Did you know God purposed for us, in Christ, to be as free from all manner of sickness and disease as He purposed for us to be free from sin? If we were to ask Christians in our communities, Bible-believing people, What is God’s will for man’s soul? They would emphatically agree, …to be saved!
If asked, how would they respond about God’s will for man’s body? Would their reply be as energetic and convincing? Many believing ones understand that Christ died to redeem us from our sins, but have not enjoyed his redemptive work in also taking upon himself mankind’s physical and mental afflictions.
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. ~1 Peter 2:24 (KJV)
Healing is a manifestation of our redemption. Dr. E.W. Bullinger, in his work on The Divine Names and Titles, listed ten redemptive names of God; the second being Jehovah Rapheka, found in Exodus 15:26, I am the Lord that healeth thee, or literally, I am the Lord thy physician.
The Greek word for healed in 1 Peter 2:24, is properly used in regard to surgeons. It means to be revived from illness; to cause to live and denotes the completion of the act. As David declared in Psalm 103, verses 3 & 4 (KJV):
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Colossians 1 reveals that we have, …redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Redemption is to be rescued from an undesirable state. Neither sickness nor sin is a state we crave. Nor does God want us to be mired in either of those conditions. Therefore, He made provision for us in the finished works of Jesus Christ. In Christ, we are as much redeemed from sickness as we are redeemed from our sins.
Not only is it God’s will for us to …prosper and be in health [3 John 2], it is in fact, His purpose in Christ. When you think of heaven, what comes to mind? Do you envision men and women sick and filled with disease? Do you picture humans with deformities? Would you see them in pain or limping along on crutches? No, of course not! Why? Because it is not the will of God, nor the purposes of heaven.
In Matthew 6, when Jesus was teaching his disciples to pray, he spoke what we refer to as, The Lord’s Prayer. Many Christian groups recite it regularly. Others consider the passage not written to this administration. Nonetheless, in verse 10, Jesus prayed, Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Then, what would you say is God’s will in heaven? Then, what is His will upon the earth? Did not Jesus say, I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me?
Acts 10:34 (KJV) records: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. This verse not only states God’s purpose in giving His gift of holy spirit, but also the purpose of this power. In addition, it tells us the source of sickness, disease and oppression.
When Jesus sent out the seventy into the cities that he would visit, he charged them in Luke 10, …And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. The words come nigh mean it is present right now. The seventy returned triumphantly! His kingdom has come to anyone who needs rescuing.
In Mark 16, on the day of Christ’s ascension, he gave instruction to his disciples to …Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel [good news] to every creature. …lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Why? Because it is not only the will of God, but also His purposes.
Often, we speak of the promises of God, and true they are; but, He has purposed in Christ and in the gift of holy spirit, the power to receive those promises into evidence this moment. He is the Lord, thy physician, today. His power and presence are here now. The kingdom of God is come nigh and His will be done in earth as it is in heaven. ~