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well good morning welcome to the house of the Lord good to see everyone here this morning and as we look forward to worshiping our great God just by way of announcements the the only there's two announcements one the first being that there's alerts Lord supper this is this evening so we'll look forward to to remembering that in a special way this evening and this coming Saturday a reminder that is the church picnic both free grace and the survey form Baptist churches are meeting together and that's in Abbotsford if you have not contacted the the Kroll's tackle yesterday was the cutoff but I'm sure they will make a make a special allowance for you if you'd kind of forgotten about it to let them know it's more just in terms of food terms of how much meat to meat to purchase I believe that the meat is purchased on our behalf and if it does there's a little bit rain in the forecast as we head towards the end of the week and so if it is going to get canceled there would have to be an email that would go out probably you know close at Friday I would imagine we would send an email out to say it will be canceled if it's torrential rain but if it's just a few great clouds and I think we'll go ahead with it so that's that is all the announcements if you'll turn your Bibles please to begin worship to prepare our hearts for worship turn to Psalm 24 Psalm 24 Psalm 24 a psalm of David the earth is the Lord's and all its fullness the world and those who dwell therein for he has founded it upon the Seas and established it upon the waters who may ascend into the hill of the Lord or who may stand in his holy place he who has clean hands and a pure heart he who has not lifted up his soul to an idol nor sworn deceitfully he shall receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the god of his salvation this is Jacob the generation of those who seek Him who seek your face Sayla lift up your heads o you gates and be lifted up you everlasting doors and the King of glory shall come in who is this King of glory the Lord strong and mighty the Lord mighty in battle lift up your heads o you gates lift up you everlasting doors and the King of glory shall come in who is this King of glory the Lord of Hosts he is the king of glory sailau a man well let's begin worship this morning by turning our hymn books to him number 122 a 122 a and I'll ask you to please stand [Music] amen you may be seated let's go to God in prayer and ask his blessing to be a farm on our meeting time here this morning our gracious and our loving Heavenly Father we come into your holy presence this morning through your son the Lord Jesus Christ and father we do adore the fact that we get to come into your presence this this this morning to to lift up our voices in praise and adoration of a true and a mighty God a God who sustains this world and all of its all of its beauty although stained by sin yet father the the light of nature demonstrates and B speaks of a kind got a good God of creating God a sustaining God a God who is mighty in word mighty in power mighty in deed and we just praise you this morning father for the fact that we are worshipers of this great God thank you that you bend your ear towards the prayers and petitions of your people as well we thank you Father we praise you that you are a God who does entertain the prayers and petitions and praises of your people help us this day father in our praise and worship - - to have that singular focus of mind and and heart of concentration this day to worship our great God how we praise you Father for your word for the for the 66 books that we have that contain all that which all that is required for our salvation - for our knowledge of of you and the things of Christ we thank you Father for giving to us the Holy Spirit that is able to take the things of of the Word of God take the scriptures and and make them clear and and open up the the things as they relate to the Lord Jesus Christ Lord we praise you and give you our grateful thanks this day for the great God that you are how we praise you father for the gift of your son the Lord Jesus Christ we're grateful father for for the for that perfect life that was lived as say as who lived on this earth as a as a as the perfect God man the one who was actively obedient and all that he went about doing he would say he was perfect and according to the law he never sinned and so Lord as the Lord Jesus Christ died now we praise you that he dies a perfect sacrifice for our sins one that would that one that would take our punishment what that which would have been just to to be dealt out to us for our sins he took upon himself so that we might enjoy that that righteousness that that he has given to us and how we praise you Father for the fact that you do forgive sin Lord how we praise you for the fact that that you forgive not only our sin but even the guilt of that sin and how we pray that this day as we gather as the people here the people of God in this place at free grace that Lord you'd be pleased to Tabernacle amongst us cause this Lord to to rejoice in our Savior we pray that as Christ is preached in this pulpit that you'd be pleased to bless that preaching cause it tu-tu-tu-tu-tu-tu strike in the heart of each man woman boy and girl here this day the father those who are believers that we would be sanctified and our most holy faith that we've built up that we will be built up in our most holy faith and and made and molded into the image of your son the Lord Jesus Christ and for any and all who come in here this day strangers to grace and and with no with without a knowledge of salvation how we pray lo that you be gracious and that you would move and work in the hearts of all those here in this place and what we pray for ourselves for all that we pray for all the churches throughout Chilliwack and and throughout the Lower Mainland across our nation will every pray that you would revive your churches revive your people we pray that you would add to add to the churches as many as are to be saved across this nation all around this world father we do pray for the missionary enterprise that you'd be pleased to bless those who are seeking to be gospel bearers in foreign lands we know Lord that it can be a difficult circumstance a difficult situation away from friends and family away from churches where they they would perhaps be more at home we thank you Father for the for their dedication for the fact that they are involved in in in that which which really which truly is a calling and they were they work for that for the King on high so we pray Lord that you would bless them in those labors bless those churches that they are involved in we pray that they too would would would bring glory to you and that you would be pleased to save sinners bless those in persecuting countries father we pray that you would undertake for those pastors and those those leaders in places where the gospel is under much persecution under much under much threat how we pray that you would sustain them and make them bold with the gospel make them bold in their preaching and and we do pray Lord that you would that you would protect them bless those who have lost family members loved ones those who who have family members imprisoned Lord we pray that you would that you would bless them cause them to know your your truth and cause them to be to be buoyed up in their in their most holy faith by the Spirit of the Living God and we pray Lord that you would sustain them and sustain them with your word and and by your gracious Holy Spirit father we do pray for any and all in our midst here this this morning or who those who perhaps could not be with us due to illness or sickness we pray Lord that you would strengthen each and every one cause them to to know your your touch of of your touch upon their lives give them to give to them what they stand in need of this day and we pray Lord that any and all who come into this place perhaps with heavy hearts perhaps with with difficulties in