Divine Healing, Part 1

Isaiah 53:5

Healing. Is it for real and is it for today, or is it something that God did in the past and has now delegated to doctors and health care professionals? There is much confusion over this matter of healing. There seems to be many "healers" today who rival the works that us did while here on earth. Thousands of people are "being healed", yet still there is an abundance of sickness and heartache. We have some of our own folks in the hospitals and in serious condition due to some illness or disease. What about this matter of healing.

Over the next few weeks I want to bring some studies on this very subject. We need to understand what God's Word has to say concerning healing. First of all, God has healed men of physical infirmities in the past, and He does heal today. However the question of men who possess the gift of healing today is another matter entirely, and one that is contrary to the Word of God.

Christ died on the cross for our sins, not for our sicknesses. As believers, we have the promise that one day we will be delivered from the very presence of sin and physical suffering will be done away with when we are transformed into His likeness. God can and does heal, but this does not mean that it is always God's will for His children to be physically well. We will explore some of these areas as we discuss "healing" over the next few weeks.

I. Physical Healing and the Death of Christ.

Conclusion: 1Co. 15:1-4 is generally referred to as the definition of the gospel. Paul makes it clear that Christ died for our sins. He never taught that His death and the shedding of His blood was to take away our diseases. We must be careful not to allow the word of men to supersede the Word of God in our lives. Scripture never guarantees healing as one of the immediate benefits of salvation. Next week we will consider physical healing and the will of God.