Acts 8:20-24 But Peter said to him, Your money perish with you, because you have thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.… I. THE WICKED INTENTIONS OF MEN REQUIRE PARDON. "The thought of thine heart." Simon did not obtain his wish; but it was in his heart. The essence of the sin was there. He laid the plan, and began its execution, but was foiled. Hence Peter lays stress upon what was in the man's heart. He had been received into the fellowship of the saints; but this availed nothing so long as he was in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. Something was out of order in the man, and that the main thing: "Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter; for," etc. The apostle would not allow him to console his conscience with the mere circumstance that he had failed in his attempt. In the new creation the Holy Ghost, therefore, makes the heart His first care. This is the citadel, which having been captured by grace, the whole man is gained for Christ. To be clean, we must be cleansed from secret faults; and not until the thoughts of our hearts are forgiven shall we stand justified before the Lord. II. THE MEANS BY WHICH THE WICKED ARE TO SEEK PEACE WITH GOD. "Repent... and pray." The foundation of duty and privilege in the spiritual kingdom is the blood of the Lamb, but there is another vital fact involved in our rescue from sin. It is a moral being who has sinned, and who requires the sovereign remedy of grace. The activity of his moral nature must assert itself. Though only willing in the day of God's power, he must not expect to be dragged like a stone to the fountain of cleansing, or like a brute to the altar of mercy. God's Spirit meets him in the path of sin, and this is His charge: "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness." The sacrifice of Christ has made an open door for penitence. "Him hath God exalted," etc. If the sinner repents in an evangelical manner, he will be found in Christ. III. THE BARE POSSIBILITY OF SUCCESS SHOULD ENCOURAGE THE SINNER TO USE THIS MEANS OF GRACE. "Pray God if perhaps," etc. In what are called worldly adventures, men are not only willing, but eager, to take their chances, and though a thousand chances are against it, they bend every energy toward its attainment. Can it be that the soul is not worth a venture? "What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Peter did not intend to deny the validity of the promises, or to cast doubt over the effectiveness of repentance or prayer. His misgiving arose from Simon's own state. He may have thought it highly improbable that Simon would ever become at heart a better man. In accordance with the text we sing, "Venture on Him"; but we imply no venture of risk, but one of courage. The uncertainty of your salvation is, indeed, alarming, but it lies in your neglect of the means of grace. If there were but the slightest possibility of Christ's being able to save you, it would be amazing stupidity in you to slight Him. It is not a possibility, but a certainty. "He is able also to save them to the uttermost," etc. (H. R. Raymond, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. |
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