their minds we pray Lord that you would sustain them in those things and and cause your spirit to to take your word and and cause them to to look heavenward in and to find their find their sustenance and the things of Christ and the Word of God we pray Lord we pray for any who are not able to be with us this day as well that you would sustain them in their in their beds in their in their in their place of sickness and we pray that in due time they might be with us and that they would be well enough to be here Lord we just ask your blessing to be upon all the things that are done here in this place forgive us of all of our sins and cleanses afresh and in the in the precious blood of your son the Lord Jesus Christ and we pray that we truly would be about worshiping the true and living God that triune God this day through the mediation of your son the Lord Jesus Christ it's in his name we pray amen well please turn with me in your hymn books to him number 153 153 and [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] amen you may be seated and please turn with me in your Bibles to John chapter 18 John chapter 18 John chapter 18 will read the first 18 verses could excuse me the first 18 verses what Jesus had spoken these words he went out with his disciples over the brook of Kidron where there was a garden which he and his disciples entered and Judas who betrayed him also knew the place for Jesus often met there with his disciples then Judas having received a detachment of troops and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees came there with lanterns torches and weapons Jesus therefore knowing all things that would come upon him went forward and said to them whom are you seeking they answered him Jesus of Nazareth jesus said to them I am he and Judas who betrayed him also stood with them now when he had said when he said to them I am he they drew back and fell to the ground then he asked them again whom are you seeking and they said Jesus of Nazareth jesus answered I've told you that I'm he therefore if you seek me let these go their way that the same might be fulfilled which he spoke of those whom you gave me I have lost none then Simon Peter having a sword drew it and struck the high priests servant and cut off his right ear the servants name was Malchus so jesus said to Peter put your sword into the sheath shall I not drink the cup which my father has given me then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him and they led him away to Anna's first for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people and Simon Peter followed Jesus and so did another disciple now that disciple was known to the high priest and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest but Pierre stood at the door outside then the other disciple who was known to high priest went out and spoke to her who kept the door and brought Peter in then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter you are not also one of this man's disciples are you he said I am NOT now the servants and officers who made a fire of coals stood there for it was cold and they warmed themselves and Peter stood with them and warned warmed himself it's a very very sad picture as we see of course we know that the rest of the story here in this in this chapter or the continuation of the book of John the the taking up of Christ the arrestee of Christ and ultimately we know that he would end up on the cross and I think the the best commentary on what is happening is found you know you don't need to look at it I'll just read it as a commentary on that passage of course the best commentary is always going to be the Bible as it commentates on itself he says that there Peter says in acts act Acts chapter two men of Israel hear these words Jesus of Nazareth a man attested by God to you by miracles wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst as you yourselves also know him being delivered to sorry being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God you have taken by lawless hands have crucified and put him to death so what happened here what was happy in this text of in this narrative of John chapter II 18 was allowed by God was permitted by God it was four it was four known by God and so therefore it gives that sense of purpose even in these difficult difficult verses that we read of what they were doing to the Lord Jesus Christ what was about to happen to Christ well that was all by the foreknowledge of God nothing happened by accident Christ was not taken somehow by some great accident or against his will this is all predetermined by a glorious God who was working out our salvation for that truly we are grateful grateful people who worship here the seat this morning let's go to God in prayer and just ask his blessing to be upon the upon the preaching which we will begin after the after the last human that's pray our gracious and our loving Heavenly Father again we thank you for your son the Lord Jesus Christ who willingly laid down his life for our for our sins and how we praise you Father for the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ did not resist that as difficult as it was to to be delivered over to the into the hands of these soldiers and and ultimately knowing that the end of that road was going to be a cross where where he would die for our sins Lord all we can do this this morning is simply praise you and worship you for that that great gift of our salvation we pray that as the preaching happens in a few minutes the Lord you'd be pleased to - to cause the preaching - to delight you that you'd be well pleased to add your blessing that the things of Christ would be opened up and from this pulpit that you'd be pleased to to give to us understanding give to us that that that wisdom that comes from your word and we pray that ultimately all these things be done so that you'd be worshiped you'd be honored and you'd be glorified and we do pray these things in Jesus precious name Amen well please turn with me in your hymn books to the last to him which is him number 476 476 in Alaska Stan [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] well please turn with me in your Bibles to the book of Acts where in Acts chapter 8 Acts chapter 8 Philips ministry in Samaria I'll begin reading in verse 9 in Acts chapter 8 but there was a certain man called Simon who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria claiming that he was someone great to whom they all gave heed from the least to the greatest saying this man is the great power of God and they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time but when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ both men and women were baptized then Simon himself also believed and when he was baptized he continued with Philip and was amazed seeing the miracles and signs which were done now when the Apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God they sent Peter and John to them who when they had come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit for his yet he had fallen upon none of them they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit and when Simon saw that through the laying on of the Apostles hands the Holy Spirit was given he offered them money saying give me this power also that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit but Peter said to him your money perish with you because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money you have neither part nor portion in this matter for your heart is not right in the sight of God repent therefore of this your wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you for I see see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity then Simon answered and said pray to the Lord for that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me so when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord they returned to Jerusalem preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans amen let us pray our Father we thank you for your written word and we pray now for the