Page 56 - Job

because of sin. Now for a moment, let me follow that philosophy to its
logical conclusion, and then apply it to a movement that is sweeping
through the church today. I am speaking about the “healing movement”.
People are being healed they say. This healing movement, as I understand
it, is very much akin to the philosophy of these three men – Eliphaz,
Bildad and Zophar.
They teach, and I am quoting now from their own writings, “healing is in
the atonement.” That is how they state it. “By His stripes you are healed.”
That is, Christ died for our sins, and Christ died for our sicknesses as well.
And just as you can claim by faith forgiveness of your sin, you can claim
by faith healing of your diseases. Healing happened at the cross, and if
you do not claim healing the same way you claim forgiveness, then you
are in unbelief. Your lack of faith has made, and is keeping you sick. In
other words, it is a sin to be sick. That is what they are saying, almost
exactly what they were saying in Job’s day. It is a sin to be sick and the
only reason for suffering is sin. With that philosophy in your heart it is
impossible not to judge anyone who is sick or disabled as faithless or
wicked. I’d like to ask these people how many amputees grew arms and
legs when they received Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior? I haven’t
even seen bald men get hair after they got saved unless they bought a wig.
Editor’s Note: Isn’t it interesting that forgiveness of sin
which is definitely in the atonement is received by faith
but the experience of sin and the consequences of sin
remain in our lives. We can just as easily choose to sin
after receiving Christ as before. We have the Holy Spirit
to discipline us but also have the full effect of our free
wills operating. Look at Peter who walks on water and
denies Jesus three times. He is the perfect example of
what is called “progressive sanctification”. Peter
received much but it took over 30 years of walking with
the Lord for him to be able to write his epistle on
suffering and it’s value. He had to be rebuked by Paul for
hypocrisy long after his mighty experience on the day of
Pentecost. God can be glorified by our sickness and by
our healing. Only He knows which is the better way.
We tend to confuse the natural and the spiritual and
forget what the Lord Jesus spoke to the woman at the
well. She tried to show off her spiritual credentials
based on her honored ancestors well. John 4:21-23
“Jesus said to her, ‘Believe me, woman, the time is

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