Monday, February 17, 2014

Healing in The Atonement of Christ

"Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4, 5 NKJV)
The Hebrew words 'choli' and 'makob' which were translated "griefs" and "sorrows" respectively in Isaiah 53:4 were translated "sicknesses" and "pains" everywhere else throughout the the Old Testament. e.g Deuteronomy 7:15  1 Kings 17:17  2 Kings 1:2  2 Kings 8:8  Job 14:22  Job 33:19
Hence it would be more precise to read Isaiah 53:4 as: "Surely He has borne our sicknesses, and carried our pains"
Some are of the opinion that healing in this context is spiritual and that it is referring to forgiveness of sin. Matthew 8:16-17 however makes it clear that it refers to bodily healing. Matthew quoted Isaiah 53:4 and translated 'griefs' and 'sorrows' as 'infirmities' and 'sickness' 
The Greek word 'sozo' that was translated as salvation in the New Testament is an all-encompassing word that does not only mean forgiveness of sins but also means physical deliverance and protection as well as healing of our body - hence the word 'saved' or 'salvation' is used many times in the N.T. to refer to physical healing of the body. Mark 5:23; Luke 8:36; Acts 14:9; James 5:15; Luke 6:9. 
Jesus did not only save us from eternal danger, but He also delivered us from this present evil world and its evil influence. 
"who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father," (Galatians 1:4 NKJV)
The same sacrifice through which our sins were forgiven also catered for our healing. 
The Old Testament types shows relationship between forgivness and bodily healing (Psalms 103:1-4) and so does the New testament reality  (1 Peter 2:24)
Jesus purchased healing for us, just as much as he purchased forgiveness of sin for us, its all part of Christ atonement. He redeemed us from sickness and infirmity.
Salvation is a package which contains forgivenss of sins, bodily healing, prosperity, deliverance from the power of darkness. e.t.c Summarily, you were healed when your sins were forgiven. got it?

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