Repentance in Acts  8:22

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:

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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.

Subject Called to Repentance:   Simon Magus

Object of Repentance:        Simon Magus needed to change his mind from "the thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money."

In his previous religion, Simon had been a sorcerer.  However, this was not the center of Simon's religion.  Simon had been "giving out that himself was some great one" (vs. 9).  The center point of Simon Magus' previous religion was . . . Simon Magus.  Like so many Pentecostal and seeker friendly pastors of our age, Simon probably had two sermons . . . "I am great " and "look at me."  Simon Magus had converted to Christianity, and there is no reason to believe that his conversion was false.  Simon had genuinely believed on Christ (vs. 13), and as offensive as his character may be to us, we must accept the testimony of Scripture, that even vile and offensive people who believe on Christ will be saved.  Simon Magus was a pathological narcissist before he was saved, and he was still a pathological narcissist after he got saved.  Conversion changes our destiny, but conversion does not change our character.  And Simon's desire to be a big deal in the church remained the center point of his religion.  "Give me this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost."  He was still trying to give out that he was someone great.

But is pathological narcissism was not his greatest sin.  When Simon was told to repent of is "wickedness," Peter did not cite pride or narcissism.  Remembering that "repent" means "to change one's mind," if someone wants to see the exact nature of the repentance called for by Peter, one must determine what was in Simon Magus' mind.  The words to search for in the context are "suppose," "believe," "think," "regard", "hold" etc.  And if we search the context, we can identify the exact nature of the wickedness that concerned Peter.  Simon "thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money."  Since repentance is a change of mind, what Simon thought was what Simon needed to repent.

Simon's pathological narcissism was the most revolting character trait, and was at the root of much of his spiritual problems.  But the eternal life of every man, woman and child on the planet hinges on the integrity of the gospel message, and anything that threatens that integrity is of urgent concern.  How did Simon's actions threaten the integrity of the gospel?  Before the church age, the Holy Spirit was not given to all believers in the manner He is in this age.  But after the dispensational transition was through, and the church age was fully opened, the Holy Spirit was given to all men at the moment of salvation.  Paul writes, "If anyone have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9).  Salvation is a package of gifts to us.  These gifts include justification (our legal status as a result of Jesus dying for our sins on the cross), eternal life (the regeneration of the Holy Spirit), and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  By the end of the transition into the church age, the Holy Spirit would become an automatic part of that salvation experience.  Therefore, to allow a man to think that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit can be dispensed with money would, within one generation, imply (indirectly) that salvation itself can be bought with money.  Christians fight major battles over a great many doctrines, but few Christians have the ability to prioritize doctrine.  Peter shows a clear focus in this passage.  As offensive as Simon's narcissism was, the damage of the gospel was at the pinnacle of Peter's concern, even if the damage to the gospel was only tangential and inferential.

Consequence of repentance:                 Peter had invoked God's temporal judgment on Simon, "Thy money perish with thee ," and offered as a consequence of Simon's repentance, "That this sinful thought (singular) be forgiven."  Nothing in the text suggests that Simon's sins (plural) had not been forgiven "positionally."  He had believed on Christ.  Scripture is plain on this.  Whether Simon was indeed under the temporal judgment of God, as Peter had invoked, we are not told.  But Simon was not in fellowship with God.  1^st John 1:9 teaches that if we confess our sins, He is faithful to cleanse us of all our sins, and unrighteousness.  Narcissism is a deep rooted character trait.  James tells us that there are men who look in a mirror, and walk away, and immediately forget the manner of man they saw.  Some Christians will never grow to the maturity wherein they can examine their inner motives.  They are character disordered.  But in His infinite mercy, God will forgive all our sins when we address those that we can see.  This is all Peter required of Simon Magus.

Repentance in Acts 8:22