Christ is our Healing Bishop (Governmental Theory of the Atonement)

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Christ is our Healing Bishop Timothy R Carter, Ph.D

When we apply the total context of what Scripture teaches us about the redemption and atonement of Christ, we understand that it not only applies to the forgiveness of sins, but in all the blessings and promises of God.

We must be careful not to say or to make people feel like we think that it is a sin to be sick. Because it is not a sin to be sick.

If we do only include forgiveness of sins, we must understand that every disease and curse known to mankind was a result of sin. Jesus not only died for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2) but He became sin, as in the totality of sin born out of Adam’s transgression, so that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The Scriptures most commonly used to support the truth about healing being a part of the atonement of Christ are these:

Isaiah 53:4-5: Surely he has born 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 peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

1 Peter 2:24: Who his own self bear our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness. By whose stripes you were healed.

Matthew 8:16-17: When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils; and he cast out spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bear our sicknesses.

All of these verses apply to the work of Jesus Christ on or just before He was crucified. Isaiah 53:4-5 looks ahead to the complete work of the atonement in Christ; Matthew 8:16-17 confirms the prophecy that the Lord Jesus would ultimately bear all our sicknesses on the cross; and 1 Peter 2:24 affirms what has already been done by the Lord Jesus. Many will argue that Isaiah 53:4-5 was fulfilled when Jesus healed all that were sick in Matthew 8:16-17; and therefore will conclude that this prophecy only meant that the Messiah would heal the sick—that healing had no bearing or importance after this prophecy was fulfilled. This certainly is not supported by what Scripture teaches in that the Lord continued His healing ministry after this event, and also empowered His disciples to heal the sick, not only while He was on earth, but after His resurrection—and still today. The prophecy as written in Isaiah 53 clearly refers to what the Lord would do at the time of His crucifixion. The 39 stripes He took on His back were for our physical healing. The rest of the prophecy includes other promises of the atonement (forgiveness of sins, peace, spiritual/mental healing, etc.). Just to note that today’s science has taken all the diseases known to mankind and placed them in 39 different classifications. 39 stripes for 39 classes of diseases.

Additionally, some will argue that 1 Peter 2:24 speaks only of forgiveness of sins, i.e. spiritual healing. I take issue with this because not only is the prophecy from Isaiah referring to physical healing (with his stripes we are healed), but I believe Peter is saying that in addition to forgiveness of sins (Who his own self bear our sins) we have physical healing as well. Peter also demonstrated this truth by walking in the supernatural power of God when he ministered healing to the lame man in front of the temple gate (Acts 3:6); raised Dorcas from the dead [Acts 9:40] and when by just his shadow, many sick were healed in the streets (Acts 5:15).

Galatians 1:4 says: Who (Jesus) gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.

I don’t think anyone can argue that physical health and well-being is an issue with every person in the world. We pay the prescription drug, health insurance, and medical industries billions of dollars each year to keep our bodies (and also our minds) healthy. *LET ME BE CLEAR TALKING MEDICINE IS NOT A SIN. BEFORE YOU STOP CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR.* The Bible says that Christ gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world. [Galatians 1:4] So what does this mean? Obviously, since we are still physically present on earth, it doesn’t mean that we have been removed from it. This verse means that we have been delivered from the effects of living in a fallen world. The only exception to this rule is physical death. Sickness is a part of living in a fallen world, but Christ has given us the power to become overcomers in all things, including sickness and disease.

The Old Testament promised that God would protect His children from the effects of living in a fallen world. Written by Moses, Psalm 91 is one of the most recited passages of Scripture and contains this promise of divine protection:

He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover you with his feathers, and under his wings shall you trust. His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day; nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you see and behold the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High your habitation. There shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the adder; the young lion and the dragon shall you trample under feet. Because he has set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him. I will set him on high, because he has known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

John Kissinger [09/12/2015 1:30 PM]
Atonement for all makes salvation, sanctification, deliverance and healing for all. Excluding either one makes atonement limited…

Timothy Carter [09/12/2015 3:04 PM]
B I agree with you ?. Please help me. Was my article clear about that?

Ploy Play [09/13/2015 11:38 AM]
Ploy Play liked this on Facebook.

Sherman McFarland BA Ccht [09/13/2015 12:38 PM]
Sherman McFarland BA Ccht liked this on Facebook.

Alan N Carla Smith [03/06/2016 9:43 PM]
He’s my HEALER!

Troy Day [03/07/2016 5:39 AM]
Yes He is…

Diamond Mcnamara [03/07/2016 7:06 AM]
He will heal you to death.