Avoiding Offense and Intimidation Through Understanding Salvation From Sin and Sickness
It is my personal belief that much of the difficulty we face in the area of experiencing divine healing is due to emotional pressures and misunderstandings, which result in unbelief. These hindrances seem to be more abundant in the area of healing from sickness than in the area of salvation from sin, hence the contrast in our experience. (Physical healing being less experienced on average) Having walked through physical affliction personally and that of those closest to me, I pray to approach this subject with compassion and wisdom.
Does the Bible teach that it is God’s will to save every sinner with the condition that he/she repents and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ? To many of you, this question may sound needlessly asked, however many of today’s Christian leaders and authors have differing answers. All would agree that the scope of God’s will to save from sin is equal to the scope of Christ’s Atoning Work. Many among our Pentecostal circles may not realize that since the time of it’s most recognized introduction in part by Augustine then continuation and fuller development through the influential works of John Calvin and others, limited atonement (the Calvinistic view that Christ did not die for the sins of the whole world, because it was never God’s intention/will that all be saved) exists among many who claim to believe the same Bible we do. A thorough study of Scripture in context results in a resounding “YES” that it is always God’s will to save anyone from sin who meets the God-ordained conditions of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
We are so sure of this that we endure the hateful treatment of those who call us intolerant bigots because we will not waver from the conviction/faith that Jesus is the Only Way to the Father, and that without faith in Him one is hopelessly lost eternally. We know that anyone who goes to hell goes there contrary to the will of God for their life. We readily affirm that our All-loving, All-powerful God will allow anyone to suffer the worst imaginable reality, namely eternal hell, if they insist on unbelief. This is emotionally/mentally troubling, but honesty with Scripture leaves us no other conclusion. The Bible admits that there is an “offence of the cross.” One definition for the word “offense (or offence)” is “an annoyance or resentment brought about by a perceived insult to or disregard for oneself or one’s standards or principles.” In Galatians, Paul even spoke of those who preached and practiced certain things so as to avoid “persecution for the cross of Christ.”
Though it is far less severe as rejecting God’s will to save from sin, eternally speaking, dare to proclaim that it is always God’s will to heal, but that not all experience it due to unbelief, and watch the emotional/mental pressure and opposition it receives. To many people within the church, the subject of healing seems to be ackwardly as offensive and touchy as any cultural sin one could address. You would almost be led to think that the “offence of the whipping post” is just as real as that of the cross. I’ve had first-hand experience of the strange phenomenon of sharing testimonies of miraculous healing with Christians who seemingly could not rejoice due to the hurt surrounding the topic. (Hence the title)
I have been amazed at how much healing is referred to as being in the Atonement by Godly people and yet, in the same breath said to not be God’s will for some. (If we just measured by experience, we would conclude that it must not have been His will for MOST!) This is not how we identify the will of God for salvation, or else we would conclude that because most are not born again, it must be God’s will that most be lost. Beloved, the scope of the Atonement/Redemptive Work of Christ answers the scope of God’s will for healing as well.
There are at least a couple of essential considerations for the topic of divine healing:
1. Is physical healing included in the atoning, redemptive work of Christ? Honestly, this answer determines whether it is always God’s will to heal. (Besides the fact that Jesus gave His followers the authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. (Mat 10:1 , Lu 9:1 , 10:1 , Mar 16:17-18) If the church does not have the God-given authority to heal diseases, then we don’t have authority to cast out demons either. The only honest understanding of Jesus’ statement is that we can’t have one without the other. All demons, all diseases.) *Interestingly, when we boil all sickness and disease (even mentaI trouble) down, we find that there are either physical realities (albeit microscopic organisms, bacteria, chemicals, etc) or spiritual realities (sin, fallen spirit beings, etc) involved. Both of which we have dominion over in Christ. Specifically that dominion/authority which the first Adam relinquished, Jesus, the Last Adam redeemed.
