DOES GOD HEAL- Introduction
There are a lot of teachers in the church today who believe that God always heals everyone who asks to be healed in faith. How accurate is this view?

DOES GOD HEAL- Scriptural Proof
In regard to the question of whether or not God always heals everyone who asks in faith, three passages from Scripture are usually cited to demonstrate that Jesus bore both the sin and sickness of the world on the cross. It is therefore argued that in the same way that we are freed from the bondage of sin, so, too, we can eliminate all physical sickness and disease — and all of this is related back to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Let’s examine each of these passages used to determine whether in fact such a conclusion is warranted.

DOES GOD HEAL- Isaiah 53:5
The first of these so-called “healing in the atonement” passages is Isaiah 53:5, which specifically mentions that by Messiah’s wounds we are healed. The word translated “heal” in this passage is actually the Hebrew word rapa, which is often used in a spiritual as opposed to a physical sense in the Old Testament (cf. Ps. 107:20; Jer. 3:22). However, as we look at the context of Isaiah 53, there’s no doubt that the healing described there is definitively one which is spiritual in nature.

DOES GOD HEAL- 1 Peter 2:24
Another passage that’s commonly used is 1 Peter 2:24, which is basically a quote from the Isaiah 53 passage. But, as with the previous passage the context of Peter’s quote is in reference to spiritual, and not physical, healing.

DOES GOD HEAL- Matthew 8:16-17
It should come as no surprise that the third passage, Matthew 8:16-17, is also a quote from Isaiah 53. Proponents of “guaranteed healing” argue that their position is justified by the fact that Matthew applied the Isaiah passage to physical healing and deliverance. However, they fail to note that according to Matthew this passage of Isaiah was fulfilled in the healing ministry of Jesus: that is, before Christ suffered on the cross. Now I do not wish to be misunderstood on this point. I believe that healing is provided for in the atonement, however, it is not guaranteed. True faith does not mean that we can expect to be healed from every sickness and disease. Rather true faith means trusting God in the midst of trial and tribulation. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble……”

DOES GOD HEAL- Conclusion
What is guaranteed is peace in the midst of the storm and one day a new heaven and a new earth with no more death, mourning, crying or pain — which proves that while healing is provided for in the atonement, it is certainly not guaranteed during our earthly life time.On healing, that’s the CRI Perspective. I’m Hank Hanegraaff.