“WAS HE FORGIVEN?”

In Acts 8, we read about Philip in Samaria. Many people in Samaria were listening to Philip and being baptized for remission of sins. There was a man in Samaria named Simon, he was a sorcerer. Before Philip’s arrival, the people of Samaria looked at Simon as “the Great Power of God.” He had astonished the people with his magic arts.

?As Philip began having great success in teaching the Samaritans about Jesus, and they believed, so did Simon. He followed Philip around and watched him as Philip taught and saw the signs and miracles. Simon was amazed. When Peter and John came down to Samaria to impart the Holy Spirit on the Samaritans, Simon desired to have this power and offered to pay the apostles for it. Now understand that we receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at baptism. What Peter and John were doing was giving the gift of miraculous powers. This gift could only be passed on by the apostles, and that is why Philip could not do this on his own.

?When Simon offered money to buy this power, Peter sharply rebuked him. Peter told Simon that he needed to “repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.” This has raised the question, was Simon forgiven?

?I think we can see from the text that Simon was genuine in his belief. There is also a clue as to why Simon reacted like he did when he saw the power of God being given by the laying on of hands. Notice Acts 8:9-9?Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. Simon was prideful. So when Peter rebuked him of his wickedness, not only was it about thinking he could purchase the power of God, but also because if he could give people this power, people would admire him and that would stroke his ego!

?So, was Simon forgiven? I think he shows remorse and fear in asking Peter to pray for him, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me” (Acts 8:24). If he truly repented, then yes, he was forgiven.

?This is a reminder of no matter what we have done, no matter how bad we believe have been, no matter how far out of God’s reach we may think we are, we can always turn to Him and God will forgive us if we so desire!

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Read I John 1:7-9