There was a man in the Bible who believed a few things that people still believe today. His name was Simon (Acts 8:9-24). Simon was a celebrity in his town because of his remarkable magic tricks. Then one day, Philip, who had been one of the men chosen to help serve in the church in Jerusalem (Acts 6:5) came to town. Philip told the people about Jesus. Philip healed people…some had been paralyzed, some couldn’t walk. Can you imagine this? People listened to what Philip was teaching them about Jesus, and many believed the good news of Jesus. Now all this fascinated Simon! Philip could do better tricks than he could! Simon decided he’d better get on board with this thing. So, the Bible says, “Even Simon himself believed” (Acts 8:13). And along with a whole bunch of people, Simon got baptized. He was saved! Or was he?
The story goes on. Simon hung around Philip and continued to be amazed by all that Philip did. I mean, these tricks were just incredible. Well, the apostles, Peter and John, heard about the people’s belief in Jesus and came to town to lay their hands on those who had been baptized in the name of Jesus. By the laying on of their hands, the truth of the people’s faith was confirmed, and the Holy Spirit was received by these believers. Simon was stunned. Just by simply laying their hands on people, the Holy Spirit could be made to come to people? Simon had to get his hands to work the same way. Note: obviously, Simon wasn’t a true believer—he obviously hadn’t received the Holy Spirit. But, hey, this was no problem for Simon. He offered Peter and John money. He tried buy the ability to do the same thing: put his hands on people and cause the Holy Spirit to be received. Said another way, Simon thought there was something he could give or something he could do to get the Holy Spirit. Is that how it works?
So, three things Simon thought and people still believe. 1) Was Simon saved because he said he believed? Though he said that, those were nothing but words. And in the same way today, there are plenty of people who think that simply saying the words, “I believe in Jesus” is all it takes. Here’s the truth: you can say anything you want. But it’s your life that tells the story. Does your life reflect a total commitment to the Lord? 2) But Simon must have been saved because he was baptized! It seemed to Simon that baptism sealed the deal. But baptism doesn’t save anyone…and yet, many churches today teach that baptism saves. Baptism is simply an action taken that declares to the world a change of heart—it tells friends and family that you are committed to loving and serving the Lord. A true change of heart means that what motivates you has changed. Is your motivation to love and serve the Lord wholeheartedly? 3) Simon believed that he had something that God wanted—his money. Seriously? Simon’s money could influence God? And yet it’s no different today. Many churches teach that what you do saves you…they teach that your giving and good deeds is the way to be saved. Back to the story: Peter called Simon out, saying, “your heart is not right before God.” Ah, and there’s the issue. A right heart. What is a right heart? The person with a right heart sees and is sick over his or her sin. The person with the right heart pleads with God for mercy and grace and forgiveness, made possible by Jesus’s death. Peter told Simon, “Repent!”
Do you seriously think God is checking His records to see if you’ve been baptized, and if you have, that puts you in good standing with Him? Or that you can work way into or earn the right to be saved because of what you’ve done or not done? No. God looks at your heart. What does God see in yours?
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