Ministry of the Holy Spirit who gave us this word we ask that you would guide us and instruct us and help us to see what is happening in this passage of Scripture and God may you cause us to reflect upon the the truths herein and may you cause us all to reflect upon the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ how we praise you that you made him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him how we thank you for your graciousness and for your mercy how we thank you for your your salvation wrought in our hearts and how we thank you for bringing us together on this Lord's Day and do forgive us for our sins and our transgressions now cleansing us in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and again filling us with your Holy Spirit then we pray this in Jesus name Amen well we have seen as a result of the great persecution against the church that the people of God were scattered and they left Jerusalem and they went into various other parts of the earth at that time and Philip goes into Samaria remember Samaria was looked down upon by Israelites they were looked down upon as persons that were as not important as the Jews and yet the gospel goes to them and as we see specifically in verse 12 people in Samaria heard what Philip preached they believed by God's grace and they were baptized and added to the church and then there's this fellow called Simon Magus Magus referring to magician that's how he's been referred to in the history of the church notice at verse 13 then Simon himself also believed and when he was baptized he continued with Philip and was amazed seeing the miracles in science which were done the Apostles Peter and John now come to investigate the work of God going on in Samaria they pray for the people that they would receive the Holy Spirit and then they lay hands on them so that they do in fact receive the Holy Spirit then we have this account of Simon asking to purchase this gift so that he may get us so that he may convey the spirit to others it's a bit of a difficult passage it's a bit of a puzzle as to whether or not he was genuinely converted the mix between commentators is pretty well divided some put him in heaven some put him in hell I'm not sure that I can give you a definitive answer but as we look at this particular passage I hope that we'll appreciate some things concerning God's grace concerning the availability of forgiveness upset and concerning the mercy that there is in the person and work of the Lord Jesus so I want to look at three things this morning first the requests made by Simon in verses 18 and 19 secondly the rebuke given by Peter in verses 20 to 24 and then finally the return to Jerusalem by the apostles in verse 25 bit of a transition passage and then we'll pick up the Ethiopian eunuch next time but notice the request made by Simon what he saw with reference to the Apostles ministry again they prayed that the Samaritans would receive the spirit they then lay hands on the Samaritans and then the Spirit comes upon them in a dramatic and obvious way now whether the gift of tongues associated were or was done here we're not sure doesn't tell us in acts 2 when the Spirit comes in a powerful way the people of God speak in strange tongues or other languages but we don't know that that happened here the fact that it's not mentioned would probably indicate or possibly indicate that it didn't but there was something manifest there was something visible there was something by which Simon was able to conclude that the Holy Spirit had in fact really fallen upon these Samaritan believers these new confessors of faith in Jesus Christ in other words there was some manifestation and this Simon saw it and then Simon requests this F F Bruce says whether the external signs which accompanied the reception of the Spirit on this occasion were identical identical with the Pentecostal signs or not they were at any rate of so impressive in nature that simon magus craved the power to reproduce them at will so he sees this according to verse 18 and then he offers them money so that he can purchase this ability for himself there is this desire for power on the part of Simon Magus that certainly tilts the scales in the favor of him not having been genuinely converted going to kind of tip these scales back and forth as we move through the message this morning feel a bit like those commentators that say well here are the two views now now go figure it out but that's gonna kind of be how I end today and I'm sorry but there are compelling pieces of evidence on either side as to whether or not Simon Magus is converted new believers do some terrible things old believers do some terrible things the reality is is that our righteousness is in Jesus Christ the reality is is that it's not our virtue or our performance or our merit or our law keeping that commends us to God Jesus blood and righteousness is the ground upon which we stand so that Simon Magus did a terrible thing doesn't necessarily eliminate him from the kingdom of God Simon Peter did a terrible thing and that didn't eliminate him from the kingdom of God King David did a terrible thing and that didn't eliminate him from the kingdom of God in fact we'll look at the King David narrative tonight in 2nd samuel 12 with reference to the supper because again it extols the glory and the majesty and the excellency not of King David but of David's greater son the Lord Jesus Christ so with reference to his desire he offers them money the whole idea is so paradoxical it's not that you purchase the gift of God it is the gift of God gift by definition is something freely given and for Simon to even proffer this or to offer them money is indicative that he hasn't really understood Phillips preaching notice that nowhere Peter says to fill up how did you train this guy so poorly how did you teach him so badly philip is not chided for his proclamation of the truth rather Peter goes against or highlights the the gravity of Simon megasis sin but in this instance he reverses the gift character of God's grace Alexander says the sin and folly of the Sorcerer's offer lay not merely in the thought of bribing God but in that of purchasing what from its very nature could only be a free gift and he gravitates toward this power and that's consistent with what he was in his former life remember prior to his belief and prior to his baptism he claimed to be somebody great according to Acts chapter 8 as well the people around him according to verse 10 confessed that he was the great power of God so he liked this identification with power and he gravitated toward this particular situation but here he sort of goes to the top he says I want to purchase from the Apostles the ability to convey the Holy Spirit upon these people or upon other people no doubt for profit he's spending money to make some money whether it's altruism and he just wants to go about the countryside dispensing the Holy Spirit because he's a great guy most likely he wants that gift to be able to convey to others for a nominal price and so what we see here is not good thus far his interest is shown in the miracles and signs associated with Phillips preaching notice in verse 13 again this doesn't disqualify him necessarily a philip was in my presence and he was doing miracles and science I would be dazzled as well I don't want to you know make you think that I'm so pious all I would want is the truth of God's doctrine no so verse 13 Simon himself also believed and when he was baptized he continued with Philip and was amazed seeing the miracles and signs which were done yet I think it would be nice if he was amazed at the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ he was amazed at the reality that my sin oh the Bliss of this glorious thought my sin not in part but the whole is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more praise the Lord praise the Lord as well his offer to these apostles in order to purge the whole purchase the Holy Spirit of the power so that he can convey it to others and be more impressive