Simon, a sorcerer in Samaria, is a fascinating character in Acts. I don’t think anybody in church history has been maligned as badly as this man. Even though the text says he was a believer, theologians of many stripes have been determined to see him cast into the lake of fire. Even some believing theologians are in that group.

Luke tells us that Simon believed the things Philip preached about Christ (Acts 8:13). But that is unacceptable to most Bible teachers. They say that Simon didn’t really believe. After believing the message of Christ, Simon publicly identified with Christ by being baptized. In first-century Samaria, this would have been a big step. But most teachers say that Simon was not sincere in this confession of the Lord. He must have had other motives, even though the text does not hint at what those might have been.

Simon then wanted to impress others by performing miracles. Once again, we are told that this proves Simon was not a true believer. It is maintained that no real Christian could ever be as arrogant as that. If he had been truly saved, he would have been humble. After all, no person born from above could act like the world. Even young Christians live holy lives. None of us has ever met a proud believer. (That last line was sarcastic, just in case any reader didn’t catch it.)

Of course, such ideas about how true believers will or won’t act and think are ridiculous. Nevertheless, Simon’s fleshly attitude is unacceptable to many Bible teachers. According to them, somebody like Simon is unfit for the kingdom of God. If you hear a sermon about him or read about him in a book, the message will almost certainly be that Simon will burn in the lake of fire forever.

I heard such a message this week. The speaker gave another reason––an angle I hadn’t heard before––to prove that Simon didn’t really believe: Simon was sorry for his attitude. He repented of his sin. Luke says that when Peter rebuked him, Simon asked Peter to pray for him. He was afraid of God’s disciplining him because of his sin.

Now, you might think that repenting is a good thing. We would hope a believer would do that when rebuked by an apostle of the Lord. But even here, so many say, Simon blows it. We are told that he is showing his true colors because he doesn’t pray to God. Instead, he asks Peter to pray for him. The person giving the message I listened to said that Simon’s repentance was not genuine. He didn’t make it personal. A real Christian does not ask others to repent for him; he repents for himself. Simon wanted Peter to repent for him.

I’m glad I’m not held to the standard to which many have held Simon. I never realized that asking others to pray for your weaknesses was wrong. I’m pretty sure that if I were a first-century believer whom one of the Lord’s apostles rebuked because of my fleshly desires, I would beg him to pray for me. I would want all the help I could get! It would not occur to me that such a request would reveal that I was not really saved.

Millions have said that even though Simon believed, he didn’t really believe. Even though he wanted to express his new faith by being baptized, that desire was not sincere. He struggled with pride, and no proud people will be in the kingdom of God. Simon repented, but it was not genuine.

The way history and the church have treated Simon fascinates me. Countless millions have done their best to shove him into the lake of fire. Mine is a minority position, but I am absolutely sure the majority has it all wrong.

Here is the truth about Simon: He believed and received eternal life. He wanted to proclaim his new faith through baptism. He was a young believer who was still dealing with the sin of pride. When Peter rebuked him and warned him that such an attitude would be met by God’s discipline, Simon responded in a praiseworthy manner. He asked a more mature believer to pray for him.

Everybody who believes in Jesus for eternal life receives it. That is what Simon did. Those believers who have harshly judged him and held him to a standard they themselves could not meet will be surprised to see him in the kingdom. You have to admit, the thought of that meeting is pretty funny.