Last week our branch of Montage talked about how the greatest challenge to people becoming Christians are Christians themselves. People look at church-goers, see that the way they live their life doesn’t line up with what they say they believe, and don’t want anything to do with the church or with Christianity. Today we will read of a man named Simon who “believed” in Jesus but whose life wasn’t transformed by Jesus. He had a belief, but not a saving, life changing belief…which is just a false belief. It’s the kind of belief that drives others away from Jesus rather than drawing them to Jesus.

We also get to see the genuine faith of Philip who let’s the Holy Spirit lead him, heal through him and speak through him. Philips’s faith sent him to Samaria (who were a hated people group) to tell them about Jesus. He cast out demons and healed people while telling them about Jesus and it brought great joy to the city. One man had faith that pointed people to Jesus, the other had a “faith” that wanted to glorify himself. These two are contrasted intentionally by our author Luke.