1. The Faith of Simon of Samaria

2. Jn. 4, Jesus in Sychar Acts 8, Philip in Samaria
(Map from blueletterbible.org)

3. Background Jn. 4 Jesus in Sychar Acts 8:4-8 preaching miracles
v12 they believed
Background
A. Jn. 4 The city of Samaria was < 10 mi from Sychar, where Jesus taught the woman at the well
B. v4-8
preaching the word, preached Christ v4, 5
men and women- preaching is not limited to public speaking
they didn’t know everything but knew what they believed (2:36, 38, 42, 46)
can you start a conversation about the basics of God, the consequences of sin, God’s plan to save?
C. the miracles v6-7
Jesus had gained a reputation by these same kinds of miracles
compare these with modern miraculous claims ex., I heard a Pen. preacher claim Jesus had raised him from the dead after a heart attack and then thank all who prayed for him while he was in the hosp recovering.
these miracles were also different than the tricks they had seen and believed.
D. in v12, everyone who believed was baptized
1. What do we read that was taught? the word, Christ, the kingdom of God, the name of Jesus, faith, baptism
2. v16 they were baptized in the name of the Lord-- this was what Jesus commanded (Mt. 28:18)
3. this is what Peter taught Acts 2:38 (also in Acts 10:48; 19:5)
4. Majority of Protestant and “non-denom” denominations reject this---how can they themselves be saved or help others if they reject the baptism Jesus taught and substitute another baptism?
- We ought not feel arrogant/superior but love and teach them what Philip taught, publicly and privately!

4. Simon’s faith in himself v9-12
Comfort and confidence based on lies, destroyed by the gospel
1. Faith in himself v9-12
A. he had a comfortable life, gaining the money and the confidence of many
1. but it was based on a lie
2. when Philip arrived, his world was turned upside down, and he lost it all v12
a. The difference between truth and error was obvious (deeds, claims, instructions)
b. Philip preached the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ
i. these are topics of documented prophecy (Dan. 2; Ps. 22; Mic. 5:2) able to be investigated by all
ii. the facts of Jesus’ death and resurrection were public matters and could be investigated by anyone
iii. implies other things were taught: sin-death-repentance-forgiveness by Jesus’ blood-judgment
B. Before we began whole-heartedly serving God, life was comfortable in some ways
1. our lives were based on a lie
a. some religious-group absent from the Bible
b. wisdom accepted by society (life came from non-life, Bible is irrelevant, I am my own authority)
c. “good enough” (my family Christians, I generally behaved well)
2. at some point, we were confronted with something that exposed those lies and we realized our confidence was in the wrong place---we all have some things in common with Simon.

5. Simon’s faith in Jesus v13
He also believed v13
Christ, the kingdom of God, the name of Jesus Christ (v5, 12)
2. Faith in Jesus v13
A. also believed
1. believed in the kingdom of God and name of Jesus Christ
2. humbling for him to publicly admit his lies, abuse---did some question his conversion? suspicious?
3. if he previously relied upon deceit for money, he has no income in present or future, but instead of moving on to another place to deceive other people, he also believed.
4. This is all we are trying to persuade men of today---the same message Philip preached.
B. amazed
1. what Philip did was so different from what he had been doing
2. but he was not merely “along for the ride,” remember Luke said he believed
3. some people deny his conversion was genuine but Luke says his faith was the same as everyone else’s

6. Simon’s faith in himself v14-23
His idea of money
His idea of the Holy Spirit
Peter’s response
3. Faith in himself v14-23
A. His idea of money
1. he thought his money could purchase a spiritual gift, advantage
2. with his background, it is likely that he had “money-making” plans
a. was he getting low on funds or did he miss the degree of wealth he once had?
b. did he miss being the center of attention and the favors that went with that?
3. the weeds were growing—would they continue choking the word after Peter’s rebuke and exhortation?
B. His idea of the Holy Spirit
1. He assumed the HS was shared by the hands of non-apostles
2. He assumed the HS was shared on a financial basis
C. What Peter says about Simon’s plan
1. cause him to perish, heart is not right in the sight of God, wickedness, poisoned by bitterness, bound by iniquity
2. Does one sin matter?
3. Is a Christian automatically forgiven of his sins (“continual cleansing”)? Forgiven if heart is not right...?
4. Do the sins of a Christian cause him to be lost? Can you be bound by iniquity and go to heaven?

7. Simon’s faith in Jesus v24
Simon heard Peter’s warning, solution, and promise and asked for Peter’s help.
He expressed faith in God’s forgiveness.
4. His faith in Jesus v24
A. He accepted Peter’s warning (v20-21)
B. He accepted Peter’s solution (v22-23) repent and pray
C. He accepted Peter’s promise—thought of your heart may be forgiven
D. He asked for Peter’s help (Num. 21:7; Job 42:8; Js. 5:16)
E. Simon’s faith was in Jesus, not Peter.
1. Peter was only the messenger
2. This illustrates God’s longsuffering, patience, and chastening.
F. Only Christians are washed in this way
1. repent, confess sin, and ask forgiveness---for any sin, we have the relief of forgiveness in Jesus
2. when men first learned of the forgiveness of sin through the gospel they were never told repent and pray

8. 3 Lessons from Simon’s Faith
First principles
The ongoing battle against temptation and sin
More about the Holy Spirit
1. The first principles of salvation, the connection between preaching Christ, the kg of God, the “one baptism”
2. The battle against temptation and sin does not end when God forgives us
a. expect a battle, so prepare for a battle
b. faith is still the victory---faith to refuse sin or faith to repent and again seek God’s forgiveness
3. More about the Holy Spirit (the apostles’ role, baptism-salv separate from receiving the HS)