Forgiveness & Healing Are a Package Deal!

When it comes to the subject of divine healing, one of the greatest difficulties is getting people to see that it’s always God’s will to heal. Many would agree that God can and does heal, but they dispute the truth that it’s always His will to heal.

The reason for this is that they place their own experience or the experiences of other people above the written Word of God.

I agree that many do not receive their healing. But this is not because God decided He would not heal them that time. It is interesting to note the very same people who believe it’s not God’s will to heal them will spend time and money to seek medical treatment. If they really believe it’s not God’s will to heal them, why would they try to get out of the will of God and seek healing through medicine?

One reason is that everybody wants relief from sickness and disease. I think we can all agree that sickness is not a GOOD thing. God gives us good gifts, and healing and forgiveness are a few of them. Most Christians believe that it is always God’s will to forgive, but not all believe it’s always God’s will to heal. Let me show you how God has made forgiveness and healing a package deal!

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

And forget not all His benefits:

Who forgives all your iniquities,

Who heals all your diseases,

Ps 103:2-3 NKJV

Under the Old Covenant, the Lord stated He forgives ALL our iniquities, and heals ALL our diseases. Our covenant today is a new and better covenant. So how could we have less forgiveness or less healing than the Old Covenant?

Now let’s look at what Jesus had to say about this:

So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you."

And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!"

But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" — then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." And he arose and departed to his house.

Matthew 9:1-7 NKJV

Jesus was saying that it’s just as easy to receive healing as it is to receive forgiveness. And He proved this by the fact that the paralytic received his forgiveness and healing at one time. Remember what Psalm 103 says—He forgives ALL our iniquities and He heals ALL our diseases. Healing and forgiveness go hand in hand.

God's Will For Your Health and How to Receive Your Healing

Isaiah 53:4-5 from the Amplified Classic translation says this:

Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy].  

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.

In this passage of scripture, we see the reasons Jesus suffered for us:

1.     He bore our sicknesses and weaknesses for us.

2.     He bore the punishment of our transgressions (sins).

3.     He bore our mental anguish and gave us peace.

The passage closes by stating, “By His stripes we are healed and made whole.”

These were all paid for at one time. Just as much as we are forgiven, we are healed. And to prove that this does not mean spiritual healing, it is repeated in the New Testament in Matthew chapter 8. Here, Jesus healed a leper, a centurion’s servant, Peter’s mother-in-law, and then all who came to Him that same evening. Immediately following all these healings, it says:

When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

"He Himself took our infirmities

And bore our sicknesses."

Matt 8:16-17 NKJV

Jesus healed all these people to fulfill what Isaiah said in Isaiah 53. His healings show that “with the stripes that wounded Him we are healed” does not mean spiritual healing, but rather physical healing. I encourage you to read the entire chapter to see all the different people who were healed by Jesus.

Here is another very enlightening passage in the New Testament:

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

James 5:14-16 NKJV

I love the question: “Is anyone among you sick?” It really implies that there may not be any.  And because the early church understood their covenant of healing, there were not many sick. However, if someone happens to be under attack with sickness, here is the solution: Pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of Jesus. And the prayer of faith will “save” the sick.

The word “save” is translated from the Greek word “sozo,” which means to heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole. So we can rightly interpret that the prayer of faith will HEAL the sick and he will be forgiven! Again, forgiveness and healing are together—a package deal!

I trust you are beginning to see that it’s the plan of God for all to be forgiven and to be healed.

Isn’t it time for you to receive and enjoy your forgiveness and healing?

If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church. As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!