10a. We believe the perfect freedom from sin’s dominion is provided though not always appropriated and experienced by us. Every Christian would have to admit this. (Rom 6, 8)
10b. For some reason, we have a harder time believing that perfect freedom from sickness’s dominion is provided though not always appropriated and experienced by us. (Mat 10:1, Lu 10:19)
11a. In the sense of our spirits being eternally saved, Satan cannot “cross the bloodline.” He cannot steal our eternal salvation. (Jn 10:28-29)
11b. There is a mistaken belief that in order for Satan to steal our health, he has to receive permission from God in order to “cross the bloodline.” Many say that nothing can happen to a Christian that has not first passed the desk of our Sovereign God, as if to say, if it happens, God must have wanted it to happen. Please remember, we are spiritually washed in the blood of Jesus from all sin and our once dead-to-God spirits are made alive, or born again. However, after conversion, our minds still must be renewed and our bodies presented/yielded to God. (Rom 12:1-2) Does Satan receive a divine permission slip every time he tempts us with a wrong thought? Does he “cross the bloodline” to attack our minds? After all, our total being has been “bought with a price.” Every Christian acknowledges that Satan still tries to afflict the mind. Why do we not recognize his attacks against the body? Why are we conditioned to think that God must have teamed up with devil to give us sickness and disease for some greater purpose. No! Satan’s attacks against our bodies are just as wrong and unauthorized as his attacks against our minds. By the way, a thief doesn’t wait for permission, he only needs opportunity and access. (Lu 13:16, Jn 8:44, Jn 10:10, Acts 10:38)
12a. Forgiveness is applied to a sinner at the moment of faith before any external changes are seen. We boldly declare a person saved at the moment of faith even if the alcohol is still on the breath, and their house filled with all kinds of sinful filth. After believing they have been saved from sin by faith, we fully expect to see the corresponding action of them acting like they are saved. (Lu 7:50, Lu 18:13-14, Jn 6:47, Rom 5:1, Heb 11:1)
12b. Healing is applied to the sick person at the moment of faith before any external changes are seen. Why do we not boldly declare a person healed at the moment of faith even if there are lingering symptoms and changes not yet manifested? After believing they have been healed from sickness by faith, we should encourage corresponding action of them acting like they are healed. (Mar 3:5, Lu 17:12-19, Heb 11:1, Jam 5:15)
13a. We believe that salvation from sin is real regardless of feelings. (Strangely, we often ask people after prayer, “How do you feel?”, instead of, “Have you repented and believed on Jesus as the Lord of your life?”) We should believe that if a person continues to believe right and act accordingly, then their feelings will be affected. (Rom 10:6-13)
13b. Why do we struggle to believe that healing from sickness is real regardless of feelings? We should believe that if a person believes right and acts accordingly, then their feelings will be affected. (Rom 10:6-13, Jam 2:17)
14a. Perhaps, salvation from sin is easier to believe because it is accomplished in the unseen, spiritual realm. (Lu 10:20, Col 2:14, Heb 10:17)
14b. Healing from sickness perhaps is more challenging because so much focus is upon the seen, physical realm in which every one of the five senses seeks validation. However, just like forgiveness of sin is first accomplished in the spiritual realm then physical evidence of a changed lifestyle follows, so also does healing of sickness begin in the spiritual realm then physical evidence of changed symptoms, etc follows. (Rom 4:17-21, 2 Cor 5:7, Heb 11:1-3)
15a. If we are honest, though salvation from sin is a free gift of grace, it is difficult for many to experience and walk in. Just think of how many people have prayed at our altars, wept and cried, or showed some kind of emotion, but have not really went on to live a new, Christian life. It appears that either their experience or follow-up to their experience was lacking. False conversion is a reality even though salvation is a simple, free gift. The fact that receiving involves repentance is the hard part for many. This could be illustrated by a person who could easily receive a literal, physical gift package if it were not for their hands already being filled/occupied with a huge bag of garbage. Repentance is like dropping the bag of garbage in order to receive the freely offered gift. (Mat 3:8, Mat 7:13-14, Mat 7:21-23, Mat 13:24-30, Lu 13:24, Mar 10:24, Eph 2:8)
