“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 piece was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5 (Luke 4:18)
“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63
Should the sufferings of Christ have included a profit for the flesh, such as physical healing, and since the benefits of Christ’s sufferings are fully upon all who believe, there would have been no need for Christ to give out additional gifts for healing, as healing would already be a part of the package Christ’s death provides.
“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 (Not can be, or will be, but were). Thus, ye were healed; not “if you get sick, you will be healed by his stripes.”
If we “were healed” physically by Christ’s stripes, this would be healing in advance of any and all sickness. This would mean we would never get sick, because we “were healed” of our sicknesses before they occurred, back when these stripes were laid on Christ. That would mean the changing of the corruption of our flesh into that which is incorruptible.
This “were healed” took place when one received Christ and was made spiritually whole by regeneration. Rather than be subject to the power of sin-sickness (which the flesh is), one is made a new creature, 2 Corinthians 5:17, which is free of sin, John 8:36.
This new creature (John 3:3-6) is made whole, not partially saved: “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” 1 John 3:9 Before being born again, one’s nature, born of the flesh, is under sin and subject to sin. But when one is saved, they receive a new sinless nature within by regeneration, that is made free of sin, and has fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life, Romans 6:22.
Christ’s sufferings and death are provisions for the spiritual salvation of man, and not for deliverance from the corruptible condition of the flesh.
The deliverance from our fleshly corruptions will come when we are raised incorruptible with Christ: “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:52-54
Yes, God can heal any sickness, over and above the ability of the body to heal itself, if He wills to do so. There have been gifts of healing given by God, as Biblical accounts bear out.
But Christ’s sufferings (stripes, etc.) were His bearing of the punishment we deserve to have inflicted upon us in this life because of our sins. His shed blood, however, is what eternally redeems our souls from the condemnation of sin, and His righteousness alone answers for the demands of God’s law, that we might be justified.
Only those who repent of their sin condition and seek God’s mercy and grace, placing their faith and trust in Christ as God’s provision for salvation, gain the benefits of His sufferings and offering of Himself, for their eternal salvation. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
Those who teach that Christ’s stripes are about affording physical healing, and they incorporate “healing” into their services, identify themselves as being “Full Gospel” (for the flesh and spirit). This teaching right away closes people’s minds to every message or ministry that does not embrace their philosophy. Even though you speak the truth, they will not receive you or your message, because you don’t embrace their philosophy on healing.
Those who have been subjected to this philosophy are also being set up for disappointment, confusion, and bitterness, as they see themselves and their loves ones still getting sick and suffering from infirmities. Delusional “faith” gives one a distorted sense of pretension or a bitter taste concerning their expectations of God.
SHARING
