You have NO PART in this vomit!

Sometimes we learn from our own mistakes ...

Sometimes we learn from our own stupidity ...

Sometimes we learn not to go back to our own vomit ...

... but most Christians don't!

What?

Brainwashed, indoctrinated Christians fall victim to the deception that they have a role to play in their own salvation and that somehow they must believe everything someone else is saying, instead of what the Holy Spirit is saying.

Some are even made to believe they should contribute to make the Gifts of God manifest in their own lives, whilst in fact, they are given freely ... just the same as God's goodness, kindness, love and Grace!

To make matters worse they are made to think that they are the only ones that can play a part in the salvation of others ... 

But, You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Act 8:21 

Where do I come from?

Let's just recap on the background a little here. 

We are in Acts the 8th chapter, in Samaria. 

The Holy Spirit had just descended on all on Pentecost day. 3000 came to believe in Jesus immediately and were baptized. The apostles healed the lame and blind. Many more came to Christ following this. Stephen gave his epic sermon and the law-professors stoned him right there and then. 

As the persecution gained momentum the apostles went about preaching the Gospel allover Samaria (watch-mountain) where multitudes came to believe. They were baptized, even sorcerers like Simon known as the Sorcerer. 

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard about this, they came and laid hands on the new believers so that they may receive (lambano - take hold and make their own) the Holy Spirit (verse 15-16) since they (the new believers) were not aware that the Spirit of Truth was now living inside of them and would speak words of Truth to them, leading them and teaching them in all of Jesus and give them power to do wonders and miracles. 

So, what about the vomit?

So, there was this Christian guy, Simon (previously the sorcerer) who thought he could contribute by his own means in order to receive (not realizing that the Gift of the Spirit was freely given for him to receive already). And he offered some money ... 

Act 8, scene 20 ... enters the apostle Simon Peter, speaking to Simon (formerly the sorcerer) (... I add and paraphrase from the Greek in brackets). 

May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift (also see Rom 8:32) of God with money. 

You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right (in agreement with) before God. 

Repent (metanoeō) therefore of this, your wickedness (kakia - malignant thinking), and ask the Lord if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 

For I see that you are in the gall (cholē - in poisoned vomit) of bitterness (root word: pēgnumi - to be fixated in deceit, to be pegged down, you have been set-up) and in the bondage of iniquity (adikia - unrighteousness, injustice).” Act 8:20-23 

Brainwashed! (Also see this post)

Can you see that? 

The power of repentance came over Simon.

Simon saw his own stinking-thinking and asked Peter Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things (mēdeis - nothing, not even one) which you have spoken happen to me.

Where does this vomit come from?

Our brain-washed institutional church traditions makes us think we have a role to play, a part or contribution to be made in this immense, indescribable Wonder called Salvation, Grace - Yah'shua - the Finished Work of YHVH.

Finished!

Paid for in full! 

The fact is - the Gift and all that come with Him is absolutely free and cannot be unearned!

And let us not return

As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. Prov 26:11

Google this in Wikipedia and you'll find a apt explanation: It means that fools are stubbornly inflexible and this is illustrated with the repulsive simile of the dog that eats its vomit again, even though this may be poisonous. Dogs were considered unclean in Biblical times as they were commonly scavengers of the dead and they appear in the Bible as repugnant creatures, symbolising evil. The reference to vomit indicates excessive indulgence and so also symbolises revulsion"

No wonder Jesus says that it is our traditions and like things that we do that make the Word of God to none-effect. Mar 7:13

But when we've turned, we'll see

He that spared not his own Son, 

but delivered him up for us all, 

how shall he not with him also freely ... 

... give us all things? Rom 8:32