if he said to Peter and John what would you have me to do in your service what is there I can do to benefit you I don't doubt that when persons get converted when they believe the gospel when they're baptized they have this desire to serve they have this desire to glorify God but they usually don't shoot for the top gift right off the bat that's obviously a wrong thing it would have been far more consistent with genuine conversion for him to say to them I will gladly carry your water I will gladly tie and untie your shoelaces I would gladly do any mundane tasks that you have to offer for me or better had he said teach me the Bible instruct me in doctrine caused me to reflect upon the truth so that I may grow in the Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ no he goes for the very top he goes to these apostles and he says let me peel back some dough and give it to you so that you can convey to me the power to convey this to others again most likely for a price remember how Elijah the Prophet is described by a servant when he is rehearsing the presence of Elijah of the Prophet to Jehoshaphat the king he describes Elijah as set in 2nd Kings chapter 3 as the one who poured water on the hands of Elijah what's that mean it means that Elijah was perfectly content with the mundane Elijah was perfectly content with being a servant to the Prophet Elisha he was perfectly content a Content pouring water on another man's hands for the service of God Almighty it wasn't until the translation of Elijah when he goes up to heaven he receives the mantle of the prophet Elijah does and then he prophesies in the name of Yahweh but he's identified by that that service and that's not the case with Simon Magus he wants to purchase this because he is mesmerized and enamored with the power associated with it and I think we've seen this sort of a response to Christianity in the history of the church there are persons that are are so enamored with the miracles and the signs and the wonders and again if there are genuine miracle signs and wonders I think all of God's people would say wow that's impressive that's glorious that's wonderous and they would honor God but being so interested in that to the exclusion of the mundane to the exclusion of pouring water on another servant sands or to the exclusion of learning sound doctrine that's a problem and that's faulty we need to be the people of God that say with John the Baptist that Christ must increase and I must decrease I've always loved and appreciated that statement by John the Baptist I'm not saying I embody it but I love and appreciate it nonetheless he doesn't say Jesus must increase and I must stay the same Jesus must increase and I must increase a little bit no while Jesus increases John the Baptist says I must decrease I must take the that the back seat I must be not viewed anymore I must not be esteemed by anyone because Christ is altogether lovely and chief among ten thousand it seems to me that in the history of the church there have been those types of people that say he must increase and I must a little bit and I'm going to engage in these signs and wonders and I want to have the ability to cast these things upon others and do these miraculous things in the name of God do you know what God's church typically needs people that are masters of the mundane people that excel at the ordinary people that aren't looking after prestige but rather perseverance persons that aren't looking after fame and fortune but faithfulness under God that's what the Church of Jesus Christ has always needed not signs and wonders and miracles again those associated the apostolic ministry I don't believe there ant today in the same way that they were during the apostolic ministry but this idea that this man comes to the Apostles and says let me purchase this power so that I can convey it to others that does not tip the scales favorably in his direction now notice secondly the rebuke given by Peter now this really doesn't tip the scales favorably for him if all we had were Peters words I think we'd all have to conclude that Simon Magus is in hell notice the rebuke given in verses 20 and 21 he says but Peter said to him your money perish with you because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money the words are not a curse properly but a threat of a curse there is conditionality in the passage Peter desires ultimately Simon's conversion or salvation not his damnation in verse 22 he says to him specifically to repent he says to him specifically to pray to the Lord God Most High that he might grant you forgiveness but in this instance he does threaten this curse upon him and it's most powerful your money perish with you he's not just saying your money perish but your money perish with you an older Bible version it's a paraphrase I don't recommend it it's the work of a single fellow by the name of Phillips if you have a you know you go to Bible gateway calm or you go to one of these other Bible things it's in the list it's a it's a translation that the church has at least looked out or seen or used but he translates this this way to hell with you and your money and in some sense that gets at the idiom that's involved what Peter is saying is that what you're what you are doing is betraying a fundamental knowledge of what Christ's gospel is all about you actually think that the gift of the Holy Spirit is purchasable it's a commodity it's a it's something to be traffic in that that it goes to the right bidder the highest price you actually think that the God of heaven and earth can be purchased you think that he can be bought you think that he can be bribed you think that he needs guys like you going out and doing his bidding so that all the world may know for a fee that there is a God in Israel no the Lord doesn't need that God's not bail that's the way bail was worship he was manipulated he was bribed he was controlled or an attempt was made to control him so that from bail all blessings would flow but that's not Java that's not Yahweh that is not the true in the Living God so Peters rebuke is serious it is sharp and it is very specific the words apply to his money and to him made destruction take your money with you notice the judgment rendered by Peter in verse 21 he says you have neither part nor portion in this matter now probably in the matter of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit or in the matter of the Christian faith as a whole you haven't neither part nor portion in this you haven't come to the the basic knowledge of what it is to be saved by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ again it's hard to navigate and say decisively all the ins and outs here because is Peter saying you have neither part nor portion in Christianity or in this gift of the Holy Spirit and who the Holy Spirit comes upon either way what Peter then goes on to say underscores some fundamental issues in the heart of simon magus notice in verse 21 after saying you have neither part nor portion in this matter he says for your heart is not right in the sight of God now when an apostle tells you that you've got problems now did he know it by revelation or did he know it by the rotten fruit did Peter have revelation from God that gave him the ability to with clear-cut insight see the defective heart of Simon Magus or did he just judge the rotten fruit see we just judge rotten fruit so if somebody were to say look I want to purchase the gift of the Holy Spirit so that I can give that to others we would say your heart's not right in the sight of God based on the fact that he tried to engage in such a diabolical thing but Simon Peter as an apostle in the Apostolic age with authority and power invested in and by Christ himself may have had that special insight he may have had revelation into the man's heart that you and I don't have and were simply going off the external evidence the bad fruit consistent with this Simon Magus now notice the activity commanded in verses 22 and 23 he says repent therefore of this your