Does God still heal today? Will He heal me? I am going to give a biblical answer because this is what many people ask when they are sick and in pain. Then, somewhere in their asking, they will say, “God didn’t heal so-and-so, and they were a good Christian.” Or, “They had great faith.”
They are tough questions and I once wrestled with them myself. Now that I have answered them for myself, I am going to be bold enough to answer them for you to the best of my ability.
Healing Is a Controversial Subject
I know healing is a controversial subject. Some argue using personal experience and human reasoning. Reasoning based on personal experience, whether yours or someone else’s, isn’t always the truth. Our experiences are subject to what we believe in and what we have faith in.
Also, I won’t argue the point that such-and-such had great faith yet remained sick. We really don’t know what someone genuinely believed in their heart. Therefore, we’re going to leave our personal experiences out of the equation and stick to what we know is truth.
Fact VS Truth
The only foundation for this discussion will be God’s Word. It is the only Truth. Facts don’t matter, because facts can change. It can be a fact that you are sick with Covid today and then tomorrow you are all better. The fact changed.
God’s Word never changes. It has stayed the same since Moses penned the first five books, around 3500 years ago. As a Christian, you can depend on God’s Word.
If you are reading this and are not a Christian, I have a future post planned that will address why the Bible is Truth and is trustworthy. If you are not a Christian and need healing – God is not a respecter of persons. He will heal you too.
Jehovah Rapha
Throughout the Old Testament, God revealed different facets of Himself through His various names. The first name He gave them after their release from captivity in Egypt was Jehovah Rapha. It is translated as “The God Who Heals You” or “God Your Physician”. You find this in Exodus 15:26.
Of course, God heals us spiritually and emotionally. Many ministers and theologians teach that you can depend on God to heal you spiritually and emotionally. Then they say that God will only heal you if it is His will. They insert this condition of God’s will as if we can’t depend upon it.
One of the Greatest Psalms
Let’s fast forward and see what one of the greatest psalms says about healing. Psalms 103:3 “He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.” (NLT) I know of any Christians that doubt God forgives ALL our sins. The Bible is clear concerning our sins.
Then why would anyone doubt God heals ALL our diseases? They are stated in the same verse and in the same sentence together. ALL, to my understanding, is totally inclusive. ALL means everything. Not one disease is skipped or missed. It would appear God is still Jehovah Rapha.
Tradition is the thief of power. There is no area of our lives where that theft is more evident than in the area of divine healing. Rod Parsley
Jesus Sacrifice
How about Jesus sacrifice? Many people say it doesn’t cover our physical healing; only our emotional, mental, and spiritual healing. Does Scripture agree with that? Let’s look at what the prophet Isaiah prophesied concerning Jesus sacrifice on the cross.
“Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.” Isaiah 53:4 CSB)
Yes, but only the modern English translations use the word sicknesses. They taught me this was really only spiritual. The Kings James Version did us a disservice by translating the Hebrew word as “sorrows” instead of sicknesses.
A study of the Hebrew word translated as “sorrows” in the KJV will reveal that “sicknesses” is a more correct translation. Even better, if we look at the end of the fifth verse of Isaiah 53 we find: “…for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.” (CSB)
It is difficult for anyone to say our physical healing of sickness and disease wasn’t covered on the cross.
What did the first century Christians believe?
The most interesting question for me is, “How did the first century Christians interpret Isaiah 53:4? Fortunately, Matthew answered this question for us. Matthew 8:16-17 “That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, “He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.“(NLT)
It doesn’t matter what translation you refer to; it seems all of them speak of sicknesses or infirmities and diseases. Now, 2000 years later theologians and ministers may try to deny Isaiah 53:4 refers to physical healing, but Matthew’s voice is speaking louder.
The shortest road to an understanding of the Bible is the acceptance of the fact that God is speaking in every line. Donald Grey Barnhouse
It is an important concept of Bible interpretation to let Scripture interpret Scripture. When verses are used in other books of the Bible, it is the best interpretation possible. This is allowing God to personally expound on what He says. Who can argue with God?
Is it God’s will to heal?
Very often, believers who believe God heals add on, “If it’s His will.” It is important to know God’s will concerning anything. So what is God’s will concerning healing? Again, we can turn to the New Testament for the answer.
Jesus, said, “For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.” (John 6:38 NLT) Jesus clarified that He came to do God The Father’s will. He didn’t come to do His own will.
This is important for us to know. He healed because it was the Father’s will. Jesus raised the dead because it was the Father’s will. He showed God’s will in everything He did. Jesus did nothing during His ministry because He willed to do it.
God is still in the healing business.
Seeing what The Father does
“So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.” (John 5:19)
Not only did Jesus do God’s will, He also only did what He saw The Father do. He said He could do nothing on His own. Jesus ministry wasn’t based on the fact He was God come to earth. His ministry was based on Him, as a human being, being filled with the Holy Spirit and power.
This is what Peter preached to Cornelius and his household. “And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38 NLT)
Anointed
If Jesus operated as God, then why would He have to be anointed with God’s Spirit and God’s power? He wouldn’t have to be anointed if He operated as God on earth. Jesus operated in His ministry on earth as a man filled with the Holy Spirit and power.
This was the reason Jesus could do nothing by Himself. He needed the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish anything.
Bottom line: Jesus showed us the will of God!
Does God Still Heal? Jesus says, “I will.”
There is one instance of healing that really illuminates the subject of God’s will concerning healing. We find the story in three of the Gospels. Matthew 8:1-3, Luke 5:12-13, and Mark 1:40-42. We will use Mark’s account of this healing.
“A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.” (NLT)
The leper knew Jesus can heal. He knew Jesus healed other people. What the leper didn’t know is if Jesus WILL to heal him. He doubted Jesus willingness to heal, not His ability. Jesus said, “I will.”
Luke, the physician, shares in his gospel the leper is advanced in leprosy. He had nasty oozing sores. Parts of his body were falling off. He smelled and looked horrible. And Jesus reached out, touched him, and said, “Be healed!” We don’t know how long it had been since anyone touched him, but Jesus did.
The leper is healed. He now knew Jesus was willing to heal.
Where is their proof?
So here is the question I have for those that say it isn’t God’s will to heal everyone today. Where is your proof? What scriptures will support your claim? I have only used a small portion of scripture to support that it is God’s will to heal everyone today. Where are your scriptures? I don’t believe they exist.
God is a Good God. One hundred percent good. There is no bad in Him. He is a Good Father. Good fathers will always do whatever it takes for their children.
Any part of the human body can only be properly explained in reference to the whole body. And any part of the Bible can only be properly explained in reference to the whole Bible. F.F. Bruce
As we explore the scriptures, I believe there is one more important person we need to check in with. He walked with Jesus throughout His whole ministry. As a part of Jesus inner core of disciples he attended every one of Jesus teaching seminars.
He was one of the twelve that Jesus sent out telling them, “Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!” (Matthew 10:7-8 NLT)
What Does the Apostle Peter say?
Peter was very close to Jesus. He was aware of Jesus thoughts on many subjects. Jesus sent him out with the other eleven to preach the Kingdom of Heaven was near. What evidence is provided to support it was near? “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure leprosy, and cast out demons.”
Healing the sick was a sign of the Kingdom of Heaven. Are not all the believers citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven? The Kingdom of Heaven hasn’t changed since the first century. It is the same Kingdom of Heaven. Healing is still part of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Apostle Peter
So, what did Peter believe about healing. He wrote in his second letter, “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness — by whose stripes you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24 NLT Emphasis is the author’s)
Peter quoted Isaiah 53:5. “…by His stripes you WERE healed.” And he quoted Isaiah in the past tense. He stated the healing as an already done deal.
Did the first Christians have a better deal than us?
Peter was writing to the Christians that were scattered across Asia Minor. He said the stripes Jesus took before they nailed him to the cross were for their healing. Did they have a different covenant with better promises than we have? I say no.
It is the same covenant made on the same promises. If the first century Christians were already healed because of Jesus stripes, then we are already healed too.
I believe the only conclusion we can come to is: Yes, God still heals today. Yes, it is God’s will to heal. Yes, it is God’s will to heal everyone.
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