HEALING AS BREAD FOR GOD'S CHILDREN (PART 2)
TEXT:
"Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;" (Psalms 103 stanza 3, King James Version).
God desires his children healed (3rd John verse 2). For us, healing forms an integral part of our salvation. If you believe that in Christ, your sins are forgiven, then why can't you believe that in Him as well, the price for your good health has been paid? We've got to understand that throughout the scriptures there's an intimate spiritual connection between sin and sickness. While it's true that not all illnesses are the result of sin (Jn chapter 9 verses 1 to 3), the good news is that from both sin and sickness, we have redemption through the blood that was shed and the stripes borne by Jesus.
In God's original plan for man, sickness was never in contemplation. Sickness came following the entrance of sin into the world. In other words, since in Christ Jesus, our sins are forgiven, it invariably connotes that sickness, which is the offshoot of sin, has no basis whatsoever.
Our Scripture reading for today, Psalms 103, stanza 3 furthers this line of revelation that once sin is forgiven, healing follows. It says that God is the One "who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases," (English Standard Version)
In this regard, the Book of Isaiah has two Scriptures that are worth mentioning: They affirm this deep connection between sin and sickness. The first is Isaiah chapter 33 verse 24. It says,
"And the inhabitant (of Zion) shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity." (emphasis added). The import of this verse is that once sin is forgiven, then sickness loses its grip!
The second Scripture is Isaiah chapter 53 verse 5. It says,
"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." Again, we have the forgiveness of sin and healing manifestly connected. See also 1st Peter chapter 2 verse 24.
When the Lord Jesus came to earth, occasions presented themselves to demonstrate this deep spiritual connection between sin and healing. One of such was in the Book of Mark chapter 2 from verse 1 to 12. Four friends had brought to Jesus a man that was suffering from paralysis. Jesus looked at him and said "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." But the scribes who were present took offense, questioning Jesus' authority to forgive sins. In reply, Jesus said,
"Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 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? 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,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house." The Bible records that
"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." (Mark chapter 2 verses 8 to 12, King James Version).
In Christ, we all believe unequivocally that our sins are forgiven. We also believe that healing constitutes an integral part of our salvation through God's Christ. Forgiveness of sins and healing have been shown to be so closely related that once sin is taken out of the way, healing becomes a reality. Sin has been recognized to have estranged us from God. Once taken out of the way, it becomes possible again to enjoy God's goodness by way of healing. Like Jesus would say to the man healed at the pool of Bethesda,
"Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." (John chapter 5 verse 14).
PRAYER:
In the same way that I enjoy the forgiveness of sins in Christ, so do I also enjoy the healing of my body, in Jesus name.