A Close Look At A Phony
Acts 8:9-25
FALSE HONESTY
Several years ago, in Long Beach, California, a fellow went into a fried chicken place and bought a couple of chicken dinners for himself and his date late one afternoon. The young woman at the counter inadvertently gave him the proceeds from the day—a whole bag of money (much of it cash) instead of fried chicken.
After driving to their picnic site, the two of them sat down to open the meal and enjoy some chicken together. They discovered a whole lot more than chicken—over $800! But the man was unusual. He quickly put the money back in the bag. He and his date got back into the car and drove all the way back. Mr. Clean got out, walked in, and became an instant hero.
The guy with the bag of money looked the manager in the eye and said, “I want you to know I came by to get a couple of chicken dinners and wound up with all this money. Here.”
Well, the manager was thrilled to death. He said, “Oh, great, let me call the newspaper. I’m gonna have your picture put in the local newspaper. You’re the most honest man I’ve heard of.”
To which they guy quickly responded, “Oh no, no, don’t do that!” Then he leaned closer and whispered, “You see, the woman I’m with is not my wife...she’s uh, somebody else’s wife.” Here was a deceptive honesty.
FALSE CONFESSION
Dr. Adrian Rodgers after arriving slightly late to a prayer meeting one time said, "I’m sorry I’m late, I had lost track of time. I’ll have you know that even though I was in a hurry to get here, I didn’t break any speeding laws, although I passed a number of people who were!"
There are some who go through life with a false faith, though to them it may be a sincere faith. Yet it ends in hell and not heaven. A false faith may appear good to most onlookers. It may even appear good to the one who possesses it.
Our text helps to answer some pertinent questions on how a person can have a false faith and what is its remedy. The devil does not mind a person having a faith, going to church, being religious, doing deeds of service, using Christian vocabulary as long as that person does not experience saving faith in Jesus Christ and His merits.
A person can have a false faith right in the midst of
God’s church and His working. How can this happen?
I. A DEFICIENT VIEW OF SIN
There are many speculations throughout Christian history of this man named Simon. Some of the earliest church fathers claimed that he was the founder of Gnosticism, a second century heresy, which later affected the church by denial of the deity of Christ and a belief that salvation came by illumination rather than the new birth and the atoning work of Christ. Others would suggest that Simon eventually developed a cult following that extended all the way to Rome. At best, we can only speculate about him, so we are best served by confining our understanding of him to our text.
At the heart of what takes place in this narrative is the matter of Simon’s sin. He was involved in magical arts and sorcery, both of which are condemned in both the Old and New Testaments. He obviously had not repented of his sin after his profession of Christ, since Peter told him that he had no part in the Holy Spirit, that his heart was not right with God, and that he needed to repent of his wickedness (vv. 21-22).
We must never forget that Jesus Christ came to deal with sin. It is sin that darkens our hearts and blinds our eyes. It is sin that brings eternal judgment upon us and hopelessness to our lives.
See Matthew 1:21. Jesus did not come into this world to save us from hell, but He did not come to save us from sin. Not going to hell is the by-product of being saved from their sins. Jesus does not save us in our sins but from our sins.
This truth stands in direct opposition to the many claims of false believers. They claim to be "saved" yet there is no difference in their lives in terms of personal holiness, attitude of life, and love of truth. Many false believers have never seriously considered their sin problem.
A. False assestment Simon made some incredible claims! He practiced magic in Samaria, keeping the people in amazement over his abilities. For this he was claiming to be someone great (v. 9). He could boast about his life and achievements. He rather enjoyed displaying his magical powers and hearing the applause of men. Simon had evidently learned the magical or demonic arts of eastern, mystical magicians. Just as the magicians in Pharaoh’s kingdom during the day of Moses practiced magical skills which were related to demonism, Simon was capable of the same kinds of things. "This man is the great power of God," was the word around Samaria. This was essentially a claim to deity on the part of Simon. He enjoyed the attention people gave him, even to the point of devotion and awe (v. 11). Now the interesting thing about his believing and being baptized (v. 13) is that nowhere do you get the idea that Simon saw anything wrong with all of his false claims. Sin was not a problem in his life as far as he was concerned. The reason so many today fail to come to Christ is that they never see a need; they are enjoying their sin, ignoring the revelation of God, all they while their hearts become harder and harder. Until we are convinced of our own sinfulness, we will not be convinced of the necessity of the cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus did not die to give us a wonderful example of sacrificial living. He died to atone for our sins! He died as a substitute for sinners not saints. Many professing believers are still lost in their sins because they have never seen the power of sin in their lives and the offense of their sin before a holy and righteous God. They ignore their sins and think that being a Christian is a nice thing to do in polite society. B. Favorite alternative Simon was a religious man. “Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done." Notice what took place: Simon believed, was baptized, and continued on with Philip. Now all of this looks good on the surface. These are the kinds of signs you look for in real believers! You look for people who believe, who will follow Christ outwardly in baptism, and who will go on following the teaching of spiritual leaders. To all apparent witnesses, Simon was now a Christian. But the real Simon got exposed (vv. 18-21). Simon had the idea that since everyone had quit following him and had started following the teaching of Philip, it would be a good idea to get into this circle of Christians. Maybe Simon could regain his status as before, or so he thought. He believed the miracles done by Philip but not the message of Philip. As good as this appealing substitute looked, it was still not real; it was just a substitute. If the kind of Christianity you have is nothing more than a substitute for genuine faith in Christ, you may look good to everyone else, but you cannot pretend when you stand before God. Satan had tried MONEY as a means of stopping the church in the case of Ananias and Sapphira, and he had tried MURDER as means in the case of Stephen. Now he tries MIMICRY.