wickedness again the command to repent highlights Peters desire he hasn't just said okay that's it you're done you you committed the unpardonable sin it's a bad sin it's a horrible sin the thought of bribing God are buying the ability to convey the Holy Spirit is certainly right up there with the big sins brethren but Peter doesn't treat it as if it is the unpardonable sin and I think there's encouragement in this passage for each and every one of us there is forgiveness with God that he may be feared this is what Peter is telling Simon Magus repent therefore no longer think these same thoughts no longer have this idea that you can control manipulate or by God or by this power so that you can convey it to others you need to repent of that see oftentimes we mistake what repentance is we take the fruits of repentance and we call that repentance no the fruits of repentance or the fruits of repentance repentance first and foremost is a change of mind now when that mind is changed by the grace of God there are fruits consistent with it but if we merely judge fruit we might be inclined to say that somebody who stopped smoking crack has now believed and repented well that's not necessarily the case people stop smoking crack or they stop lives of prostitution or they stop other sinful activities but that's not necessarily the fruit of repentance repentance in the first instance is a change of mind and this is what Simon Peter tells Simon Magus he has to change his about how the kingdom of God functions he has to change his mind about the way things are done he cannot think the way that he did in his former life when he claimed to be somebody great and he loved to hear the praises that he was in fact the great power of God he can't do that anymore he has to stop engaging in dis your wickedness so in the one hand Simon Peter recognizes that there is forgiveness with God he recognizes that there is repentance to be had even in the case of Simon Magus but he doesn't minimize the man sin he says this is wicked this is terrible you don't do this I just read on the news recently a famous preacher a famous guy I wouldn't call him a preacher but he was asked by a reporter why he has three private jets and you know and and why he said at one time he wouldn't fly on a on a public plane because it'd be like being in a tube with demons that's not the character of a preacher it's not the way you're supposed to be Jesus was a friend of sinners and he ate with that he didn't say I'm not gonna fly on a plane because it's a tube with demons and by the way I'm gonna take my one one of my three private jets you know again I'm not I don't condemn any man being paid honestly for hard day's work the Apostle Paul in 2nd Timothy chapter or first Timothy chapter 5 says let the rule elders who rule well be counted worthy of double on it and double honor there doesn't mean a parking spot it doesn't mean you know your own private bathroom it means dough it means payment it means money honor the widow's who are really widows indeed means to cough up and give them money when it comes to honoring elders who rule well especially those who labor and the word a doctor you pay them well you do that so I don't begrudge any man any of that but three private jets at some point you wonder is the guy in it for the money and you wonder that at one jet don't you wonder that a lot long long time ago before he gets to three Jets there's money associated with religion and some guys have tapped into it fact the Apostle Peter and for Peter chapter 5 tells would-be elders that they're not to be greedy for money Paul the Apostle says that ought to be indicative of what considered for eldership in 1st Timothy 3 what does that suggest I'll tell you exactly what it suggests it suggests that there was money to be made in religion there was money to be made in philosophy there was money to be made in any sort of instruction in this early in the Roman Empire people paid money to get wisdom to get knowledge to get the reception of information and so the people of God are told with reference to the elders in the church that they're not to be greedy money-grubbing men and this is what Simon Magus at least appeal appears to be in this instance so the Apostle Peter tells him encourages him to pray and recognizes that there is forgiveness with God even for this your wickedness John Gill says it might be pardoned by the grace of God and through the blood of Christ and therefore Peter who wished his salvation and not his damnation put him upon prayer forehead again he's not just condemning him in verses 20 and 21 but he's prescribing to him the pathway to healing to redemption to remedy he says you need to repent you need to repent of this wickedness that's in your heart and you need to pray to God that that he'll forgive this that he will cleanse you with the blood of the Lord Jesus Lord Jesus Christ and then notice he highlights the the big problem in Simon Magus is life notice in verse 23 for I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity that's a powerful statement yet if all we add was 22 23 in this account I think we'd all reasonably conclude there ain't no way this Simon Magus is going to be at the marriage supper of the lamb would you agree with that he doesn't come off well here verse 23 for I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity these are actually concepts or constructs or language that comes from the Old Testament a close parallel in the New Testament is Hebrews 12:15 Hebrews 12:15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short the grace of God lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble and by this many become defiled now the typical approach to exegete in Hebrews 12:15 is a prohibition against bitterness don't be bitter against one another I think the Bible commands us not to be bitter against one another but I don't think it's in Hebrews 12:15 I don't think what Paul is addressing in Hebrews 12:15 is the sin of bitterness he's addressing the bitterness of sin and the backdrop is Deuteronomy chapter 29 at verse 28 in the context two persons who commit apostasy by idolatry and in Deuteronomy 29 18 it says so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe whose heart turns away from turns away today from the Lord our God to go and serve the gods of these nations and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood again do not be bitter against every other Ephesians 4:31 tells us very specifically not to be bitter against each other but the context of Hebrews 12:15 does not suggest the sin of bitterness it suggests the bitterness of sin I think John dill glosses the the interpretation well when he applies it to Simon Magus he says and that instead of the root of the matter the truth of grace being in him there was nothing in him but the bitter root of sin which bore gall and wormwood and everything that was nauseous and disagreeable so that's the emphasis in Peters language with Simon Magus in verse 23 I see that you were poisoned by bitterness and then bound by iniquity I think the backdrop here is proverbs 5:22 his own iniquities and trapped the wicked man and he is caught in the cords of his sin or Isaiah 58 6 and God's prescription on how to engage and fasting and Sabbath he says specifically is not this the fast that I have chosen to loose the bonds of wickedness so Peter takes these Old Testament concepts he puts his finger on the the crux of the issue with this Simon Magus and he says you've got big problems you need to repent and you need to pray to the Lord that he will forgive you for this your wickedness now let's look at the response of Simon Magus I think this is where it tips the scale the other way but even then it's tough have you ever read your Bible and you wondered how did people say that well there's a great analogy online right somebody sends you an email and they make a statement and they don't put lol or they don't put a smiley face emoji and you think they're mad at you we can't always interpret tone from an email right or