Who Was Simon the Sorcerer and What Can We Learn From Him?

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones examines the case of Simon the Sorcerer from Acts 8:13-24, presenting important lessons about true versus false Christianity. Here's what we can learn from this biblical account.

Who was Simon the Sorcerer according to the Bible?

Simon was a sorcerer in Samaria who had bewitched the people, claiming to be "some great one" whom they called "the great power of God." When Philip preached the gospel in Samaria, many believed and were baptized, including Simon. The text says "Simon himself believed also. And when he was baptized, he continued with Philip and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done." However, when Peter and John came and laid hands on people to receive the Holy Spirit, Simon offered them money to buy this power, revealing his true motives.

What was Simon's major sin that Peter rebuked?

Simon's major sin was attempting to purchase the power of the Holy Spirit with money. When he saw that the apostles could impart the Holy Spirit through laying on of hands, he said, "Give me also this power that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost." This revealed that:

1. He viewed spiritual gifts as commodities to be bought and sold
2. He was motivated by self-interest and personal power
3. His heart was not truly converted

Peter's response was severe: "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."

How can someone think they are a Christian when they are not?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains several ways people can be deceived about their spiritual state:

1. Family background: "Because you're the child of Christian parents, that you are automatically a Christian."

2. Wrong motives: Some come to Christianity for secondary reasons like marrying a Christian or social benefits.

3. Following the crowd: "If there's a big religious campaign or if there's a religious revival, you'll always find certain people are carried along by it."

4. Intellectual assent without heart change: "It is possible for a man to give an intellectual assent to the propositions of the scripture and still not be a Christian."

5. Emotional response without transformation: "Many a man has been moved to tears at a description of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross... And they think that because they weep at these descriptions of the death of the Son of God, that they're truly Christian."

How can you test whether your faith is genuine?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides several tests for genuine faith:

1. Where Christ stands in your life: "Is this the biggest thing in your life? Or is it something that you add on?" True Christians don't do the minimum but are "anxious to do the maximum."

2. Response to difficulties: How do you react when "the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches" challenge your faith?

3. Response to persecution: "How do you react when people who know you tend to make fun of you because you're a Christian?"

4. True repentance vs. fear of punishment: Simon only asked that the punishment not come upon him, rather than truly repenting of his sin. "He doesn't see the enormity of the thing. He doesn't hate this thing that's in him."

Why does the Bible include stories of false believers like Simon?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that the Bible includes stories like Simon's because:

1. It demonstrates "the amazing honesty of the scriptures" which "conceal nothing."

2. The Bible is "not out to boost Christianity" but to present the truth.

3. God loves us and wants to safeguard our souls by warning us against false faith.

4. Our "eternal salvation depends upon our relationship to this message," so we must be certain we truly believe.

If you discover your faith may not be genuine, the solution is the same one Peter gave to Simon: "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee."