Actscelerate.com

Where does the Bible say it is always God's will to heal?

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **4/8/14 12:00 pm**

Many make that claim. Let us examine the biblical evidence for such a claim, please. As much as it depends on us, let us be at peace with all men (see Rom 12:18) as we examine this central claim of the Word of Faith message in light of Scripture, Reason, and Experience. (No one ever examines Scripture apart from God-given Reason and Experience, by the way).

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **4/8/14 12:06 pm**

It don't!!!

Some Say

Acts-celerater Posts: 854 **4/8/14 2:17 pm**

I understand the nature of the question. I'm sure it's rhetorical, with the answer implied by the questioner in the question. However, let me give you the response from those who do believe healing is available in every situation (and I'm not saying I agree, but I just want to give voice to those who do).

First, it is argued the Jesus healed everyone he touched. Once He touched the man twice to open the blinded eyes, but even he was healed (Mk. 8:22-26). From the example of Jesus it is extrapolated that because He said "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father" (Jn. 14:12, NKJV), that if we have faith as ministers and disciples we too can heal everyone we pray for if they also have faith.

Second, many believe (and some early COG officials published this) that healing is provided in the atonement. We may still hold to this, but some argued that just as all you have to do to be saved is ask and believe, then all that is required to receive the healing that has already been provided in the cross, is to ask and receive. Some go even further and say that if you are saved then you are already healed and all you have to do is "receive" it. What is their support?

Isaiah 53:5, NKJV
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.

1 Peter 2:24, NKJV
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.

They will note that after the cross the verb changes from "are healed" to "were healed," indicating that the healing is an accomplished fact that requires only our faith to appropriate what is already finished at Calvary.

And many will point to Psalm 103

1Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; (KJV)

I know this is proof texting, and I know that I can explain all of these passages without arguing that we are always guaranteed healing if we have faith, but for many these few examples (and there are more) are very powerful and convince them that as believers they are always and in every circumstance promised divine healing/health without exception. However, life has a way of straightening out bad theology.
_________________
Mark E. Hardgrove, D.Min., Ph.D.
Senior Pastor Conyers Church of God
http://www.conyerscog.org
Dean & VP for Academics at BHU
http://www.beulah.org/

Acts-dicted Posts: 9027 **4/8/14 9:22 pm**

Toss this one in too Mark:

James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
_________________
I'm not saved because I'm good. I'm saved because He's good!

My website: www.bradfreeman.com
My blog: http://bradcfreeman.tumblr.com/

It "says" it with Jesus' ministry

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6042 **4/9/14 4:43 am**

No verse that says He is willing to heal all--though it certainly seems odd that He is willing to SAVE ALL, but not willing to heal all. You'd think saving was the bigger deal.

But to be fair, there is no verse to the contrary, either.

Jesus' ministry showed that He healed all that came to Him. That is not meaningless. It is something we should ASPIRE to, even if we have not attained it.

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **4/9/14 9:35 am**

Mark,

I wish for us to examine this claim in the light of Scripture. The Bible either reveals that it is always God's will to heal or it doesn't. The question of my sincerity in asking is irrelevant to the question I ask here, but in any case I am truly sincere in asking this question. This question and its answer will have great application and impact upon our lives and ministries.

The Bible makes clear that ..

Acts-dicted Posts: 7766 **4/9/14 10:03 am**

Re: The Bible makes clear that ..

Acts-celerater Posts: 755 **4/9/14 10:27 am**

God is not willing that any should perish....

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6042 **4/9/14 10:37 am**

Why do we accept that He doesn't want anyone to perish...but that He is apparently in perfect accord that some people suffer unimaginably?

Isn't healing provided for in the atonement? If the atonement is for all, why isn't healing?

Re: God is not willing that any should perish....

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **4/9/14 11:13 am**

Re: God is not willing that any should perish....

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16646 **4/9/14 11:17 am**

OTCP...

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6042 **4/9/14 11:20 am**

It surely is as "guaranteed" as salvation in the atonement. There is no reason to suspect that the atonement will provide salvation, but not healing, right?

Can you demonstrate any clear NT example of someone not being healed by Jesus or the disciples (and Paul's thorn doesn't count, for it was not necessarily a physical matter)?

Admit it: The REAL reason you don't want to go here is because WOFers are behind it. You don't have any Bible for your position--in fact, they have more reason to believe their way than you do to believe yours--but because you dare not--DARE NOT!--believe anything WOFers say, lest you be though complicit with their other errors--you resist.

Just own it, brother: Jesus healed everyone who came to Him.

He WILLED to heal some...but was WILLING to heal all.

Re: OTCP...

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **4/9/14 11:32 am**

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **4/9/14 11:32 am**

Aaron,

It doesn't matter who teaches it or doesn't. The question is, "Where does the Bible say it is always God's will to heal?" Many of the pioneers of Pentecost whom I highly regard believed it was always God's will to heal, with many of them dying of illness while rejecting any medicine and steadfastly believing for healing.

If the claim is that it is ALWAYS God's will to heal, then let's see it from the Scriptures. And if it can be proven, let's hear how to make this happen in every one of our lives. We all know plenty of folks in our families, churches and communities who would love few things more than to be relieved of their disease.

If it is ALWAYS God's will to heal, how can we begin to see that happen in our lives and ministries? Who doesn't want to see more people healed in their life and ministry? I've seen several notable healings before, but I absolutely would love to see more.

If on the other hand we have no true Scriptural basis for the doctrine, how do we then approach the topic in our ministries?

I'm assuming we all want our ministries to be according to God's best intention and desire for us.

Re: OTCP...

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **4/9/14 11:39 am**

If He was willing then He's willing now

Friendly Face Posts: 445 **4/9/14 1:22 pm**

Mark 1:40-41 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"

Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
[/i]

Good Discussion

Acts-celerater Posts: 854 **4/9/14 2:10 pm**

This is a good discussion. I think it is something many of us wrestle with. We believe in healing, we know God can and does heal, but we also know people of great faith who suffered for years, perhaps even to death, with a sickness. One of the problems I have with the WOF people is that their answer to the situation I've described is simply to blame the poor suffering soul for not having enough faith and that's the end of the discussion.

There are many variables involved, including the person's faith, God's timing, God's will, and the fact that we are not yet perfected, and we still dwell in these mortal bodies that groan for the day of redemption.

So, when I pray for people I always pray for healing, and I believe for healing, and if they die of of their sickness or disease (which many have) I do not blame them, or me, or God. I blame the sin of Adam, for in Adam all die. I acknowledge the fact that we live in corruptible bodies in a fallen world, but thank God, this is not all there is. The things which are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal. If in this life only I have hope, then I am of all men most miserable.

I have also seen people come back from the brink of death. One lady was pronounced brain dead, but we prayed and she recovered to live another 5 years. Another time a baby was on the brink of death, the drs did not think the baby would live, but she's 9 years old now. I've seen others, so I know God heals and I know God answers our prayers, but I also know that people of faith get sick, people of faith suffer long-term illnesses, and people of faith die from diseases.

Hebrews 11
36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

Now we see through a glass darkly.
_________________
Mark E. Hardgrove, D.Min., Ph.D.
Senior Pastor Conyers Church of God
http://www.conyerscog.org
Dean & VP for Academics at BHU
http://www.beulah.org/

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **4/9/14 2:28 pm**

Yep, Jesus healed.

Yep, Jesus heals.

Nope, he don't always heal.

Nope, the WOF position don't work.

Yep, godly folk git sick.

Nope, when they don't git healed it aint always their faith bein weak.

Where

Acts Mod Posts: 3346 **4/9/14 3:38 pm**

Where does the Bible say it is not God's will to heal?
_________________
Recorded Sermons @ www.pastorwiley.com

No one who died without Christ is happy about their decision.

Re: Where

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **4/9/14 5:12 pm**