a text you get attacks then it can be very ambiguous is this person mad at me does this person hate me is this person written me off oh I forgot to put lol whatever right weak we can always interpret tone based on the written word we don't know if Simon Magus is being dismissive you go ahead and pray for me that none of these things happen it could have been have you ever told the pagan you were gonna pray for them and they said well you go right ahead and pray for me that that would be a dismissive tone wouldn't it but if Simon Magus or Magus is true and his tone is right and this does capture his response to Simon Peters rebuked that's a good sign verse 24 if it's legit would certainly tip the scales in favor of Simon Magus is inclusion in the kingdom of God listen to what he says in verse 24 then Simon answered and said pray to the Lord for me that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me now preliminarily when an apostle tells you to pray pray if he was saved he's a bit of a meathead still he still like the rest of us right we're just dense and we're thick and we're slow Oh pastor Butler that hurts my feelings I'm so sorry we are dense and thick and slow Jesus upbraided is disciples have have you been with me this long and yet still don't understand why do you think Paul says preach the word be ready in season and out of season convinced rebuke exhort with all what long-suffering and teacher why do you think preachers need to have that mindset of long suffering because rome wasn't built in a day and neither is the kingdom of God we are slow we are dense we're sluggish we're thick-headed the point is is that if Simon Peter tells you to pray to the Lord you pray to the Lord it's okay for you to say could you pray for me to Simon Peter that's legit that's consistent but the fact that we have no indicator that he actually prayed doesn't bode well because he didn't do what is what an apostle of Jesus Christ told him to do but as well notice he may be still operating under this this hierarchical understanding that because the Apostles are the purveyor of the Holy Spirit they have access to God that the rest of the slobs don't know we all have access to God we can all go to the father through the son in the power of the Holy Spirit but he may still have that again can't really hold that against and he goes from practicing magician being claimed to be the great power of God to confessing disciple I mean things don't happen overnight in the hearts of people of the people of God but then notice the reason for his prayer pray to the Lord for me that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me the things he was concerned about not happening happening was no doubt the threat and curse of verse 20 he didn't want to perish that's legit that's good we give Him a you know a thumbs up on that one and then as well the judgment of God due to his wickedness in verse 22 and now some would say well he seems to be more consumed with his own status or his own place instead of the glory of God aren't we all like that to some degree if somebody had threatened us with perdition and perishing in judgment now would we pray O Lord God I just want you to be glorified if that means my perdition my judgment my hell then then then so be it know there is that sense where we say Lord can you please spare me from judgment and hell and punishment and curse I can't really hold that against him now interestingly I mentioned a bit of a division among commentators I think John Calvin handles the passage very well very responsibly and I know Calvin doesn't need my sort of affirmation of his exegetical prowess but I'll finish with this quote from John Calvin and then John Gill my two favorite John's John Calvin says on verse 24 where as he Simon yields when he has reproved and being touched with the feeling of his sin fears the judgment of God and that done flies under the mercy of God and commends himself to the prayers of the church these are assuredly no small signs of repentance therefore we may conjecture that he repented now Calvin then reflects upon ancient writers the Church Fathers the Church Fathers don't have a whole lot of good to say about Simon Magus in fact they ascribe a lot of heresies as having come from Simon Magus he consorted with a prostitute named Hellena some suggest or some say that he taught she emanated from him and that the Angels emanated from her that in some locales Simon Magus claimed to be the father and others he claimed to be the son and and in others he claimed to be the holy spirit so that later you know patristic tradition put just about everything bad that ever could have been conceived of on this Simon Magus and so John Calvin ends with his observation he says wherefore nothing is more safe than bidding adieu to uncertain opinions simply to embrace that which is set down in the scriptures that which we read elsewhere of Simon may justly be suspected for many causes which is a curious thing because I know that Calvin in other places grounds or grounds interpretation or at least affirms that our confirms it with an appeal to the patristic s-- with an appeal to the fathers here he's saying we need to let the testimony a verse 24 captivate our hearts and minds and conclude that this man Simon repented now John Gill says but whether he was serious and in good earnest in this his repentance of verse 24 is a question since there is no reason to believe he truly repented from the accounts given of him by ancient writers who always represent him as an opposer of the Apostles and their doctrine as a father of all heresies as a blasphemous wretch so again it's a tough one to try and nail down but I want to revisit that in just a moment but let's finish our exposition in verse 25 notice what we have Philips ministry is going to continue Philip is going to be directed to make contact with this Ethiopian eunuch and as I said God willing we'll take that up in the next couple of weeks in 826 to 840 but what happened to the Apostles according to verse 25 Peter and John had gone from Jerusalem to Samaria to investigate the work to pray that the Spirit would come to lay hands on those Samaritans so that the Spirit would in fact calm so verse 25 is a transitional statement to tell us that they in fact went back to Jerusalem it says so when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord they returned to Jerusalem preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans you see what they do is confine what Philip had been doing there's no whiff whatsoever in this section that Philip was deficient or Philip didn't get things right as I mentioned Simon Peter doesn't rebuke Philip and say how in the world could this magician get the idea that you could purchase the gift of the Holy Spirit no the fact that the disciples of the apostles rather go back through Samaria go to the villages they confirm the work of Philip they sign off on what he has done and what he will continue to do he's a legit and efficient man in the kingdom of God but notice what arts Peter and John they don't get on their private jet and fly back to Jerusalem they don't get on the whatever was the the the highest form of transportation and go back to Jerusalem they don't even get on a donkey they continue going to villages villages probably small villages you have Peter and John going to Samaritan villages and they're preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ again you must see and appreciate the extension of Christ's Kingdom the fulfillment of the mission statement at Acts chapter 1 verse 8 you will testify or be my witnesses in Jerusalem Judea Samaria and then to the uttermost parts of the earth the apostles are doing that very thing and it's a contrast with Luke 9 as I mentioned last week John the one here accompanying Peter is going and preaching in the Samaritan village villages in the ministry of Christ when the Samaritans weren't real receptive to Jesus John says Lord do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them just as Elijah did you