II. A DEFECTIVE VIEW OF SALVATION Simon obviously saw what Philip was doing as the latest fad passing through Samaria, rather than "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Rom. 1:16). He did not want to be left out, so he jumped on board! So many times I have heard of people whose Christianity consists of having walked down an aisle because someone else did or making a decision because it just seemed like a good thing to do. Yet, that is not true Christianity. Philip was preaching salvation right, but Simon had twisted it.
A. Salvation declared Philip proclaimed the good news that Jesus Christ died to save sinners! There was nothing wrong with the message being proclaimed. B. Salvation disregarded Simon disregarded the message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He sidestepped the gospel, went through the outward motions, and blended into the crowd. He was still just as lost as ever, only now he was enamored with the signs and miracles which Philip performed. He liked the excitement surrounding the new Christians, but not the gospel that transformed them. I would hasten to declare to you that many people with a false faith have later come to a true faith in Christ alone. I had a false faith for many years, but the Lord mercifully came to me in saving power and made me one of His own children through the blood of His Son. A number of you identify with this because that was exactly where you were--with a false faith, when God came to you in deep conviction of your sin and extended grace to you that you might be saved. Though you have ignored the clear preaching and teaching of the gospel time after time, God has mercifully allowed you to hear the exhortation again. Jesus Christ is mighty to save, even those who have lived with a false faith! Simon saw self egotistically; he saw salvation externally; and he saw the Spirit economically.
III. A DISTORTED VIEW OF THE SPIRIT A. W. Tozer once said, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." The giving of the Holy Spirit throughout the book of Acts was done, first of all to the Jews, then the Samaritans, and then the Gentiles. And, in each case, when the Spirit of God came, apostles were present so that everyone would know that the Gentiles and the half-breed Samaritans had received the same Spirit and the same power as the Jews had on the day of Pentecost. And so it was for the apostles, Peter and John, to be present. Thus, when this faith came to the Samaritans, Peter and John came in order to be there for the receiving of the Spirit. "For, as yet, He was fallen upon none of them, only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." They had to wait for the Spirit in this transition time in order that it might be confirmed to them and to the whole world through the apostles that they had received the same thing that the Jews had received, so there would be no division in the church. They "laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost." When Simon saw that through laying on of the apostle’s hands, the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money. Now, he must have seen some supernatural display. I believe the signs and wonders that occurred at Pentecost, at least some of them, occurred again here in Acts 8 because it says Simon saw what was going on. And then he said, "That’s what I want. How much is it? How much do I pay for that?"
In Simon’s world everything had a price, just at it had in Judas’ world. Judas decided the Son of God had a market value; Simon decided the Spirit of God had a market value. Simon saw God
A. As Someone that could be bought He thought the Holy Spirit was an economic commodity. In verse 18 we are told that as Simon witnessed Peter and John laying hands on the Samaritan believers in order for them to receive the Holy Spirit, and he wanted to get in on this great power. So he offered money. The word "offered" implies that he probably had the money in hand and presented it to the disciples, likely a lucrative sum, in hope of buying God’s power. He had probably purchased many of his magical secrets from others, so why not buy God’s power too, he thought.
God cannot be bought. I’m sure that all of us would shake our heads in disbelief that Simon would dare to try to buy something from God! Yet some today are attempting to do the very same thing. While Simon used money to try to buy something from God, you may be using your good works or your acts of service or your great sacrifices or your being associated with Christians, all with an attempt to appease God so that He might give you eternal life.
The Pharisees tried it by giving attention to meticulous details of their religious traditions. But God cannot be bought! Instead, He gives eternal life as a gift of His grace.
You cannot purchase something that is free!
B. As Someone that could be bribed
He thought he could use God to get back on top of the popularity polls in Samaria. But God will not be manipulated!
Do you realize that a lot of people go to church in order to try to bargain with God and use God? They think that if they can show a little religion in their lives that God will make them feel better, be healthier, make their families get along better, cause them to prosper, etc.
As long as a person thinks he can use God he will be very religious.
My friend, as tenderly as I know how, I want to warn you that God will not be mocked or treated as if He was a commodity to be used for our personal consumption. He is the Lord God to whom belongs all glory. None of us can manipulate God to fit into our scheme. You come to God on His terms alone and for His glory alone or you will never know God.
"Thy money perish with thee..... thy heart is not right in the sight of God.” Peter answered his request. “Of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45). What came out of Simon’s mouth revealed his heart, and Peter recognized this. Peter saw through him.
It is tragic that churches often lead the way in bringing God down to the level of being just another one of the guys. The way God is talked about is often pathetic. Some of the so-called Christian music lowers our view of God. God has become the tool we use to build our careers or establish our popularity. There is an increasing attempt the turn the spiritual into the commercial.
As far as we know, Simon never came to faith in Christ. The opportunity to repent was there, but Luke gives no hint that he availed himself of God’s great mercy.
How about you? If the Holy Spirit has pinpointed the problem of your own false-faith, I would remind you as Peter did Simon, "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness.”
Turn to Jesus Christ in faith, abandoning yourself and all the things in which you have been trusting to trust wholly in Him as you Savior and Lord.
By the way, Peter’s words do not sound as if he thought that he held the power of remission, but he tells Simon to go to God who alone can forgive.
Conclusion
Simon was sad, and he was scared, but he wasn’t saved.
Note now verse 24. ANY MAN WHO WANTS THE PRAYERS OF OTHERS BUT WHO WILL NOT PRAY HIMSELF IS NOT GOING TO ENTER HEAVEN!
