Lesson 361

Lesson 361)(08-10-12) Acts 8:18-25, "And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But 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. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans."

It is obvious, by his actions, Simon had not truly accepted Christ. He had made the pretense, but like so many "Christians" today, he couldn't have been sincere because he wasn't willing to put aside his devious mentality. Instead of seeing the great spiritual, soul saving, benefit of being engulfed in the power of the Holy Ghost, his only thoughts were how he might benefit financially from that power.

Only after Peter told him that gifts from God were indeed gifts and that they could not be bought nor sold and condemned him for his insincerity, Simon began to see the error of his ways and asked Peter to pray for his forgiveness.
As this lesson clearly tells us, just believing Jesus lived and that there is a God, won't suffice for eternal salvation, that salvation requires an absolute acceptance of Jesus as the one sin remitting sacrifice made for all who will commit to it, James 2:19, "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." One MUST realize that Jesus paid the price for ALL sin. Not just the sins of the past, but ALL sin.

Simon's problem, again like many today, is a failure to totally immerse oneself in the complete testimony and sacrifice of Jesus. The immersion I'm talking about is NOT in water, but is the baptism so often referred to in conjunction with eternal salvation. I have absolutely NO fear of eternity because my Father God promised me that if I would simply bury my sin with Jesus and believe Him capable, He would rise and leave it all behind in the grave. I believe Him, and in that belief I am, so far as the Father is concerned, totally righteous and without sin.~