Sermon Video - Grace: Not for sale, Acts 8:4-25

In the wake of the persecution of the Church by Saul, the followers of Jesus flee Jerusalem, but take the Gospel with them.  Philip begins preaching in Samaria, among the remnants of the 10 Lost Tribes, a people with whom the Jews share much heritage and mutual animosity.  Following Jesus' example, Philip shares with them the message of the Messiah accompanied by miraculous signs of healing, and they accept it with great joy.  Meanwhile, Simon, a local celebrity due to his access to some type of magic, is also awed by the power of the one true God that flows through Philip, and he too accepts the Gospel.

Peter and John arrive from Jerusalem to confirm the validity of the belief of the people of Samaria, at which point the Holy Spirit comes upon them.  Seeing this, Simon asks if he too could have access to the power to give the Holy Spirit and offers Peter money.  Peter's angry response makes it clear that the Gospel is not for sale and that Simon's motives were still clouded by his past. 

The question raised by Simon is one that has affected the Gospel message throughout the history of the Church and continues to do so.  Must God's gift of salvation through Christ be freely given and freely received, or can it be earned, bargained for, bought, or sold?  The answer to the question illustrates the heart of the Gospel.  God's gift of salvation through faith is an act of grace.  It cannot be earned, it cannot be bargained for, it cannot be bought, and it certainly cannot be sold.  To drift away from grace toward any sort of system that suggests salvation can be earned is to endanger the Gospel message.  It was exactly this drift that caused Martin Luther to object to the use of indulgences, the end result of which was a rift in the Church that has not been healed 500 years later.

Is the Gospel for sale?  Never, it is free, it always will be.  It can only be accepted by those willing to receive it, and it cannot be kept from anyone willing to accept it.

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Sermon Video