Simon was not merely a man of the street but was looked up as somebody in Samaria. "Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one. " He was there to make Samaria great again.
When he saw the baptism of Spirit his mercantile spirit had to have it. So his belief was disconnected from reality and he offered them (the apostles) money. Simon Peter "said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money./Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God./ Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee./ For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity."(8:20-23)
What did Simon really believe in? Jesus Christ who humbled himself had the power and Authority and his obedience was the cement that made the Gospel take root. Faith it is called where no bond of iniquity can tie believer down. Where God gives him freely joy and peace there can be no room for bitterness. That is what faith with works do. Simon believed only in himself though his Jesus talk impressed the people of Samaria. It is same as many celebrity TV preachers catch head lines after some scandal and fall in disgrace, one gets to see that his belief was only in himself. This is what studying the word of God without faith has produced. Without light in you what witnessing can you possibly do? "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."(Ph.2:15)
Simon was not merely a man of the street but was looked up as somebody in Samaria. "Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one. " He was there to make Samaria great again.
When he saw the baptism of Spirit his mercantile spirit had to have it. So his belief was disconnected from reality and he offered them (the apostles) money. Simon Peter "said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money./Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God./ Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee./ For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity."(8:20-23)
What did Simon really believe in? Jesus Christ who humbled himself had the power and Authority and his obedience was the cement that made the Gospel take root. Faith it is called where no bond of iniquity can tie believer down. Where God gives him freely joy and peace there can be no room for bitterness. That is what faith with works do. Simon believed only in himself though his Jesus talk impressed the people of Samaria. It is same as many celebrity TV preachers catch head lines after some scandal and fall in disgrace, one gets to see that his belief was only in himself. This is what studying the word of God without faith has produced. Without light in you what witnessing can you possibly do? "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."(Ph.2:15)
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