Intro to Pentecostal Doctrine
Unit 4, Chapters 10 & 11
THEO 114
Chapt 10: Sickness, Death, and God’s response
Sickness and death entered this world through the
fall of humanity. Because of the Fall, Satan has used
sickness and disease to oppress people. God,
however, has made provisions for healing. Divine
healing confirms the power and love of God. Its
focus is the person of Jesus Christ and the
advancement of His kingdom.
Claiming the Promise of Health and
Healing
Since we are redeemed from the curse of sin
and the works of Satan through the death of
Christ on the Cross, and since sickness is part of
the curse of sin, it follows that healing, or the
conquest of sickness, flows from Christ’s
redemptive work. Both body and soul were
contaminated by the Fall. Christ’s death
provided restoration for both, in physical and
spiritual healing.
Three Great Dimensions of Healing:
1. Healing in the Atonement (a provision from the sufferings of Christ)
2. Healing through the gifts of the Spirit (a provision we must seek)
3. Healing in the resurrection (a provision for the future for every child of God)
How do these three dimensions of healing relate to the healing ministry of Jesus
today?
(1)Healing today is still based on the provision of Christ in the Atonement.
(2) Jesus still heals people today through the gifts of the Spirit, and we are
encouraged to seek these gifts.
(3)Although we may not understand why some are not healed today, we have
the assurance that every child of God will be completely healed in the
resurrection.
Chapter 11: Fulfillment of the Promise of
Divine Healing
Just as salvation is by grace through faith
(Ephesians 2:8), so the healing ministry of Christ
is ours by His grace, or unmerited favor. We
neither earn nor deserve healing; it is a gift.
The fact that healing is provided for us does
not rule out suffering for the sake of Christ and
the gospel. Yet we can boldly proclaim, in our
suffering, that God does heal.
What other types of restoration are included in
divine healing?
Salvation brings healing to the soul. Jesus brings
deliverance from addiction through His personal
intervention and transformation in people’s lives.
Bondage to worry, fear, and traumatic events of the
past can be broken through the restoring work of
Christ. He “heals the brokenhearted, and binds up
their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).
Approaching our healing:
Faith in Jesus as the Healer is central to healing. Yet it is not a “name it
and claim it” type of faith that must be worked up by an individual.
Rather, Jesus Christ alone is the source of our faith. Genuine faith that
brings God’s intervention into our lives has been, and always will be, a
supernatural gift that comes from God. This gift of faith comes through
Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him. Gifts of healing are among
the manifestations of the Spirit provided for edifying and strengthening
the church (1 Corinthians 12:9). Like other gifts, healing is imparted by
the Spirit through members of the Body. This reminds us of the
important role of the Christian community in healing.
Approaching our healing (continued):
How can the community of believers
be an important factor in healing?
(1)Individuals and groups of believers
can lay hands on the sick and pray
for them.
(2)The gifts of the Spirit, including gifts
of healing, can be manifested
through the body of Christ.
(3)The elders of the church can anoint
the sick with oil and pray for healing
(James 5:14–15).
When healing does not come in our time:
When healing does not come, it’s tempting to assign
blame. Instead, we should sincerely ask God what He
would have us do to lift the burden of the sick and help
them carry their load. Also, since healings do not always
come on our timetable, we need to be patient. We
need to remain faithful, trusting God and standing firm in
the assurance that He is accomplishing His purposes.
Principles
when
waiting for
God’s
healing: