Introduction

For the Christian, the cross is the central theme upon which all faith is grounded. If it were not for the cross everything we do in Jesus name would be null and void. All of Christianity stems from the cross. As a Pentecostal we believe that one of the greatest benefits that we can receive by the price paid on the cross is physical healing. We believe that the cross is not only good news for the soul but for the body as well. The Pentecostal doctrine of divine healing takes a broad view of the redemptive work of Christ and strongly implies the lordship of Christ in all areas of life, both spiritually and physically. From the Pentecostal perspective divine healing is a blessing of God’s saving grace and vital in a full-gospel ministry.

I. The Biblical View of Sickness

In the Old Testament sickness is referred to with words that essentially mean “weakness” or “lacking vitality.” To be sick is to be in a condition of weakness that may result in death. Sickness can result in death and often indicates a lack of physical wholeness. But at times it is applied to the peoples’ spiritual rather than physical health. The ancient Israelites lack of faithfulness to God resulted in a debilitated spiritual state. They became spiritually sick and wounded (Hosea 5:13; 7;1; Isaiah 1:5-7) and needed spiritual healing. God promised to heal their backsliding (Hosea 14:4; Jeremiah 3:22). The prophets of God looked forward to a time when a forgiven and purified people would dwell in Zion. Then “the inhabitant will not say, I am sick; the people who dwell in it will be forgiven their iniquity” (Isaiah 33:24). Jesus also taught that sin results in spiritual sickness as in Mark 2:17; Luke 5:31,32… “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Deliverance from spiritual sickness requires repentance and may be described as healing. However, scripture clearly recognizes that people also suffer from physical sickness. The human body is susceptible to disease and death as a consequence of the fall of Adam (Genesis 3:3; Romans 5:12). Not every sickness is due to personal sin. At times Scripture speaks of a direct relationship between sickness and our enemy, the devil (Job 2:6; Luke 13:16; Acts 10:38).

God chose to permit sickness after the sin of Adam. Just as He permits sin to continue, He also allows sickness and disease. Scripture reveals at least three reasons sickness and disease continue.

1. As judgment of sin. In Exodus 15:26 God told Israel that if they would keep all of His statutes and give ear to His commandments He would not allow the sickness to come upon them as it did the Egyptians. God also will allow sickness as a divine judgment to bring repentance and draw His people closer to Him (Numbers 21:4-9; Deuteronomy 28:27, 28; II Chronicles 26:19, 20).

2. For a manifestation of God’s glory. In John 9:1-3 Jesus saw a blind man from birth. His blindness was not due to any specific sin he or his parents had committed, it had been allowed so that his healing would bring glory to God.

3. As a test. Hebrews 12:6 says, “Whom the Lord loves He chastens.” Job was afflicted with boils during the test that God allowed him to endure (Job 2:7, 8).

In some instances where Scripture mentions an illness, no reason is given for it (Galatians 4:13, 14; Philippians 2:25-27; II Timothy 4:20). Although God allows sickness He desires to heal the sick. 

II. The Healing Covenant

This covenant was made with Israel and all who desired to (chose to) come under the covenant of God as given to Moses. This covenant is given in two parts:

1. Commands:

(1) Diligently hearken to God’s voice (Exodus 15:26; Leviticus 26:14-15).

(2) Do that which is right in His sight (Exodus 15:26).

(3) Give ear to His commandments (Exodus 15:26).

(4) Keep all His statutes (Exodus 15:26; Leviticus 26:3; 14-15).

(5) Serve the Lord (Exodus 23:25).

2. Promises:

(1) I will put none of these diseases upon thee (Exodus 15:26).

(2) I am the Lord that healeth thee (Exodus 15:26).

(3) I will take away sickness from the midst of thee (Exodus 23:25).

This covenant was made a part of the New covenant , for Christ “took our infirmities and bare our sickness” (Isaiah 53; Matthew 8:17; I Peter 2:24).

