I was accused the other day of saying that healing, as part of the atonement, was for everyone right now, in this life ...
Well, did I?
... I admit wholeheartedly to have done so. I said it exactly as I stand accused ...
I created a poll that stated "Healing is part of the atonement and finished work of Christ! We have freedom to receive healing. It is our inheritance."
... and I posted it for voting purposes on a couple of social media grace groups.
Did people like it?
One response explicitly reprimanded me
that healing was not for everyone and that Christians will only be perfected in their physical bodies in the hereafter. I was told that God does not heal everyone. And that even Christians get sick and die all the time.
that healing was not for everyone and that Christians will only be perfected in their physical bodies in the hereafter. I was told that God does not heal everyone. And that even Christians get sick and die all the time.
Operative word used?
The responding person used one particular word that I had to point out. He said not everyone receives and I felt obliged to indicate that this was in fact the operative word, the very reason why some Christians stay sick and die. Off cause we live in a fallen world and Praise God we don't have to stay here forever. But Jesus restore our authority to take dominion right here and right now as part of our inheritance.
The new covenant is a special kind of covenant. It is a testament, a will that comes into force only whence you receive. It's a simple and basic principle of a will. But Jesus explained it much better as we'll see from the scripture below.
What is the reason?
The conversation went back and forth and even a couple of Bible verses were thrown at me. But, before turning of notifications on the poll, I concluded my conversation by saying that God is not fickle. He does not heal some and others not. His healing is available for everyone. Right now. If it was not a complete work on the cross, then what would His criteria be for healing some, but others not?
What does the operative word really mean then?
I have been praying for people in hospital for a number of years now and have seen so many receiving healing, yet others did not.
I reminded myself just how many times Jesus emphasized to receive and what it really means to receive (see this post and this one and this one).
Turn to what Jesus said
To see how Jesus explained the simple concept of receiving, let's turn to a significant parable that He used Matthew 13:3-23.
And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Why the parables?
And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
What's to do, then?
Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
See the key in the last verse quoted?
The key to lambanō (receive), is to:
(1) hear the Word (Jesus) - akouō or to hear, to attend , to consider, to perceive what is announced,
(2) and understand it - suniēmi or to put together, to comprehend; to consider, understand, to be wise, to focus.
What happens then?
See how Jesus phrases the second part of the sentence.
It is the Word (Jesus) that then bears fruit, not the hearer. Christ is the one working in you to heal.
Depending on the condition of the ground (where you stand) it (the Word) then yields some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
It depends on the ground's goodness (kalos - condition, choice, suitability, entitlement, nobility) ... and I like last explanation of Thayer of the word kalos - affecting of the mind agreeably, comforting and confirming.
... the ground from whence one receives counts!
What does this mean?
It means that the ground from whence I receive should be conducive. It means that I know my identity in Christ. It means that I know that I am an heir in the Kingdom and that the inheritance includes my physical well-being, right now even on this earth. It means that I know that the work of Jesus is finished and that I can pray (see here) from that perspective.
It means that my faith comes by hearing and my hearing by the Word of God, Jesus.
It means that I know that as He is so am I in this world.
It means I have the key. The seed (speirō - disseminated Word - Jesus and His finished work) is well considered and received (hear) and comprehended and applied (understand). It is not about what Jesus is able or willing to do. It is not about what Jesus can do. It is about what Jesus HAD DONE.
... come to think of it ... there is not much to do other than what Jesus said and that is to receive.
HalleluYAH!