You Can’t Bribe God – Eliezer Gonzalez

Jan 19, 2016 3524

The story of Simon the Sorcerer in Acts 8 is an interesting one because it illustrates how Christianity was misinterpreted in the times of the earliest church. It also illustrates how Christianity is misinterpreted today.

Simon was a magician in Samaria. He liked to build up a big reputation for himself as having great wonder working and healing powers. Acts says that,

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit” – vv.18–19.

Simon tried to bribe God. He thought that if he gave God his money, that God would bless him. That’s a damnable lie.

Too many people relate to our religious experience as if it were some kind of tit–for–tat business transaction with God. “If I am good, then God will save me.” “If I follow the rules then God will love me.” “If I am faithful then God will heal me.” These are all damnable lies as well, because it is not on the basis of what we offer God that we receive his blessing.

It is only through God’s grace. It is a free gift from God. We should not cheapen the blood of Christ by trying to bribe God with the paltry, miserable things that we offer up to him. When we acknowledge the true basis of our salvation, and the true reason for the blessings that come from heaven, then we will willingly lay down all things at Christ’s feet.

In v.20, Peter answered Simon and said to him,

May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!

So too it will be all those who try to bribe God. Whatever they try to offer God in exchange for his favour will perish, together with them. Both their gift and they themselves will be entirely rejected by God.

You can’t bribe God. Of all things, that is one of the most offensive to him. All religion that tries to offer God something in exchange for his favour is false religion. The only thing that can make us acceptable before God is the incorruptible blood of Christ that was shed for us at Calvary.

– Eliezer Gonzalez

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