Can You Earn God’s Favor? Why You Can’t Buy Salvation

Let’s read it together. Acts 8, beginning in verse 5.

5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city. 9 But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. 10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” 11 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. 14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” 24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” 25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

Let’s start with a question: I want you to answer it to yourself honestly. Okay? Just you and the Lord… do you want God, or do you want what God can give you? Think about that for a moment. Do you want Jesus, or do you want His power, His blessings, and His benefits?

You see, there is a difference between wanting God’s gifts and wanting God Himself. Think for a moment about a relationship if you would. Let’s say a friendship based on mutual love and respect. That’s the foundation of a good relationship. Now, think about a relationship that is based on one person’s desire for what they get out of it. How would you describe that relationship? We should desire the things that God promises, including the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives, but we can’t treat God like He exists to fulfill our desires.

Simon the magician is the go-to example because he saw the power of God at work and wanted access to it without a heart submitted to the Lord who gives the power. I’m choosing to call this sermon the gift you can’t buy because the problem is bigger than money. Simon thinks God’s gift can be treated like a transaction. He wants to get spiritual power and use it for himself.

Listen, I want to say this at the very beginning because God freely gives salvation and the Holy Spirit that we could never purchase, control, or earn. So we must receive His grace through faith in Jesus Christ, rather than try to use God for our own purposes.

Lets start at verse 4

4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

Life has a way of moving people on, doesn’t it? I remember about a year after COVID, I heard many people say, “Cody, I’m leaving FBC. It’s changed too much.” At the time, I looked around and thought, “How? We still sing the same songs. I don’t think the preaching is getting worse. We still have the same ministries.”

It didn’t hit me until about a month ago what some of those people meant. It wasn’t necessarily that the church had changed. It was that the people within the church had changed. That became especially clear to me in my community group, where some of my closest friends were missing. That’s when I began to understand what they meant.

Change in the church has been around since the beginning. In Acts 8, persecution scattered believers away from the comfort and excitement of the growing church in Jerusalem. People who had been part of the same community were suddenly going in different directions. But notice what happened: they didn’t stop spreading the Word. Instead, they went from place to place, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ.

Church, you can either shine a light or curse the darkness, as the saying goes. What encourages me is seeing the Kingdom impact people can have as they scatter from First Baptist and go to other places. God can and does use people beyond the walls of this church and that reminds me that God is at work.

You are likely going to move at some point in your life. You might have a job that requires you to move. You might have a health situation that requires you to be closer to family. The question isn’t about staying in one spot, it’s about staying faithful wherever Christ sends us.

What we learn is that persecution does not silence the Gospel. What looks like a major setback to a healthy church becomes God’s ordained way the Gospel advances.

Verse 5 tells us where one of the scattered goes. Philip goes down to a city in Samaria and proclaims to them the Christ. Notice what he proclaims, Christ! Not a technique, or an experience, or the promise of a better life. The focal point of Christian evangelism is the Person and work of Jesus.

As Philip preaches, the crowds “pay attention” as they hear Philip and see the signs he performs. Exorcisms, healings… these signs prove the message Philip was preaching, but they are not the message. They point to Jesus and we cannot get that wrong. A powerful religious experience doesn’t mean that is the basis of truth. And I want you to hold on to that, because Luke is about to show us why.

Verse 8 tells us “so there was much joy in that city”. Think about who is receiving this joy. Samaritans, a people that most Jews had despised for centuries, are being brought into the blessings of God’s saving kingdom. This is Acts 1:8 happening in real time, right? The Gospel brings people from bondage to freedom, from darkness to light, and from alienation into the people of God.

Point 1

I. The Gospel Brings Life Where the World Expects Nothing

The Samaritans were probably expecting another Jew from Jerusalem to bypass them again. To walk around for miles, or to move through Samaria as quickly as possible. But Philip was there was a message of the hope and love of Christ and that’s all that he had to share, but it was what transformed this area into a Christian community.

Do you believe the Gospel is enough for effective ministry? Do you think our church’s greatest need is an outreach program or to share the Gospel effectively? Those things aren’t synonymous by the way. Do we need a more effective Gospel message on Sunday mornings or does our church need Christians that believe the hope of the Gospel is worth us being inconvenienced for?

Let me say this plainly. The primary purpose of Sunday morning service is not evangelism. The Word of God is opened for you, dear Christian, to live it out in your homes and job this week and make disciples. If you want to be effective for the Kingdom, then look at Philip. He just went and started sharing and the Gospel produced joy all over Samaria but Luke also introduces another man who had captured people’s attention.

9 But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great.

Simon was a magician and I don’t mean a slight of hand magician. Back in this time, magicians were wise sorcerers and astronomers who read the stars, interacted with the spiritual realm and often used their influence to better themselves even to the detriment of their clients.

Simon thought he was somebody important and everyone in this city said so. They even said

10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.”

