver of all good gifts. I believe if we are honest we can all be a little like Simon, seek the paises of others through what we can achieve or do, maybe it’s with the clothes we wear, how we look, or house we have and cars we drive without remember it all comes from God. We can all try to get people praises through what we are good at, whether it be sport, music, academics, looks you full in the blanks Reading on

Verse 12

But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women Verse 13 Simon himself believed and was batized. Simon believe the Good news that is that Jesus was the son of God and forgiveness and enternal life was found in Him. It goes on to say and he followed Philip everywhere, that sounds like a pretty good church member to me, good attendance He must of went to the bible studies, prayer groups, evangleical meetings etc. it says he was astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. Simon was in the very presence of God. experiencing his power and great works; the preaching of Philip, what was wrong then? Lets read on

Verse 14

Now here we read God making his Holy Spirit available When the apostle in Jeruslem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God they sent Peter and John to them 15 when they arrived they prayed for them that they might recieve the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not come upon any of them they had simply been baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed there hands on them and they recieved the Holy Spirit. There is no reason to assume at the same time Simon would not have also recieved the Holy Spirit.

Verse 18

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles hands he offered them money, and said give me also me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands on may recieve the Holy Spirit.This is where Simon goes wrong, off the tracks; Instead of inviting the Holy Spirit to contol his life, live like Jesus; he wanted to use the Holy Spirit to furter his own angenda. But we are not to use God Like that, that is not acceptabel to Him.