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Simon the Sorcerer

Rollo Tamasi

Rollo Tamasi

Warrior for Christ
Member
I was just reading Acts chapter 8 and the story of Simon the Sorcerer.
His story is from verses 9-24.
Simon was a big time sorcerer.
But then he heard the Gospel and believed and was baptized.
He followed Phillip everywhere.
One day Peter and John baptized people and they received the Holy Spirit.
Now Simon liked this and offered money to Peter to do the same.
Peter rebuked him and said some nasty things to him.
Simon's final recorded words are, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me".

Now, first off, Simon was saved, right?
Or was he?
Second, was Peter's rebuke one of dispelling him from the group permanently or just trying to get him on the right track?
I'm not sure how to interpret all this.

What do you think?
 
I'd say he was cool, because he seemed contrite.... or, like many of us when we first are baptized, at least "scared".
And a huge majority of people seem to respond to fear, simply because, not understanding God, that is what many Christians preach at them.
 
Rollo Tamasi said:
I was just reading Acts chapter 8 and the story of Simon the Sorcerer.
His story is from verses 9-24.
Simon was a big time sorcerer.
But then he heard the Gospel and believed and was baptized.
He followed Phillip everywhere.
One day Peter and John baptized people and they received the Holy Spirit.
Now Simon liked this and offered money to Peter to do the same.
Peter rebuked him and said some nasty things to him.
Simon's final recorded words are, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me".

Now, first off, Simon was saved, right?
Or was he?
Second, was Peter's rebuke one of dispelling him from the group permanently or just trying to get him on the right track?
I'm not sure how to interpret all this.

What do you think?
Click to expand...
In Mk 16:16 Jesus said he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. The context says Simon, along with Samaritans, believed and were baptized. Therefore there is no valid reason at all to think they were not in a saved positon.
 
Simon magnus (as he was known in infamy) became a verb or term known as Simony...

The charge of Simony is where a person wishing to become the Pope begins bribing those that elect the Pope.

We have the parable of the soils where we got three kinds of soil...but there is also the science fiction kind of soil where what grows is a monstrosity due to radiation or alien spawn . Such is Simon. A warped individual who has no idea as to what God really wants.

Read Isaiah 1:15-17.
 
Rollo Tamasi said:
Now, first off, Simon was saved, right? Or was he?
Click to expand...
A saved person does not hear this kind of rebuke from God (Acts 8:21-23): 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.
 
Rollo Tamasi said:
Now, first off, Simon was saved, right?
Or was he?
Second, was Peter's rebuke one of dispelling him from the group permanently or just trying to get him on the right track?
I'm not sure how to interpret all this.
Click to expand...

It is called "contrite repentance", Rollo. Since there is no mentioning of what happened to him later. no one can be sure, and make a statement about it. That is because an argument from silence can only prove one thing: silence.

But because the manner that Luke wrote it, I am of the opinion that Simon was a "baby Christian" who fell back into his old habits of being a non-Christian. While our being justified before God in instantaneous, our sanctification does have two components: instant and progressive. God does love us just as we are when we are saved, but he loves us too much to let us stay where we once were, and that is called "progressive sanctification".

Malachi said:
A saved person does not hear this kind of rebuke from God (Acts 8:21-23)
Click to expand...
Yep, that is NOT something that we hear church members saying to each other. (We should be able to say that, though!) so I can see your reasons for believing that Simon was not a believer.

In the same manner, I hope you can see my reasons for my beliefs. However, if we both see Simon in heaven, you will know I was right! :biggrin
 
Malachi said:
A saved person does not hear this kind of rebuke from God (Acts 8:21-23): 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.
Click to expand...

It reminds me a bit of Jesus' messages to His seven churches in Asia.
 
Rollo Tamasi said:
I was just reading Acts chapter 8 and the story of Simon the Sorcerer.
His story is from verses 9-24.
Simon was a big time sorcerer.
But then he heard the Gospel and believed and was baptized.
He followed Phillip everywhere.
One day Peter and John baptized people and they received the Holy Spirit.
Now Simon liked this and offered money to Peter to do the same.
Peter rebuked him and said some nasty things to him.
Simon's final recorded words are, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me".

Now, first off, Simon was saved, right?
Or was he?
Second, was Peter's rebuke one of dispelling him from the group permanently or just trying to get him on the right track?
I'm not sure how to interpret all this.

What do you think?
Click to expand...

Simon definitely was not saved, His heart was ever wrong before God (and this is the essential matter). He saw the mighty work of the Spirit and thus could not deny it (hence belief) but he got baptized not to be "saved" but to have the power for himself...with Simon it is all about "self"....if the heart is wrong all the baths, repeated prayers, loaves, and whole bottles of wine doth not make a child of God...when we give up OURway and fall at His feet for mercy we get Yahweh...who was Lord for Simon (not YHVH)? It was Simon...
 