Notice the contrast between these two men: Philip points to Jesus Christ, Simon points to himself. Philip proclaims Christ and His Gospel, Simon’s influence is based on his reputation and claims of power but there is no power greater than the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Imagine, if you would a father walking in the woods with his one-year-old child when a squirrel goes leaping through the trees above. The father points and says, “Look at the squirrel!” But the child stares at his finger. The child sees the finger but never sees the squirrel. The signs were the finger. The squirrel was Christ.

When we leave here this morning, what are you going to remember? A song? The people in this room? A story about a squirrel? Or will we leave thinking about Christ?

You see, as a church, everything we do is a finger pointing to Someone. The preaching, the worship, Kidz Quest. Even my ministry as your pastor. All of it should point beyond itself to Jesus. The test is whether people leave talking only about the finger or about the One it points to.

Look at verse 13

13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.

Luke uses the same word for Simon believing that he just used for the crowd, right? He doesn’t say that anything is off, but notice what has Simon’s attention. It’s not the beauty of Christ’s Gospel, it’s the signs being done and he is amazed.

Simon appears to respond genuinely to the Gospel, but as we learn there are some serious questions about the authenticity his faith. Church, we should not conclude that everyone who is baptized or makes a profession of faith has necessarily been born again. We simply take them at their word at the time.

At the same time, we should be careful not to claim that we can see every detail of another person’s heart. Luke gives us reason to take Simon’s profession seriously enough to examine it, and his later decisions reveals a heart dangerously out of step with the Christian Gospel. This is where the passage turns toward us. Are you following Christ, or are you merely attracted to what He offers?

You see, a person can be drawn to Christianity by its community, its strong moral teaching, its miracles, or its influence. Those things may bring someone within hearing of the gospel, but they are not saving faith.

So ask yourself: Am I interested in Christ Himself, or mainly in what I hope He will do for me?

Second point:

II. The Gospel Exposes the Difference Between God’s Power and Human Pride

Simon has seen the power of God and been baptized. But watch what happens when he sees the apostles laying their hands on the Samaritan believers.

14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,

The apostles in Jerusalem hear that Samaria has now received the Word of God and so they send Peter and John to pray for them because there’s something that hadn’t happened. They hadn’t received the Holy Spirit.

As Baptists this should make us stop and think for a bit because it’s through prayer and the laying on of hands that the Holy Spirit is received here. Look at the verse

16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

These Samaritans had believed the Gospel and been baptized and the Holy Spirit was not among them. Think about that for a moment if you would. There’s a lot of Christians that have studied this and read it differently. Some people read this and say well we need to lay hands on people and they have to receive the Holy Spirit

17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

There are some that see this as real evidence of a second experience after salvation that there is another baptism or experience after salvation. That this is accompanied by speaking in tongues at the initial filling. But notice that tongues isn’t mentioned anywhere here in this passage. We know that they were missing the Holy Spirit. We know that Simon saw something and wanted the power.

Some read this passage and say that the Samaritan’s faith was somehow insufficient until the apostles arrived. That it was incomplete until Peter and John came and laid hands on the people and that’s what brought the Holy Spirit.

But I think the best way to read what’s happening is to consider the Gospel narrative in Acts. Remember that they are in a Samaritan area and God was doing a new thing and the Gospel was crossing a significant boundary. The Samaritans had a long history full of hostility and mistrust with the Jews and they are receiving the same Gospel and the same Holy Spirit.

When God withheld His Holy Spirit until Peter and John arrived, God makes it an unmistakable sign that these Samaritans are fully members of the God’s Kingdom with all the rights and privileges as anyone else. They worship the same God and King as the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. There is not a separate church with a separate salvation.

To say that this passage is God’s plan for every person and church through all time is a serious error. This passage doesn’t teach us to expect this kind of thing every time someone believes. No. The apostles were God’s ordained means to testify to God’s grace working among the Samaritans and Peter and John witness and participate in what God was already doing. They didn’t own the rights to the Holy Spirit’s work and that’s exactly what Simon misses.

18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Simon doesn’t ask to know God better, to grow in holiness, or how to serve his brothers and sisters in Christ. He wants the power to hand the Holy Spirit to others. You see, he once used his spiritual power to wield influence over others and he is looking for a new source of power.

His problem is not that he offers money, it’s that he believes that God’s gift can be controlled and used for his own purpose.

20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

Point 3 if you’re taking notes:

III. The Gift of God Cannot Be Bought or Controlled

That’s pretty forceful language isn’t it? In the middle of a baptism service with the Holy Spirit working this is Peter’s response and the reason is very just: The Holy Spirit is God’s gift of His new covenant with us. It’s not something that can be bought and sold. God isn’t manipulated by money or influence.

You see money can do a lot of things. It can buy land, equipment, services, etc. It can’t forgive sins. It doesn’t make you more spiritual. It doesn’t put you in a right relationship with God. God cannot be manipulated. Period. He is not swayed by your paper, your activity, your ingenuity. We cannot bargain with God and make Him indebted to us.

