Jn 12:42-43 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

1. Who Lost His Coin!

4. The Magician Who Lost His Coin!
Jn 12:42-43 Nevertheless even among the
rulers many believed in Him, but because
of the Pharisees they did not confess Him,
lest they should be put out of the
synagogue; for they loved the praise of
men more than the praise of God.

5. How many of you here have ever seen
a magic show?
• Was it entertaining? Were you amazed?
–I guess the answers to this depends on how
good of a show you saw!
• Tonight we are going to read about a man
what was very good at magic, so good that
for years he was able to trick a whole city
into believe that he was the power of God!

6. An Amazing Chapter (Act. 8)
• It begins with persecution that results in the
progression/the preaching of the gospel!
– Act. 8:1-4
• Then in fulfillment of (Act. 1:8) Philip goes down
to the city of Samaria and preaches Jesus to
them! (Act. 8:5)
– Act 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the
Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be
witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

7. I. His Condition!
• Let’s begin by reading together!
– Act. 8:9-11
• Simon like all other men was “a sinner in need of a
Savior!”
– Rom. 3:10-12, 23; 5:12 & etc.
• Consideration of some of his sin! (*That he was God*)
– Sorcery/witchcraft (Act. 8:9 &11 cf. Ex. 22:18; Deut 18)
– Amazed/bewitched/astonished this may not on the
surface seem to be wrong, but this was all done by
deception! From Gk. Word meaning “out of one’s mind!”

8. Pretending to be someone they’re not!
• Mt 24:4-5 And Jesus answered and said to
them: "Take heed that no one deceives you.
"For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am
the Christ,' and will deceive many.
• 1 Jn 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit,
but test the spirits, whether they are of God;
because many false prophets have gone out
into the world.

9. II. His Conversion!
• When the counterfeit meets the real deal the
faults become apparent! Even the fake develops
faith! A-men!!!
• Let’s read together (Act. 8:12-17)
–He knows his power is not real and that the real
deal is now present! When God shows up
people take notice!
• In the light the darkness is driven out!

10. III. His Transgression!
• When we come to trust in Christ and depend
on the cross, we often come with “extra
baggage!”
–We become a new person, but now we must
learn to live a new & different life!
• 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 6:3-4
• Simon has a hard time breaking his old
habits! (Read with me Act. 8:18-23)

11. The danger of returning!
• Simon finds himself right back where he
begun, looking for a way to amaze the
people! He wants to be in it for the show &
not the Savior!
• As quickly as he moves to “a saved sinner”
he then moves to “a lost saint!”
–The Bible often warns of the danger of falling
away! (2 Pet. 2:20-22 cf. Gal. 5:4)

12. IV. His Restoration!
• Thankfully God can & does use others to get
our lives back on track again!
–Read with me (Act. 8:22-24)
• Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any
trespass, you who are spiritual restore such
a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering
yourself lest you also be tempted.

13. Repentance & confession will always
be present in the life of a Christian!
• Js 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and
pray for one another, that you may be healed. The
effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails
much.
• 1 Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.
• Alien sinner (“repent & be baptized” Act. 2:38)
• Erring saint (“repent & pray” Act. 8:22)

14. Conclusion:
• Have you been deceived by a Simon or have
you come to know the Savior!
• If you are here and not yet a Christian, then
repent & be baptized! If you are a Christian
but have fallen back into sin, then repent &
pray!
• For us that are Christian, let’s make sure we
are laying down “our coin for the cross!”