By Grace said:
But because the manner that Luke wrote it, I am of the opinion that Simon was a "baby Christian" who fell back into his old habits of being a non-Christian.
Click to expand...
Your opinion is contradicted by the history of Simon Magus, who actively opposed the truth and promoted Gnosticism (a blend of paganism and Christianity). He also claimed to be God and Christ. Baby Christians don't offer to buy spiritual gifts, or the gift of the Holy Ghost.
 
The scripture says that Simon's heart was not right in the sight of God. Simon the sorcerer might have become a namesake Christian and wanted to make business using the anointing.
 
Rollo Tamasi said:
I was just reading Acts chapter 8 and the story of Simon the Sorcerer.
His story is from verses 9-24.
Simon was a big time sorcerer.
But then he heard the Gospel and believed and was baptized.
He followed Phillip everywhere.
One day Peter and John baptized people and they received the Holy Spirit.
Now Simon liked this and offered money to Peter to do the same.
Peter rebuked him and said some nasty things to him.
Simon's final recorded words are, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me".

Now, first off, Simon was saved, right?
Or was he?
Second, was Peter's rebuke one of dispelling him from the group permanently or just trying to get him on the right track?
I'm not sure how to interpret all this.

What do you think?
Click to expand...

I think he had heard the stories....
About Ananis and Saphira, who at Peter's word fell dead.
 
Rollo Tamasi said:
I was just reading Acts chapter 8 and the story of Simon the Sorcerer.
His story is from verses 9-24.
Simon was a big time sorcerer.
But then he heard the Gospel and believed and was baptized.
He followed Phillip everywhere.
One day Peter and John baptized people and they received the Holy Spirit.
Now Simon liked this and offered money to Peter to do the same.
Peter rebuked him and said some nasty things to him.
Simon's final recorded words are, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me".

Now, first off, Simon was saved, right?
Or was he?
Second, was Peter's rebuke one of dispelling him from the group permanently or just trying to get him on the right track?
I'm not sure how to interpret all this.

What do you think?
Click to expand...
In verse 13, it does state, Simon himself believed.
He was baptized .
In 16, we see that the baptism of the Holy Spirit hadn't fallen yet.
He wanted the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and Willing to pay for it.
He was rebuked by Peter, you can not buy the Holy Spirit.
He had sinned and was told to repent.
Ask God for forgiveness.....
Thus you can see the debate of OSAS, lol.......
Jethro would be proud!
 
dianegcook said:
In verse 13, it does state, Simon himself believed.
He was baptized .
In 16, we see that the baptism of the Holy Spirit hadn't fallen yet.
He wanted the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and Willing to pay for it.
He was rebuked by Peter, you can not buy the Holy Spirit.
He had sinned and was told to repent.
Ask God for forgiveness.....
Thus you can see the debate of OSAS, lol.......
Jethro would be proud!
Click to expand...

Well sure...one is only saved when one has been born from above (received the Spirit)
 
dianegcook said:
In verse 13, it does state, Simon himself believed.
He was baptized .
In 16, we see that the baptism of the Holy Spirit hadn't fallen yet.
He wanted the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and Willing to pay for it.
He was rebuked by Peter, you can not buy the Holy Spirit.
He had sinned and was told to repent.
Ask God for forgiveness.....
Thus you can see the debate of OSAS, lol.......
Jethro would be proud!
Click to expand...
But that's not OSAS as I see it.
 
dianegcook said:
So when John baptized it was for nothing?

Exactly
He believed, right?
He was baptized, right?
So as the OSAS doctrine believes, that is all you have to do, right?
Now, Simon could be forgiven, if he repented and ask for forgiveness.
Click to expand...
Simon was already forgiven.
Repenting and asking for forgiveness is what a true believer does.
OSAS
 
dianegcook said:
So when John baptized it was for nothing?

Exactly
He believed, right?
He was baptized, right?
So as the OSAS doctrine believes, that is all you have to do, right?
Now, Simon could be forgiven, if he repented and ask for forgiveness.
Click to expand...

No true OSAS teaches that IF one is actually saved (born of His Spirit and made a new creature in Christ) THEN that one cannot become unsaved. For He is sealed by the Spirit until the day of redemption. Salvation being eternal by nature can never end. Of all that Christ has been given He shall lose none.
 
Malachi said:
Your opinion is contradicted by the history of Simon Magus, who actively opposed the truth and promoted Gnosticism (a blend of paganism and Christianity). He also claimed to be God and Christ. Baby Christians don't offer to buy spiritual gifts, or the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Click to expand...
I am not sure of your source for that. Please elaborate. Thank you.
 
dianegcook said:
He wanted the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and Willing to pay for it.
Click to expand...


He wanted the power to transfer the Holy Spirit to others by the laying on of hands.

By offering money, his motive was to make money from this ability.

Simon had made his living this way, by astonishing people with sorcery.

“Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:19

JLB
 
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