III. The Healing Ministry of Jesus

The Healing ministry of Jesus revealed that God is concerned with the whole person. Jesus considered healing to be a part of His mission, and He healed many people. In Luke 4:18, 19 Jesus gives His mission statement, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” The work of Jesus is summed up in Acts 10:38 “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.” 

Statements in the gospels that summarize the works of Jesus mention healing, “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them” (Matthew 4:23, 24). Other references are: Matthew 8:16,17; 12:15, 16; 15:29-31; Mark 1:32-34.

Jesus preached the kingdom of God with words and deeds. By healing diseases and casting out devils, He demonstrated that the kingdom of God was breaking into the world of sin and death (Mark 1:14, 15). Divine healings served as visible reminders that ultimately and finally creation itself will be delivered from the curse of sin in Romans 8:18, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us”.

The redeeming power of Christ experienced in the Kingdom is in the present. Jesus broke the power of Satan and continues to do so. The casting out of devils and the healing of the sick proved that Jesus had power and authority over Satan and that the Kingdom of God was present. In the gospels, in a number of cases, demonic possession was the cause of physical disorders (Matthew 9:32, 33; 12:22; Mark 9:25). Satan was seen as the cause of all kinds of physical suffering. According to Luke 13:11, a woman “had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over.” Satan had bound this woman (v.16) and was the cause of her suffering. Remember in John 10:10 says that the thief (Satan) comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus gave liberty to those who were oppressed of the devil. As the Spirit-anointed Messiah, Jesus healed the sick and cast out devils, manifesting the presence of the Kingdom that is yet to come in its fullness.

IV. The Healing Ministry of the Early Church

Jesus instructed His disciples to heal the sick as they went about preaching the Kingdom. He gave them authority for the ministry of healing. “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:1, 7, 8).

The Bible does not even hint that healing or any work that was done in the early church should or did cease while the church is active on earth. In fact Mark 16:17 states that “these signs will follow those who believe.” Scripture also tells us that an apostle is identified by “signs and wonders and mighty deeds” (II Corinthians 12:12). Incidents of persons getting healed by apostles or spiritual leaders are found in Acts 3:1-8; 5:12-16; 8:4-8; 19:11, 12.

Jesus who saves from sin and judgment is the same one who heals physical afflictions.

V. The Relationship of the Cross and Healing

A pillar of Pentecostal theology is the great truth that the risen Jesus still heals the sick. Isaiah 53:4-7 says, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 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. 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. 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.” Jesus, “Himself took our infirmities and bore our sickness” (Matthew 8:17).

Jesus fulfilled Isaiah 53:4-7. This clearly teaches that there is healing in the Atonement (AT-ONE-MENT). Healing cannot be severed from the death of Christ on the cross. According to I Peter 2:24, healing and the cross are connected. The first part of that verse states that Christ “bore our sins in His body on the tree,” which He did for our spiritual deliverance. But the words that follow, “by whose stripes you were healed,” tie physical healing and the death of Christ (see Isaiah 53:5). It is clear that salvation brought by Jesus also includes healing of the body.

VI. The Relationship of Salvation and Healing

The four gospels tell of the ministry of Jesus as teaching, preaching, and healing the sick. All were imperative.

The order of priority in His ministry was , first, salvation from sin and, second, healing of the body. This order of importance is suggested in Matthew 4:23: “Jesus went about… teaching… preaching… and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.” Spiritual healing is primary, but the physical healing is also a part of the atoning work of Christ, since He came to redeem the whole person and not just part of us. There is a difference between salvation from sin and physical healing. When Jesus healed the paralytic in Mark 2:9 He distinguished between forgiveness of sins and healing, “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?” Jesus saw the forgiveness of sin as more important, but the physical healing was a visible demonstration of His authority to forgive sins. So He replied, “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins…” He then spoke the paralytic : “I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house” (v. 10,11).

