...........unhealthy soul! In other words, a sin infested soul. That is why the Greek words for "salvation" and "save", mean "deliverance, perservation, healing, health, soundness, and salvation.
The Greek word for "salvation" is "soteria".Since salvation is a progressive process finally leading to absolute glory in Heaven with a glorified body, naturally there is both spiritual and physical healing involved in the process. In systematic, or dogmatic theology systems, there is part of the system which includes the study of "Soteriology", or salvation.
The word "save",in Greek, is "Sozo", and has the same meaning as salvation. In the New Testament, the word is used interchangably for heal, make whole, or save. The word from the original Greek word, which is "Sozo" is the original word used in all of the following passages. The word "Sozo" is used wherever quotation marks are located: Matthew 1:21 - for he "shall save" his people from their sins; Matthew 8:25 saying, Lord, "Save" us: we perish; Matthew 9:21 - but touch his garment, I "shall be whole"; Matthew 9:22 - thy faith "bath made" the "whole"; and the woman "was made whole" from that hour; Matthew 10:22 - he that endureth to the end "shall be saved"; Matthew 14:30 - he cried, saying, Lord "save" me; Matthew 16:25 - whosoever will "save" his life shall loose it; Matthew 18:11 - is come "to save" that which was lost; Matthew 19:25 - saying, who then can "be saved";Matthew 24:13 - endure unto the end, the same "shall be saved"; Matthew 24:22 - there should not flesh "be saved"; Matthew 27:40 - buildest it in three days, "save" thyself; Matthew 27:42 - He "saved" others; himself he cannot "save"; Matthew 27:49 - whether Elias will come to "save" him; Mark 3:4 - to "save" life, or to kill?; Mark 5:23 hands on her, that she "may be healed"; Mark 5:28 - may touch but his cloths I "shall be whole"; Mark 5:34 - thy faith "hath made 'thee' whole"; Mark 8:35 whosoever will "save" his life shall loose it, the same "shall save" it; Mark 10:26 - who then can "be saved"; Mark 10:52 - thy faith "bath made thee whole"; Luke 8:36 - was possessed of the devils "was healed"; Luke 8:48 thy faith "bath made" thee "whole"; Luke 8:50 - and she "shall be made whole"; Acts 4:9 - by what means he is "made whole"; Acts 4:12 - whereby we must "be saved"; Acts 14:9 - he had faith "to be healed"; Romans 5:10 we "shall be saved" by his life; 1 Corinthians 1:18 "to save" them that believe.
By examination of all the preceeding references, where the original Greek word "Sozo" was used either for heal, save, or make whole, it becomes quite plain that healing is a benefit of salvation! However, that type of healing is not the instant miraculous type of healing performed by those which possessed the gift of healings in the apostolistic age. The church was built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:20) Therefore, once the foundation has been laid, we need not keep laying it, but we need to build upon it! God now heals us by His grace; but in His own sovereign will, not by our command!
The faith teachers pull context, and apply it to the present age. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6) They claim, since those who do not get healed have not "the higher knowledge" which they say comes by studying their "name it and claim it" methods, is the reason they are destroyed!
The fact is, if any believer will feed his spirit on the Word of God and meditate upon it, it will be medicine to his body as well as his soul! "My son, attend to my words, for they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh." (Proverbs 4:20-22) The "life" spoken of, refers to "eternal life", and by feeding on his word, health comes to the flesh! "He sent the word and healed them." (Psalms 107:20) So, the word of God is what is needed, to give spiritual healing for the soul, which in turn, brings health to the physical
body.
The faith healers tell people it is those seeking healing who must use their own faith in order to believe. They claim that since God spoke the earth into existance by things not seen, then those seeking healing, or whatever should use the same formula! A favorite proof text is Mark 11:24, when Jesus said, "Therefore I say unto you, what things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." They use this verse as an umbrella to get every thing they possibly can! However, they never quote the following verse, as it "taboo" to their theology! "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." (1 John 5:14,15)
So, in order to get prayer answered, it must be in line with the Lord's will! The faith healers say that the biggest builder of doubt which will kill faith, is to pray a prayer including in it "if it be his will". they claim since it is God's will to heal all, that we should know his will before we pray! However, that approach does not hold up under the light of Scripture, considering all the verses we quoted of God's chastening. Even the devil has to get permission from God to afflict anyone! This is made clear in the story about Job. The devil could not touch him without God's permission. Even though God uses angels, demons, or people to execute His judgements and chastements. "The Lord bath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil." (Proverbs 16:4).
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