15b. Although salvation from sickness is a free gift of grace, as is forgiveness, it is considered harder to receive than salvation from sin. Therefore, many struggle with the truth that physical healing is included in the Atonement because if that be the case, “Why is healing experienced so much less often than forgiveness?” When asking a dear friend about this question, he replied to this effect, “If we could see the true and false conversion rate of those who raise their hands in altar call, repeat a corporate prayer, etc, without true repentant faith, we would realize that the physical healing rate is probably not as different from the born-again rate as we thought.” How many times have we heard, “He/she prayed, but didn’t get ahold of it yet…” or, “When he/she finally hits the rock…”? All of these figures of speech testify to the reality that people don’t always receive and experience the new creation transformation of the born-again experience. With this in mind, we should be honest in our approach to divine healing and not allow the apparent difference in frequency to produce a varied faith/confidence between healing and forgiveness. (Mat 13:18-23, Mar 4:13-20, Lu 8:11-15, Gal 6:9, Jam 1:6-8)
16a. We all know that to be saved requires enduring to the end. Starting is much easier than finishing. (Mat 10:22, Mat 24:13, Heb 10:38-39, Jam 1:12, Rev 2:10)
16b. Why is that same endurance of faith not applied in the area of salvation from sickness. (Mar 11:24, Lu 18:1-8, Gal 6:9, Heb 6:12)
17a. Believers who stand in faith against sin experience persecution. (Mat 5:10, 1 Pet 3:14)
17b. Interestingly, believers who stand in faith against sickness and disease experience persecution as well. (Mat 13:57-58, Mar 3:22, Lu 6:7, Lu 13:14)
18a. Salvation from sin is “by grace through faith” and “not of works”. If by faith, then we have no boasting. Humility receives grace, but “God resisteth the proud”. (Rom 3:27, Eph 2:8, Jam 4:6)
18b. Why do so many take a works-based approach to salvation from sickness? (i.e. “If anyone should/would be healed…”, or, “With all he/she does for the church, community, etc, he/she deserves to be healed…”) Simple question: How is God supposed to honor that approach to healing, when we all know He doesn’t honor it in regards to salvation from sin? That attitude actually blocks itself from grace, and healing is “by grace through faith.” (Mat 14:14, Mar 1:41, Mar 10:48, Lu 8:48, Eph 2:8, Jam 4:6)
19a. Concerning sin, most see the need of willfully putting to death sinful behavior of the body by faith and obedience to the Word. (Rom 8:13, 1 Cor 9:27, Eph 4:22, Col 3:8)
19b. Concerning sickness, most do not see the need of willfully taking authority over our sick bodies to make them line up with the Word. Interesting note: Beside the spiritual realities of demonic spirits, I dare say most, if not every sickness/disease, has physical realities (bacteria, organisms, etc) even if on a microscopic level, invisible to the naked eye. Have we not been given dominion over everything that “creepeth upon the earth?” Do not these diseases which oppose the creative design of God call for us to “subdue” them? (Gen 1:26-28, Psa 8:6, Lu 10:19)
20a. Most Christians believe we should resist sin and temptation from the moment it presents itself. (Important note: Most conservative Christians would likely agree, that the reason for much continued sin in the lives who profess that they’ve believed, is most likely because sin has not been truly repented of. i.e. Mat 1:13) (1 Cor 10:13, Jam 4:7, 1 Pet 5:9)
20b. Why do not all Christians believe that we should resist sickness from the moment it presents itself? Most do resist anyway by the use of medicine (in contradiction to their belief that sickness could be the will of God), but not through Bible-based resistance of faith and authority. (I think there is a striking similarity between repentance from sin and rebuking sickness (aka using the authority of Jesus’ name, commanding the mountain to move, dominion, etc). As strange as it may sound to many who profess that they have believed for healing, perhaps as with repentance from lingering sin, there’s a need for them to rebuke sickness. If we give sickness a choice, it will stay. We need the attitude to not give sickness an option but to leave. i.e. Lu 4:39) (Jam 4:7)
21a. Despite the numbers of Christians who struggle to live above sin, we don’t change what the Bible clearly says and means about God’s will for every Christian to live in victory over sin. The ministers/churches who do concede that sin is still God’s plan, we consider to be compromised. (Rom 6:12, 1 Jn 1:7)
21b. Why do so many use a different standard when it comes to healing? Too many change what the Bible just as clearly says and means about God’s will for every Christian to live in victory over sickness. The reason? Well, there’s just too many good Christians struggling with sickness. How is this not compromise? This is a double-standard in the area of Biblical interpretation and practice (application). (Lu 10:19, 3 Jn 2)
To be continued in Part 4