2. How is healing received and ministered (whose faith makes the difference?)
As we will see later, it is my conviction that if many were to apply to conversion what is thought to be faith (believing) for healing, we would not call it faith at all. It would not be recognizable much less regarded as faith. For example, how can anyone trust Christ (place faith in/believe on Him) to be saved if they do not know that He died for their sins? What if He did not? Could someone receive forgiveness and eternal life anyway? How do you expect to have faith for healing if you do not know that Christ took stripes for you and bore your sicknesses? If He indeed died for your sins and rose again according to the Scriptures, how could you still question if it was His will to save you and call that “saving faith”? According to the Scriptures, which tell of His suffering, death, and resurrection, how could you hold the position that He may choose to do otherwise than His promises according to the same Holy Scriptures and still consider that “believing on Him”? In other words, how can you trust the Scriptures as infallible concerning the redemption Christ provided for us but not trust them as equally infallible concerning the results Christ promised for us when we believe? If we’re not certain what He DOES according to His Word how can we be certain of what He DID. If you believe that you could meet the conditions/requirements of believing the Gospel promises yet God sovereignly tell you “No” to forgiveness, would you expect to have the confidence and assurance that you’re forgiven and a possessor of eternal life? Conclusion: We would not describe someone to be in faith who when asked, “Did Christ die for you?” and, “Is it God’s will to save you?” responded by saying, “I don’t know.” Why then do we say that we believe God for healing when we act like we don’t know if it’s the will of God? Does that signify that we don’t know that Jesus took stripes for us? On what Scriptural basis can God often tell a believing person “no” for healing but always “yes” for forgiveness? You can’t say you believe/trust (have faith in) what you do not consider to be true.
Let us first observe the language of Scripture concerning salvation from sin and sickness:
Isaiah 52
13 “BEHOLD, MY SERVANT SHALL DEAL PRUDENTLY,
HE SHALL BE EXALTED AND EXTOLLED, AND BE VERY HIGH.
14 AS MANY WERE ASTONIED AT THEE;
HIS VISAGE WAS SO MARRED MORE THAN ANY MAN,
AND HIS FORM MORE THAN THE SONS OF MEN:
15 SO SHALL HE SPRINKLE MANY NATIONS;
THE KINGS SHALL SHUT THEIR MOUTHS AT HIM:
FOR THAT WHICH HAD NOT BEEN TOLD THEM SHALL THEY SEE;
AND THAT WHICH THEY HAD NOT HEARD SHALL THEY CONSIDER.
53:1 WHO HATH BELIEVED OUR REPORT?
AND TO WHOM IS THE ARM OF THE LORD REVEALED?
2 FOR HE SHALL GROW UP BEFORE HIM AS A TENDER PLANT,
AND AS A ROOT OUT OF A DRY GROUND:
HE HATH NO FORM NOR COMELINESS;
AND WHEN WE SHALL SEE HIM, THERE IS NO BEAUTY THAT WE SHOULD DESIRE HIM.
3 HE IS DESPISED AND REJECTED OF MEN;
A MAN OF SORROWS, AND ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF:
AND WE HID AS IT WERE OUR FACES FROM HIM;
HE WAS DESPISED, AND WE ESTEEMED HIM NOT.
4 SURELY HE HATH BORNE OUR GRIEFS,
AND CARRIED OUR SORROWS:
YET WE DID ESTEEM HIM STRICKEN,
SMITTEN OF GOD, AND AFFLICTED.
5 BUT HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS,
HE WAS BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES:
THE CHASTISEMENT OF OUR PEACE WAS UPON HIM;
AND WITH HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED.
6 ALL WE LIKE SHEEP HAVE GONE ASTRAY;
WE HAVE TURNED EVERY ONE TO HIS OWN WAY;
AND THE LORD HATH LAID ON HIM THE INIQUITY OF US ALL.
7 HE WAS OPPRESSED, AND HE WAS AFFLICTED,
YET HE OPENED NOT HIS MOUTH:
HE IS BROUGHT AS A LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER,
AND AS A SHEEP BEFORE HER SHEARERS IS DUMB,
SO HE OPENETH NOT HIS MOUTH.
8 HE WAS TAKEN FROM PRISON AND FROM JUDGMENT:
AND WHO SHALL DECLARE HIS GENERATION?
FOR HE WAS CUT OFF OUT OF THE LAND OF THE LIVING:
FOR THE TRANSGRESSION OF MY PEOPLE WAS HE STRICKEN.
9 AND HE MADE HIS GRAVE WITH THE WICKED,
AND WITH THE RICH IN HIS DEATH;
BECAUSE HE HAD DONE NO VIOLENCE,
NEITHER WAS ANY DECEIT IN HIS MOUTH.
10 YET IT PLEASED THE LORD TO BRUISE HIM; HE HATH PUT HIM TO GRIEF: WHEN THOU SHALT MAKE HIS SOUL AN OFFERING FOR SIN, HE SHALL SEE HIS SEED, HE SHALL PROLONG HIS DAYS, AND THE PLEASURE OF THE LORD SHALL PROSPER IN HIS HAND.
11 HE SHALL SEE OF THE TRAVAIL OF HIS SOUL, AND SHALL BE SATISFIED:
BY HIS KNOWLEDGE SHALL MY RIGHTEOUS SERVANT JUSTIFY MANY;
FOR HE SHALL BEAR THEIR INIQUITIES.