know I just kind of wonder if he remembered that as he's walking through these villages now preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord it's a beautiful beautiful thing now we won't hear about Simon Peter again until the Acts chapter 9 and then John doesn't feature in acts at all again except in Acts chapter 12 when he's identified as the brother of the James that has beheaded by Herod so that's the end of John at least with reference to the book of Acts Peter again will feature but not until chapter 9 and the section in verses 36 and following so in terms of some concluding thoughts before we get to the question concerning Simon's salvation I want to first bring up the wretchedness of Simon II now simony is a word that means buying and selling ecclesiastical office or practice in fact you dictionary.com it and you get a really good definition it's the making of profit out of sacred things Simon and it's become associated with this simon simon magus now there's a bit of a difference I don't know that I'd lay upon those who you know pay money for ecclesiastical office the same sort of approach not that I think it's okay as somebody who thinks they can buy the gift of the Holy Spirit so that they can convey it upon others there is a there is a an escalation in terms of the original simony there is a heightened sense of wickedness on the part of somebody who actually thinks they can by God to give God or sell God to others but Simon II is a wretched practice in the first place it is an attempt to control God it is an attempt to control God even if it's in an ecclesiastical setting that's not the way we're supposed to function in ecclesiastical settings I think over the last generation one of the things that's that's hurt the church is co-opting basement business models and trying to make them you know parallel or not analogous to the way the church should function now there is some similarity you got a hierarchical structure you have things in place there are routines there are structures there are Authority there is all that sort of thing but but to co-opt the business model and say well the church needs to operate that way well sigh many flourishes in such a setting doesn't it we got a free well we got to remember that the Church of Jesus Christ is the Church of Jesus Christ it's not ours so we can buy and sell office so we can buy and sell prestige so that we can buy and sell sort of status that's a that's an attempt to control God as well it is the communication about the wrong message or it is a communication rather of the wrong message concerning God back to second Kings remember when Elisha the prophet healed or God used him to to heal that man naman in second Kings 5:16 naman or 5:15 naman wanted to give him money naman was appreciative naman had bid a leper and naman was now cleansed he was how nyan hole so he's like Elijah let me give you something for your efforts here and Elijah by an oath says that he will not receive anything for his having done what he did to name it now later on Ghazi the servant of Elijah goes and finds name and and says hey by the way there was these two guys that have come and we actually need some clothes and some money so Naaman gives him the money he comes back Ghazi lies when Elijah asks him and Elijah says I know exactly where you were and I know exactly what you did and so the the leprosy that had attached itself to name it now attaches itself to Ghazi but it is a curious thing naman is offered payment for this does this on do second Timothy Chou first Timothy chapter 5 let the elders who rule well be be counted worthy of honor now there's that principle in Scripture the Ox is worthy of his wages you don't thresh it uh you don't muzzle the ox while he's thrashing out the grain you let him eat you let him have you know a life so that he can do that work that that's not the principle but with a new convert to tell them yeah give me money after conveying this gift sends the wrong message about God it says that we can buy things from God it undoes the grace grace nature of God's gifts Davis describes it this way he says why was Elijah so adamant note his oath about refusing naimans gift doubtless because he wanted to impress upon Neiman that Yahweh is a God of grace one doesn't bribe manipulate or cajole Yahweh like pagans do their gods Yahweh doesn't forever hand us have his hand out looking for a payoff Yahweh is simply a gift II God I think that's accurate so this idea of simony is bad and as well it shows an affinity with Simon Magus and not Simon Peter the Geneva Bible says they are the successors of Simon Magus and not of Simon Peter which either buy or sell holy things and John Gill applies this to a protect group in specifically he says a vice which is greatly prevailed in the Church of Rome and among its Pope's and who therefore may be more properly called the successors of Simon Magus rather than Simon Peter it's a bad thing you know by ecclesiastical gifts this ain't Walmart brethren this is the church that belongs to the living and true God he's given qualifications for elders he's given qualifications for deacons he has specified who occupies those offices and that's it it's not payment you know I purchased this you know ability to be you know that no no no no no no that's bad notice as well the concern of sign of the Apostle Peter in this instance notice what Peter doesn't do Peter doesn't say to Philip why did you gap ties this wrench he doesn't do that he doesn't he doesn't chide Philip I cannot believe you didn't examine him well enough and that this guy got baptized and and this is how he represents that's not the concern of Simon Peter it happens we we wait so long to baptize people because we're we're so afraid that a goat might actually get in but God's given a tool to deal with goats who do get in it's called church discipline Matthew 18 or what we find Simon Peter do in this particular instance now I'm not saying we indiscriminately baptize goats I'm not saying that but it says he believed and was baptized Philip didn't have the ability to see the heart Philip wasn't omniscient Philip was an omnipotent Philip didn't know everything was going on in the heart of Simon Magus and Simon Peter doesn't upgrade Philip and say I can't believe you did this but notice as well there's no baptismal regeneration some have taught and some continue to teach that once you go into that water and come up out of the water you'll regenerate well didn't work for for Simon Magus if he's not converted you see there's not that the emphasis isn't on oh I can't believe Philip baptized to go the emphasis to the goat is you need to repent and you need to pray to the Lord that he will forgive you of your sin now the big question concerning Simon's salvation the case against his salvation no he wasn't saved the first place the actions of Simon argue against his salvation the actions of Simon argue against his salvation he's probably his own worst enemy in helping us to figure out whether he was saved or not he certainly hasn't made it easy for us but his actions show that there is this absolute misapprehension with the gospel of Jesus Christ again Peter doesn't say to Philip did you teach him this Philip didn't teach him this Philip taught concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus where Simon Magus got I'm going to give you some money so I can purchase this gift so that I can convey it to others that debt debts from him that's from his bad heart as well the attempt to purchase the ability of the the Holy Spirit indicates something more with more affinity to his previous life remember he claimed to be someone great he listened to the adulation of men who said this is the great power of God that that's of the heady wine that's intoxicating men get a bit of pride and prestige and a bit of notoriety and they they forget everything else and they they crave that they covet that day they desire that they want that and that might be the case with Simon Magus in this particular instance as well the