Q & A: What is the Scriptural Foundation for Healing?
A:
The foundation for our belief in divine healing begins with the study of salvation. Our salvation through Jesus is sufficient to redeem us from both the nature and curse of sin (Romans 5:12; Galatians 3:13-14; Deuteronomy 28:15-68).
Gloria Copeland has talked about the connection between the Greek word for salvation, soteria, and the Hebrew word shalom, or peace. The word shalom means “completeness, wholeness, peace, health, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, absence of agitation or discord, to be complete, perfect and full.”
This covenant of salvation and peace that we have received through Jesus provides complete wholeness with “nothing missing, nothing broken.” Isaiah 53:5 said Jesus took the punishment necessary to bring us this wholeness. His peace encompasses every area of life—including physical healing.
One of the most compelling arguments for divine healing is the fact that Jesus healed people throughout His earthly ministry. And according to the Bible, Jesus fulfilled the will of His Father when He healed people (John 4:34; 17:4). The fact that healing is God’s will should not be surprising when we note that God has always wanted His people well (Exodus 15:26).
Healing was a fundamental component of the ministry of Jesus. Matthew 8:16-17 says, “That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, ‘He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.’”
These verses make it particularly clear that the sicknesses and diseases Jesus healed were not only spiritual, but also physical. And that physical healing was part of a true fulfillment of Isaiah 53:5 which says, “But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed” (also see Luke 4:18-19; 1 Peter 2:24).
When Jesus sent out His disciples to minister in His name, He told them, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!” (Matthew 10:8). We find no indication the disciples were ever under the impression that healing should cease. Instead, we find them still ministering healing after Jesus had left the earth (Acts 5:12-16).
Today, healing is an essential part of the Great Commission listed among the signs that shall follow them that believe (Mark 16:15-18). The healing power of the gospel is as viable today as it was in the early Church!