12 THEREFORE WILL I DIVIDE HIM A PORTION WITH THE GREAT,
AND HE SHALL DIVIDE THE SPOIL WITH THE STRONG;
BECAUSE HE HATH POURED OUT HIS SOUL UNTO DEATH:
AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS;
AND HE BARE THE SIN OF MANY,
AND MADE INTERCESSION FOR THE TRANSGRESSORS.”
(*Some say this only refers to spiritual (or emotional) healing. Ok, so spiritual (emotional) healing is in the atonement… so would you say it’s always God’s will to heal everyone spiritually (or much less, emotionally)? Are all spiritually healed? Does spiritual healing happen apart from faith (believing)? Would any of us say that spiritual healing is automatic and inevitable just because God wills it? Then why use this argument against physical healing? If you wouldn’t say God picks and chooses who He heals and doesn’t heal spiritually, then we shouldn’t say He does that with physical healing. Yet, that is exactly the way many approach healing even when they regularly pray for the sick. Physical healing gets different treatment as if it’s all up to God.)
Matthew 8
16 WHEN THE EVEN WAS COME, THEY BROUGHT UNTO HIM MANY THAT WERE POSSESSED WITH DEVILS: AND HE CAST OUT THE SPIRITS WITH HIS WORD, AND HEALED ALL THAT WERE SICK:
17 THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY ESAIAS THE PROPHET, SAYING, HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES, AND BARE OUR SICKNESSES.
1 PETER 2:24 WHO HIS OWN SELF BARE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY ON THE TREE, THAT WE, BEING DEAD TO SINS, SHOULD LIVE UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS: BY WHOSE STRIPES YE WERE HEALED.
Psalm 103
1 BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL:
AND ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME, BLESS HIS HOLY NAME.
2 BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL,
AND FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS: (HOW OFTEN HAS HIS BENEFIT OF HEALING BEEN FORGOTTEN OR MISUNDERSTOOD?)
3 WHO FORGIVETH ALL THINE INIQUITIES;
WHO HEALETH ALL THY DISEASES; (NOTICE THE CLOSE CONNECTION AND CONCLUSIVENESS OF “ALL”)
4 WHO REDEEMETH THY LIFE FROM DESTRUCTION;
WHO CROWNETH THEE WITH LOVINGKINDNESS AND TENDER MERCIES;
5 WHO SATISFIETH THY MOUTH WITH GOOD THINGS;
SO THAT THY YOUTH IS RENEWED LIKE THE EAGLE’S.
6 THE LORD EXECUTETH RIGHTEOUSNESS
AND JUDGMENT FOR ALL THAT ARE OPPRESSED. (ACTS 10:38 DECLARES THAT JESUS HEALED “ALL THAT WERE OPPRESSED OF THE DEVIL”, THEREFORE DISEASE IS A FORM OF OPPRESSION)
LUKE 7:50 AND HE SAID TO THE WOMAN, THY FAITH HATH SAVED THEE; GO IN PEACE.
LUKE 18:42 AND JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, RECEIVE THY SIGHT: THY FAITH HATH SAVED THEE. (SAME WORD USED FOR FORGIVENESS AND HEALING: “SAVED”)
“SOTERIA” OR “SOZO” – TO SAVE, DELIVER, PROTECT, KEEP SAFE AND SOUND, RESCUE FROM DANGER AND DESTRUCTION, HEAL, PRESERVE, DO WELL, MAKE WHOLE
2 COR 5:21 FOR HE HATH MADE HIM TO BE SIN FOR US, WHO KNEW NO SIN; THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM. (JESUS WAS MADE SIN TO SAVE US FROM SIN.)
GAL 3:13 CHRIST HATH REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW, BEING MADE A CURSE FOR US: FOR IT IS WRITTEN, CURSED IS EVERY ONE THAT HANGETH ON A TREE. (JESUS WAS MADE A CURSE TO SAVE US FROM THE CURSE. SEE DEUT 28 FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THE CURSE, WHICH INCLUDED SICKNESS.)
LEV 20:8 SPEAKS OF THE LORD WHO SANCTIFIES (JEHOVAH M’KADDESH)
JER 23:6 SPEAKS OF THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (JEHOVAH TSIDKENU)
EXODUS 15:26 SPEAKS OF THE LORD THAT HEALETH THEE (JEHOVAH RAPHA)
(THESE ARE NOT JUST DESCRIPTIONS OF WHAT GOD CAN DO, THEY ARE DEFINITIONS OF WHO HE FOREVER WILL BE.)
