THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD - PART 328

Because Martin Luther nailed his thesis to a chapel door, doesn not mean that the thesis negates or alters the Word of God. Indeed, Martin Luther was bogged down in the quagmire of the church that had its roots in Rome. Why some commentators even suggest that the roman church was coined after Simon in Acts chapter 8. Here, Simon had projected himself as being the great power of God. So persuasive was Simon that the whole town, from the greatest to the least, believed that he was. Note that Simon is not Simon Peter.

However, when Philip arrived in Samaria to evangelize, Simon's trickery was exposed. Simon had viewed the miracles that the Holy Spirit performed upon the people of Samaria. Simon went along with the crowd and even went so far as to be baptised into the name of JESUS The apostles were coming from Jerusalem when they heard that Samaria had embraced the Word of God. And that likewise, they obediently believed being baptised into the name of the Word of God - JESUS.

The apostles upon arriving at Samaria prayed for the believers that they might receive the Holy Spirit! For as yet, they had not received the Holy Spirit. They had believed Philip's preaching concerning the Kingdom of God. In this context, they also believed the name of the ruling and reigning King within God’s Kingdom. As a consequence, they were immediately baptized into the name of JESUS. The apostles prayed that the believers would receive the promised gift of God’s Holy Spirit. Upon the apostles praying and laying their hands upon the believers, the believers received the promised Holy Spirit.

Simon watching saw, that through prayer and the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given. Simon immediately offered to buy such a gift so that he also would be able to impart the gift of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of his hands. The apostles said to Simon that his money will perish along with him if he should continue thinking that the gift of the Holy Spirit could be bought with money!

But Simon was a businessman who saw an opportunity. He had prior to Philip’s arrival been a very convincing businessman. So now he saw another trick, if you will, to practice with. Thus, in the time period 300-400 AD came forth another gospel. Martin Luther was an active participant in that other gospel.

The apostles said that if this gospel is hid from your understanding, it is hidden simply because of unbelief. And if one continues in their unbelief, they will never be part of the Kingdom of God! Yes, Martin did have a few scales removed from his eyes. To Martin’s spiritual mind was revealed some of the false erroneous teaching propagated by the roman church. However, Martin continued to straddle the fence being neither hot nor cold!

The result? The gospel of God was being withheld from the general populace. But God always has a small remnant - a mariners rope in days of yore had intertwined a scarlet thread of surety that the rope was of good quality. In the believers case the scarlet thread was the Blood of the Holy Spirit within the veins of JESUS -- Guaranteeing that whosoever calls upon the Name of JESUS they by the grace of God shall be saved!