Simon Magus: Was he sincere?

In Acts 8:9-24 there are several points (or questions) which I want to make (or be answered):

1.  Did Simon get "saved".
2. Did Simon eventually became apostate.
3. That there are three baptisms.
4. That Simon may have been the "thorn" in Paul's side.

Now let's read God's word about Simon the Magician called elsewhere Simon Magus:

Acts 8:9 "But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

I would refer the reader to Wikipedia Simon Magus. He was more than a one-time occurrence in apostolic times. For now let's look at Point #1: Simon did get "saved".

He (Simon) was the ultimate sinner! He was a sorcerer and mesmerized those to whom he spoke. Helen of Troy was claimed in his myth to be "The First Thought" who created the angels. The angels were said to have rebelled and imprisoned Helen. Simon saved her from prison and freed her. Simon and Helen went through a series of reincarnations, then "God" (sic; Simon) came down to be the savior of mankind. (Myth of Simon and Helen). This myth became a real claim. Simon, in later days, was perceived by many as God! It is believed that the gospel propagated by the gnostics were a result of this myth.

Simon was a so-called "savior" in whom many believed rather than or in addition to Jesus Christ!

Simon, performed many "miracles" and had deluded the people of Samaria. They came to believe him to be God. It was to these deluded and deceived Samaritans who Philip persuaded!

One might ask "Did Simon truly perform miracles or was it merely perceived as such?' The keyword here is "bewitched".  It appears that Simon's miracles were tricks of magics since he was a magician. The Samaritans didn't see real miracles, but were beguiled (from bewitched).  In times of darkness before the scientific enlightenment, people were easily fooled. Magicians were good! Simon was the Houdini of Samaria, so to speak!

(For a review of magical tom-foolery read the story of Moses, Pharaoh and the ten plagues; (Exodus Chapters 7-11). These guys were "good", but their magic was not real. They were merely able to fake real miracles until the miracles became more profound; then magic failed!)

In short Simon convinced the people that he was God! Simon, being so good at his art, may have come to believe that he was actually God! Does that sound delusional? God himself said:

Genesis 3:5 "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."

Most people believe that they are gods. It's our "god" whom we pleasure, have pride in, have grandiose thoughts about, and love! Simon is "us" to the extreme. We act like gods, but he believed, apparently, that he was God! What started as a myth became a belief. Simonism existed up into the mid-fourth century as a heresy, but continues through this day de facto.

Did Simon get saved?

"Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip." (verse 13).

Of what does "salvation" consist?

Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."

Simon "believed" and was "baptized" (Acts 8:13), so according to Mark, Simon was "saved".  As you may remember from many of my previous comments "saved" from Mark 16:16 above is the Greek word sozo, meaning "safe". Hence, those who believe and are baptized are made "safe". Safe from what or whom? Satan!  God doesn't remove choices and free will, but he does protect from the evil one (Read Job Chapter 1). Simon was made "safe" until sometime in the future. That "sometime" is until faith is gone or death occurs.

In Mark 16:16 "believeth" comes from the Greek word pisteuo,meaning "to have faith in". Therefore, it's really not merely "belief" which "makes safe", but "faith". Did Simon have faith or not? He knew what he was doing was trickery, but it's certainly possible that he recognized the real deal through Philip and saw the light (enlightened). Let's look at Simon's "belief" from Acts 8:13. Likewise, the same Greek word was used pisteuo.. Simon "had faith" in the gospel (Jesus). Faith enough that he made a public confession by baptism. Since the Bible does not indicate a lack of sincerity, I believe that Simon was "safe" if he kept the faith!

Matthew 24:13 "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."

So we see here that to be "safe" until the end (implied), one must endure (hupomeno) to the end.  A Christian is finally "safe" when he abides in Jesus until death and perseveres against Satan's beguiling him from faith. Simon was soon beguiled! (And immediately Satan tempted Simon just as he does any Christian who is born again!)

Answer: There is biblical evidence that Simon was "born again". Did he have the Holy Spirit? Scripture doesn't say that he did! (More on that shortly). Hence, Simon had faith and was "safe", but had yet to put on the whole armor of God. The Holy Ghost had not yet filled him. Simon wasn't "saved", but he was "safe" providing one stipulation: if he ensures to the end!

Did Simon commit apostasy?

Point #2: Did Simon commit apostasy? "Apostasy" is the abandonment of belief in Christ. Of course it must be a complete renunciation of Christ by word or actions. Failure to live for Christ is abandonment and is a tacit renunciation of Jesus. "Enduring" is "abiding in Jesus". Scripture doesn't say that Simon was in apostasy. He misunderstood the purpose of following Jesus: it is not to gain wealth, power, prestige or any thing for the "self" other than salvation. Simon wanted money. That became the sin of Simonism, but I believe that nobody is any different than Simon. Erring Christians always want something for the "self", that being our "other god" and Simon's too!

Scripture does not say that Simon committed the unpardonable sin! Simon requested prayer for himself! "Pray ye to the Lord for me." (verse 24). It appears that he did apostatize though! Why do I say that? Early church history has extensive records of the acts of Simon. He was a thorn in the side of the Christians thereafter (more on that later).

Did Simon commit apostasy?  Answer. Non-canonical sources (history) indicates he did. Therefore, Simon did the unpardonable:

Ephesians 4:30 "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

There is no scriptural record that Simon was filled with the Holy Ghost. Therefore, he was not preserved by the whole armor of God and was vulnerable to deception.  All his works thereafter were works of evil. (Note: Calvinists claim that Simon was never a true believer, hence was not in apostasy. Scripture disputes that.) Likewise, many believe that the Holy Ghost fills at either the "born-again" moment, or at baptism, or later.

Tomorrow, we shall look at the "three baptisms" and examine just what "the thorn" was in Paul's side.