1 Cor 11
23 FOR I HAVE RECEIVED OF THE LORD THAT WHICH ALSO I DELIVERED UNTO YOU, THAT THE LORD JESUS THE SAME NIGHT IN WHICH HE WAS BETRAYED TOOK BREAD:
24 AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS, HE BRAKE IT, AND SAID, TAKE, EAT: THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH IS BROKEN FOR YOU: THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.
25 AFTER THE SAME MANNER ALSO HE TOOK THE CUP, WHEN HE HAD SUPPED, SAYING, THIS CUP IS THE NEW TESTAMENT IN MY BLOOD: THIS DO YE, AS OFT AS YE DRINK IT, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.
26 FOR AS OFTEN AS YE EAT THIS BREAD, AND DRINK THIS CUP, YE DO SHEW THE LORD’S DEATH TILL HE COME. (WHY WOULD JESUS INCLUDE THE BREAD AS HIS BROKEN BODY FOR US? THE VEIL OF HIS FLESH WAS RENT/TORN TO PROVIDE OUR ACCESS TO THE HOLY OF HOLIES, BUT HIS BODY WAS ALSO BROKEN TO MAKE OURS WHOLE. IF IT SERVED NO HEALING PURPOSE, WHY DID THE MISUSE OF THE COMMUNION BREAD RESULT IN MANY BEING “WEAK AND SICKLY” AND EVEN WORSE, “MANY SLEEP”/DIE PREMATURELY?)
Mark 2
5 WHEN JESUS SAW THEIR FAITH, HE SAID UNTO THE SICK OF THE PALSY, SON, THY SINS BE FORGIVEN THEE.
6 BUT THERE WERE CERTAIN OF THE SCRIBES SITTING THERE, AND REASONING IN THEIR HEARTS,
7 WHY DOTH THIS MAN THUS SPEAK BLASPHEMIES? WHO CAN FORGIVE SINS BUT GOD ONLY?
8 AND IMMEDIATELY WHEN JESUS PERCEIVED IN HIS SPIRIT THAT THEY SO REASONED WITHIN THEMSELVES, HE SAID UNTO THEM, WHY REASON YE THESE THINGS IN YOUR HEARTS?
9 WHETHER IS IT EASIER TO SAY TO THE SICK OF THE PALSY, THY SINS BE FORGIVEN THEE; OR TO SAY, ARISE, AND TAKE UP THY BED, AND WALK?
10 BUT THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT THE SON OF MAN HATH POWER ON EARTH TO FORGIVE SINS, (HE SAITH TO THE SICK OF THE PALSY,)
11 I SAY UNTO THEE, ARISE, AND TAKE UP THY BED, AND GO THY WAY INTO THINE HOUSE.
12 AND IMMEDIATELY HE AROSE, TOOK UP THE BED, AND WENT FORTH BEFORE THEM ALL; INSOMUCH THAT THEY WERE ALL AMAZED, AND GLORIFIED GOD, SAYING, WE NEVER SAW IT ON THIS FASHION. (NOTICE JESUS PLACED NO DIFFERENCE IN DIFFICULTY OR LIKELIHOOD OF HEALING AND FORGIVENESS IN HIS MINISTRY.)
James 5
14 IS ANY SICK AMONG YOU? LET HIM CALL FOR THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH; AND LET THEM PRAY OVER HIM, ANOINTING HIM WITH OIL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD:
15 AND THE PRAYER OF FAITH SHALL SAVE THE SICK, AND THE LORD SHALL RAISE HIM UP; AND IF HE HAVE COMMITTED SINS, THEY SHALL BE FORGIVEN HIM. (NOTICE THE CLOSE CONNECTION OF FORGIVENESS AND HEALING, AND THE CONCLUSIVENESS OF “ANY SICK AMONG YOU” AND “THE PRAYER OF FAITH SHALL SAVE THE SICK (THE ANY SICK).”)
16 CONFESS YOUR FAULTS ONE TO ANOTHER, AND PRAY ONE FOR ANOTHER, THAT YE MAY BE HEALED. THE EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AVAILETH MUCH.
It is undeniably clear that the Bible uses the same terminology to describe what Christ has done for our salvation from sickness as our salvation from sin. The good news is that God doesn’t mean one “SHALL” more than another! If this is not the case, then words can be made to mean or not mean anything according to the reader’s wishes. However, we are to be believers of the Bible and not editors. God was not careless and sloppy with words so as to risk misleading us toward false hope. He could’ve said it any way He wanted. He is not incompetent to communicate His genuine intentions. Forgiveness and healing are two inseparable truths of the Atoning, Redemptive Work of Christ on our behalf. Therefore, regardless of the challenges we may have faced or are yet to face in the area of healing, our fidelity/commitment to the testimony of Scripture must be maintained.
To be continued in Part 2
