Additional Thoughts About Salvation and Healing
We cannot afford to assume about faith. We must know what God considers to be faith by what He has said. To my current level of understanding, I personally consider the following to be the fullest description of faith (or what it means to believe): I am convinced/persuaded that it is God’s will and equally convinced/persuaded that as I believe/speak/act accordingly (meet the condition of God’s promise, etc) it cannot turn out otherwise.
There is a difference between believing in Jesus and believing Jesus. For example, we ought to thank God that we find it easier to believe in Jesus as the Forgiver of sin and Giver of everlasting life. After all, we’ve not been in the afterlife or claim to be experts concerning what happens in the unseen, eternal realm, right? Therefore, we can easier believe “what” Jesus said about forgiveness and eternal life with a more objective interpretation. However, when it comes to physical healing and financial well being, it’s as if we say, ” Jesus, we know a little about what it means to suffer physically, mentally/emotionally, and fnancially.” So we have found it harder to “believe Jesus” in those areas. The tendency is toward a subjective interpretation. Whereas Jesus must be thinking, “Yes, you’re familiar with sickness and lack, but I’m pretty familiar with health and blessing. Trust me, I’m just as much an expert on those things as I am on the afterlife.”
Medically/naturally speaking, if my Wife or children were sick (even life threatening condition), would you say that I, as the Father, should do everything in my ability to meet their need(s)? (Whether medicine or hospitalization) You would consider that a need, right? In fact, that care is included in my marriage vows. (“I do’s”). Well, if we say that God supplies all our needs, then is physical healing not a need for someone who is sick? Some may say, “You know, brother, God only promised to meet our needs but not our wants. Maybe God considers physical healing just to be a want, but He knows our greater needs.” First, show me that mentality in Jesus. Second, try that mentality as a father/husband: “I know what could relieve your pain, save your life, etc, but as your provider, I only supply what you really need, not just your wants. After all, Honey, going on to heaven is better for you than keeping you here. You wouldn’t argue that heaven is not your greatest need, would you?” I think any of us can see the problem with that reasoning. My point here is not to diminish the utmost importance of being eternally with God or to debate when to use medical means versus God’s power only, rather it is to illustrate the willingness of God to supply the need of physical healing and why we should not question His will in the matter, any more than that of an earthly father/husband. If when you were unsaved, God was willing to forgive you, how much more is He willing to heal you, now that you are His child? If He was merciful enough to forgive you when you were unconverted, how is He not merciful enough to heal you now that you are in His family?
Please do not miss this next point! Perhaps the greatest contradiction/inconsistency is when we get offended by anyone daring to mention that a saint who went on to heaven before their time, due to disease, could’ve been healed by either their personal right believing or that of another believer ministering to them. All the while not one of us would hesitate for a moment to say that everyone in hell for eternity could’ve been saved if they would have just believed the right thing. (Regardless of all the nice, charitable thing they did more so than some Christians in comparison, they missed forever in heaven by not believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. One belief could have changed their eternal forever.) And we act surprised if someone gets offended by that commitment to Scripture (because the Word is clear, though not comfortable), but totally feel justified to get offended over someone’s faithfulness to Scripture concerning healing, which doesn’t even affect their eternity. Rather would only have been an undeniable testimony of their life and influence extended/lengthened by the power of God.
Concerning being converted, sanctified, and receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost, we recognize that if someone has not yet experienced, it’s NOT because:
– God said “No”/chose not to
– God said “It’s not my time yet, keep waiting”
– God sovereignly did otherwise than His Word promises
– God has His mysterious reasons, and we’ll understand by and by
No, we acknowledge that we have conditions to meet in order to experience those provided things that are undisputedly recognized to be God’s will for everyone: saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost.
To be continued in Part 8…