Do you try to purchase what God has said is only free?

1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.

You can think your money makes you right with God. It doesn’t. God promises blessings for those who are generous with their money for the Gospel, but the blessing isn’t a promise of more wealth. You might serve in the church and get upset because you want recognition or authority. That’s not right. We serve at the pleasure of our King. We may obey God in public and have a good reputation with others and we might secretly expect God to overlook a private sin we are holding onto. You might use your financial influence to pressure the church to make changes so you can manipulate it in your own direction.

The question is not have you literally offered money for the Holy Spirit, but are you treating God as someone you can manipulate for your benefit? Don’t believe this is the principle? Look at what Peter says because he doesn’t stop with the money, the money is fruit of sin, but the root is much deeper and it reveals his heart

21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

Simon has professed belief, been baptized, followed Philip and his actions reveal a heart that is led by a lust for power and influence. This is not a theological misunderstanding, Simon wants the spiritual power without submitting to the God Who supplies.

Last point:

IV. The Gift of God Requires a Heart Submitted to God

Be warned to false assurance. None of the things that many professing Christians think save them actually save them. You can pray the sinners prayer, you can be baptized, go to whatever church is most popular, get involved in ministry, learn Christian lingo and never trust Christ.

All Christians will struggle with sin, we’re not talking about that. We’re talking about resisting God’s rule. What is the cure?

22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”

Peter doesn’t say bring more money, say a hail Mary, perform a ceremony, study a book. The cure is repent. Turn away from sin and toward God. Simon has to let go of his desire to control God’s power and submit himself to God’s good plan. Peter says that Simon is “in the bond of iniquity” which means that Simon is not free.

Freedom is not granted by more effort, it is granted when we repent of our sins and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When we look to God for mercy, He changes us and removes the curse of sin and brings us to life by His power! And when we are saved by grace through faith I want you to know that that faith is never separated from the heart.

Look at Simon’s answer Acts 8:24

24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

Peter says, “repent and pray to the Lord,” and Simon says “you pray for me”. We don’t know if Simon later repented, and we can’t know for certain his fate but this is not repentance. Simon is simply concerned with escaping God’s judgment, not with following Christ. So, he doesn’t express sorrow for his sin.

Guys, you can express sorrow for the consequences of your sin without hating the sin itself. You can fear judgment, embarrassment, or whatever and not desire to escape sin. Repentance is turning from sin and turning to the God we have sinned against.

How do you respond to sin? Do you turn from the sin itself or just from the consequences? Let me ask, do you want Jesus Christ to transform you and make you new or do you just want Him around to make your situation easier?

As a Christian, you must be willing to call people to genuine repentance while holding out the mercy of God as Peter does here. The Gospel is for manipulative and self-serving too. It’s for everyone that would lay down their sin and come to Jesus. But you have to forsake the sin.

25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

The Gospel advances. It doesn’t stop with Simon’s ambitions. It continues to conquer and bring freedom! It tears down the dividing walls of hostility and unifies Jews and Samaritans under Christ’s authority.

But you know, I want to bring this back to Simon. Simon thought he could gain spiritual power with money. He thought he was someone great and influential and when he saw something greater than himself he wanted to harness that power like some dumb bad guy from a modern movie.

The Gospel cannot be bought. You can’t buy a new heart and manipulate God into giving you eternal life. I remember talking with a former church member about their salvation. I asked them, “If you were to die today, do you know where you would go?” They said, “I hope so. I hope I’ve done enough.”

You cannot do enough and that’s the Good News. The message Philip proclaimed was Jesus Christ crucified, dying, and being raised to life to bring salvation to all who would believe if they would repent and believe the Gospel of Christ!

Jesus came to set captives free, even captives like Simon, bound by an iniquity that no amount of silver can break. Peter told Simon that his silver would perish with him. Years later, that same Peter wrote that we were ransomed

18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

God gave His Son. Jesus Christ lived the righteous life we have failed to live, died the death our sins deserved, and rose again in victory over sin and death. The price was paid, and we did not pay it. And now, this Savior calls sinners to repent and believe. The Gospel does not invite you to keep your idols and add Jesus to your life. It calls you to turn from your sin and trust Christ. Everyone who repents and believes in Him receives forgiveness and new life by grace, and is brought into His church.

So the question is not, “What can I offer God to get what I want?” The question is, “Will I turn from my sin and trust the Savior God has provided?”

Seek God Himself. Do not settle for outward religion while your heart remains ruled by pride. Come to Christ, who alone can forgive your sins and reconcile you to God. The gift you cannot buy is offered through the Savior who paid the price.

Head: God wants you to know that His gift of salvation and the Holy Spirit cannot be bought, earned, or manipulated.

Heart: God wants you to believe that Christ is enough.

Hand: God wants you to name one way you have been using Him for your own purposes, turn from it this week, and take one concrete step of humble obedience.