James 5:13-15 gives another illustration of the relationship between salvation and healing. Like Jesus , James called attention to the link between forgiveness of sin and physical healing. Keep up your faith. Jude 20 states it well, “...building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost .” Can we expect healing when we believe and ask God for it? Most certainly YES! Psalm 103:3 says, “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.” Just as we can receive salvation in the name of Jesus, we can expect to receive a healing in His mighty name!

VII. The Purpose of God in Healing the Sick

In Scripture we can identify three purposes for healing and miracles.

A. Confirmation of the Gospel

From the beginning of the Christian church, the ministry of healing was and is an essential part of evangelism. Ministry was based on the commission given by Jesus to His disciples to preach the gospel, heal the sick, and cast out devils (Matthew 10:1, 7, 8; Mark 6:7-12; Luke 9:1-6).

Among Christians, healing the sick and other miraculous deeds were intended to lead people to accept salvation by faith in Christ. In the book of Acts, supernatural evidences of God’s presence accompanied the ministry of God’s servants and confirmed their mission and message (Acts 2:2-4; 4:16, 22, 31-33; 6:8; 8:6-8; 15:12). Witnessing a miracle or healing is a direct confirmation of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

B. A Sign of the Future Redemption of Our Bodies

God still heals the sick today. But healing now is not our final and ultimate healing. Our final and ultimate healing and deliverance as believers in Christ will arrive in the life to come. Healings today are a sign and foretaste of the future redemption of our body. At that time the world will be transformed, and we will be clothed with an incorruptible body of glory, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body (Romans 8:18-23).” Also see I Corinthians 15:35-55. When Christ comes back for His Bride all suffering, disease, pain, and death will cease for the redeemed!

C. A Disclosure of the Lord’s Compassion

Healing also revealed Christ’s love and sympathy for suffering, sick, and afflicted people, “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36; see also 14:14; 20:34; Mark 1:41; 5:19; Luke 7:13; 10:33).

Jesus is the one who has “The Key of David,” (Revelation 3:7). He is love. Jesus is the root of love and the offspring of it also (Revelation 22:16). Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

VIII. The Relationship of Faith and Healing

A number of biblical accounts of divine healing reveal the vital connection between healing and faith in God. We can find a remarkable example of this in Mark 6:5-6, “And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief.” They did not EXPECT or DESIRE a miracle. See also Matthew 13:58; 17:14-21; Mark 9:14-29. Where faith in God is present, the spiritual environment is conductive to divine healings. Faith in God is powerful, for in the most desperate circumstances it can make divine healing possible (Mark 9:23).

Neither human power nor merit made the man walk in Acts 3:1-11, but the faith in God which came by having trusted the name of Jesus made the man well. Faith in God and Christ on the part of both Peter and the lame man resulted in his healing by the power of Jesus Christ.

IX. Response to the Critic

There are some people who will talk faith, but when the rubber hits the road they seem to back down. I believe that if the Bible says it then God meant it, and I take His Word at full face value! This group will label the Christian who takes God literally a fanatic. They will refer to these fanatics as “Name it and claim it, Believe it and receive it, Blab it and have it” Christians. There are people that take things to the extreme; however, if God’s word tells me in III John 2 that God wants me to prosper and be in good health as my souls prospers I BELIEVE IT AND CLAIM IT! Call me what you will but I still believe His word when He tells me in Philippians 4:13 that “I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST which strengtheneth me.” Also I believe His Word in Philippians 4:19 when says that He will “...supply ALL MY NEED according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” I also believe Him when He says that “NO WEAPON THAT IS FORMED AGAINST” me “SHALL PROSPER” in Isaiah 54:17. I believe His Word in John 10:10 when He tells me that He came that I might have life and that I might have it more abundantly! One last time, He says in Psalm 103:3 that He has forgiven “ALL” our iniquity and healed “ALL” our diseases! Praise God!

X. The Appropriation of Healing Today

End of Lesson 3

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Last modified: December 04, 2000