By His Stripes we are Healed

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1 Peter 2:24 “He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed.”

One important question is did Jesus provide physical healing at the cross? Is healing in the atonement? In other words, can we claim and expect physical healing today based on what Jesus did on the cross on the same basis that we claim and expect forgiveness of sins? What does it mean that ‘by His stripes we are healed’? Some teachers, predominantly those in the faith prosperity area claim that physical healing is our right today and it is just a lack of faith that prevents it. Yet when we look at how Peter quotes Isa 53:5 in 1 Peter 2:24 we see that the healing provided at the cross is spiritual healing – coming back to God as the shepherd and overseer of our souls. We see Peter clearly teaches that Christ bore our SINS on the cross, not our sicknesses. That is not to say that God doesn’t heal physically today – Far from it! And it is not to say that the gift of healing is not available today – Far from it! Praise God that He does heal. But we need to be balanced on this for it causes a LOT of guilt in people that are sick today when you start to say that if you only had faith you would be healed.

So is healing in the atonement? Well, YES, but in this regard: The atonement provides not just a new spirit and forgiveness but also a new body… but all in its own time. Our new body awaits the return of Jesus. Then, and only then, will all complete physical and spiritual health be obtained. We may experience healing and praise God for good health. But all good health, if the Lord does not return, is temporary! I’m sorry to say that our bodies are dying. We await the new body that will never experience any weakness or sickness ever again!