This week’s blog is sure to upset someone.
I want to start by saying I most definitely believe one is saved through faith alone, however, not everyone who “believes” is saved.
I was told a long time ago that using the “demons believe” and they tremble analogy and saying but " they are not going to heaven", was quite ridiculous.
Okay, let me propose this.
I realize demons, i.e. fallen angels, cannot commit their lives to Christ. They were not created in the same way we humans were.
We have a purpose; they have a purpose.
The human, if you have an unrepentant heart, is serving who?
You're either serving light or dark. Therefore someone who has not come to faith through believing is still serving their father, the devil.
I know the term serving their father, the devil is quite harsh. But it's fact. If you're not born again that means you're not serving God which means you're serving your father, the devil.
I know the term serving their father, the devil is quite harsh. But it's fact. If you're not born again that means you're not serving God which means you're serving your father, the devil.
Now back to my point. Let me not use that verse and let me use another verse.
The book of Acts is an account of the beginning of the Church. When the indwelling of the Holy Spirit came, not only into the Apostles on the day of Pentecost but also to the new converts, this is when the message began to spread.
That is why the book of Acts has no finality. Every book in the Bible ends with finality.
The church should get back to the book of Acts and get back to basics.
The church today is a fraud! An utter fraud!
Full of Joel Osteen’s,
Andy Stanley's, Louie Giglio's, John Piper's, Brian Houston's, Rick Warren's, and many many more.
They fill arenas with huge mega conferences with an emphasis on their lights, cameras, and what big name can they get to draw a high price ticket…
ready set... ACTION!!
Paul, as we discussed yesterday, warned us about these types of people and what the end will be!
In this passage, I will briefly prove that not everyone who believes is a TRUE convert.
Part One:
Acts 8:9-13
Now a man named Simon had previously been practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; and all the people, from small to great, were paying attention to him, saying, “This man is the Power of God that is called Great.” And they were paying attention to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic arts. But when they believed Philip as he was preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were being baptized. Now even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was repeatedly amazed.
Let's dissect these verses
This man, Simon was practicing magic, I will not expound upon this for too long but most people who claim to come to faith in Christ from a New Age or satanic background gravitate to the churches like Bethel or other New Apostolic Reformation churches. Why? Because they don't want Jesus they want the signs. I can go into this a lot more but I won't today.
Simon, the great magic man, well, he believed, right?
It says it right there.
Now even Simon himself believed
Part Two:
Acts 8:14-24
I wanted to keep this passage in context so nobody thought that I manipulated the text.
Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they would receive the Holy Spirit. (For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could acquire the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Therefore, repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart will be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of unrighteousness.” But Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
Point #1
Baptism does not mean salvation. Clearly from this passage alone, you can see that. To be baptized in the Lord Jesus does NOT mean salvation. One is only saved when the Holy Spirit indwells them. Meaning one is born again.
John 3:3-7
Point #2
Going back to Simon, all he wanted, as we just read, was to see the signs and miracles. He did not want to spread the gospel of Jesus. He wanted the same “authority” as the Apostles. Why? Because Simon was the man!! He was popular!! Someone else was getting on the stage and they were front and center, stealing his show! There are many things in this passage but this blog would be too long to go over in detail each word line by line.
Point #3
It’s okay when you upset a “false convert”.
Silly Peter how dare you rebuke a false convert.
In today’s world, this is how it would go down on Facebook.
You see, Simon had no part in kingdom things. This is a very bold passage and one to remember!
So not everyone who believes is truly born again. That is the deception of easy believism. God looks at the heart yes, many are like Simon though. The true intention of his belief was not for salvation but vainglory.
I believe 100% in faith alone.
However, many who “believe” do not believe and many who do believe, believe.
Who do you believe in?
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