It is not the least innocent kind of ambition, to seek after praise in the way of religious usefulness. (Thomas Adam, Private Thoughts on Religion)
“The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).
The heart being so deceptive is understood so little, and perhaps not at all by the unregenerate person. To complicate matters, however, there appear to be many in our day who are unregenerate and yet think they are converted. So they interpret any form of zeal in the things of religion as evidence that they are converted. This is clear from many passages in Scripture. The Pharisees thought they were converted men since they were holy and they tithed, prayed, gave alms, and even fasted. They thought of themselves as holy and good men because they memorized large portions of Scripture.
Acts 8:9 Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; 10 and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God.” 11 And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. 13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. 14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 “You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 “Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 “For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”
Simon, who practiced magic, received a lot of attention from the people in his area. The people heard that Gospel preached and believed it rather than Simon and so they were baptized. Simon, who apparently loved the attention of the people as well as the power to do things beyond normal human power, was also baptized and followed Phillip around amazed at this signs and miracles that were taking place. Simon was amazed at what was going on and he was taken with Christianity as such, but as is evident from what follows he was not converted. His heart that loves power, authority, money, and the attention of others had not been changed. But now, instead of being involved in the magic arts, he was enthralled with religion.
When the apostles came from Jerusalem and started laying hands on people so that they would receive the Holy Spirit, Simon saw that and his real heart came to the surface. He saw that the Spirit (though perhaps he didn’t notice the part about them praying) was given though the laying on of hands by the apostles and he wanted the power, authority, and attention that they had. So he did what an unregenerate man would do and offered them money to give him the authority to give the Spirit on those whom he would lay hands on.
The answer of Peter to Simon shows that he was an unconverted man. What was Simon taken up with? He was taken with the external things of religion and not the real power of it. He wanted to be able to lay hands on people so that they could receive the Spirit, yet he wanted that power more than he wanted the Spirit himself. He wanted all the external things like miracles and signs, but he did not want Christ to save him from his sinful heart. Simon wanted the praise of men rather than the grace and praise of God. His heart deceived him into thinking he was converted by the external things of religion and he thought he was a changed man. He even left his magic arts. But apart from grace we cannot leave our sinful hearts behind, but instead we must have new hearts. Do not be deceived.
God Loves... Himself 
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