words of Peter argue against his salvation 21 to 23 very severe reproof and a very severe judgment you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity now the case for his salvation was he saved well I think there's some compelling evidence to suggest that he was look at verse 13 then Simon himself also believed and when he was baptized he continued with Philip and was amazed seeing the miracles and signs which were done the requests for prayer and his concern for his predicament in verse 24 as well tips the scale in his favor pagans don't do that again if it was just dismissive which we don't know the tone but if it was legit and he's actually asking Peter for that kind of prayer I think kelvins comment there is very appropriate and very suggestive that his repentance was in fact the real deal and then the reality does it come right out of the text here exegetically but it's more of a theological observation I already hinted at it earlier but the reality that God's grace is amazing could there be a new believer who does something this knuckleheaded like yes could there be a believer like Simon Peter who denies the knowledge of Jesus Christ three times to a slave girl yes could it be that a man after God's own heart would commit adultery try to cover that adultery first by by having the man lay with his own wife but the man has too much integrity to do that and so then David has to concoct another plan and he marches or has that man marched out to the hottest point in battle so that he would be gunned down on the battlefield why so David could cover his sin yeah see I think there's a bigger question that acts a asked or acts 8 suggests it isn't so much with simon magus saved but it's am i saved have i come to know this one who forgives wickedness have I come to know this one who grants repentance and faith have I come to know this one who in light of King David of Israel nevertheless says I have dealt with your sin have you come to know this Christ as Lord and Savior you can scratch your head this morning you can think about this you can go home and discuss it at the lunch table do you think Simon would say they're not the bigger issue is are you saved do you know this have you by grace repented your wickedness may not be Simon II you may have never thought in your your lifetime to purchase the gift of the Holy Spirit or to purchase an ecclesiastical office but there is some wickedness in your heart it's there it is transgression against God's law it is a lack of conformity unto that law it is rebelling against him and your heart therefore is wicked it could be rightly said of you as it was of Simon Magus that I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity if that's the condition if there is that conviction then take Peters command seriously repent and pray to God Almighty that if perhaps that almost suggests there's contingency on the part of God that's not what Peters saying the contingency is not on the part of God it's on the part of simon magus if you repent then God will the if perhaps envisages the reality that Simon Magus may not but there's no contingency with God what does Jesus say all that the father gives me will come to me and the one who comes to me what I will certainly not cast out I will never do that what does Hebrews 7 tell us he's holy harmless and undefiled separate from sinners he is able to save to the uttermost all who draw nigh to God through him instead a beautiful thing the contingency isn't on whether or not God will receive a sinner who comes to him for forgiveness God always receives sinners who come to him for forgiveness remember that instance of the prodigal son the boy that took the share of his father's inheritance and he went out he squandered it he wasted it he fretted it all away on godless wicked things and then he's craving pig slop I mean talk about underscoring how bad this guy's condition was you've all seen what pigs eat right they're not they don't have a discriminating palate they whatever you throw in front of them and this guy's slopping pigs and he wants to eat what the pigs are eating he says I'm gonna go back to my father and I'm gonna ask him to make me a hired servant he's not converted there he is a mercenary there I'm gonna be a day laborer I want to make daily wages just so I don't have to create big food I just I know my father's a merciful man so I'll go back and I'll ask him to do this and restore me he's not saved at that point I don't think for a moment that he's actually converted and when this boy reeking of Pig is a long way off the father sees him the father runs to him the father falls on him and the father celebrates the father then puts a ring on his finger he puts a robe on his back and he calls for the the slaying of the fatted beast a fattened Beast what is he showing there he's showing his grace he's showing his mercy he's showing his kindness he's showing his bigness when it comes to forgiving sin and sinners if Simon Magus repented there is forgiveness with God that he may be feared David knew that Peter knows that you and I know that anytime we confess with the Apostles great I believe in the forgiveness of sins we know what that means we know what it's like to try to live only for 30 seconds in a day we know what it's like to try to keep those Commandments for for just a brief amount of time love to God with all our heart soul mind and strength and love to our neighbor as ourselves how many times in a day how many times in a given day we're not thinking about God one dead and we're not thinking about others one bit God forgives us I'm not saying go out and sin because God you know forgives but when we do sin we have an advocate with the father even Jesus Christ the righteous my gut level thought is that Calvin's right in his interpretation on verse 24 if it wasn't dismissive if it wasn't just you know go away Peter I don't care about that he shows those signs new believers do horrible things but may I suggest all believers I don't just mean old age I mean people that have been in the faith for 10 20 30 years can you really rejoice in your righteousness have you arrived at holiness are you godly asking the question answers the question right I hope you're all reflecting upon my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus name on Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand the point is is that God's grace is big enough so that a Simon Magus could sit at the marriage supper of the Lamb it is certainly big enough for wretches like you and I to come to the Savior in faith and to receive that forgiveness of sins well let us close in a word of Prayer father thank you for your word and thank you for the book of Acts and for the history of the early church we thank you God for the Holy Spirit that has given us the book that has given us life that has given us all things necessary and through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray that we would think clearly concerning passages like these that we would see the bigger issues with reference to salvation that we would appreciate there is a theology of grace from Genesis to Revelation this shows that God is in Christ redeeming reconciling the world unto himself I pray for any and all here this morning that are not believers that you would work in their hearts that you would convict them of their sin and show them the glory of Jesus Christ and we ask this in his most blessed name amen we will close by singing together hymn number 568 hymn number 568 you can stand as we sing together [Music] the Lord bless you and keep you the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace God made these things be true in our hearts and in our lives may you grant us the grace necessary for daily life and grant us help today to sanctify the day to enjoy the Sabbath to call it a delight help us to bring glory and honor and praise unto you and again we thank you for the Lord Jesus Christ in the gospel of our salvation and we pray in his name Amen well please be seated for a brief time of meditation