Purpose and Context

There is a common belief in the Body that Christ’s sufferings included a promise for physical healing from sickness, disease, and infirmities. That “by His stripes we were healed”. Let’s examine this phrase and what the scriptures actually reveal God’s healing protocols are for today.

Teaching objectives

1. Examine the phrase “by His stripes we are healed.”
2. Understand sin-sickness connections.
3. Understand and begin applying God’s healing protocols.

This teaching lesson is for anyone dealing with a sickness, or interested in helping others deal with theirs.

Introduction – A General Word on Examination

Often statements are made amongst Christian communities, usually with good intentions, without examining the truth behind them. Many statements have little to no impact. Others however have the power to significantly shape our understanding of God’s nature, ways, plans, and purposes.

We are called to examine what we hear (Acts 17:11, 2 Timothy 2:15). The word ‘examine’ means to ‘judge’ or ‘sift’. God equips our minds with His Spirit to use the scriptures as the filter for sifting and separating the true from the false. Like flour, whatever doesn’t pass through gets discarded. That which passes through is honored and applied. Because different interpretations exist, reading scriptural passages in their proper context is a good starting point in extracting its true spiritual meaning.  

Getting a proper context requires reading what precedes and follows it. Without the surrounding words, any statement can be taken out of context (albeit unintentionally). For example, one could say “the Bible says there is no God”, and they would be correct! It does indeed say:

……There is no God…. [Psa 14:1 NASB20]

However, by reading the words surrounding this statement, we arrive at a completely different conclusion of truth:

 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed detestable acts; There is no one who does good. [Psa 14:1 NASB20]

Context of “By His Stripes”

Let’s examine the biblical contexts of the phrase “by His stripes we are healed”. It is first found in Isaiah chapter 53:

But He [was] wounded for our transgressions, [He was] bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace [was] upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. – Isa 53:5 NKJV

The prophetic writing from Isaiah accurately foretold Christ’s sufferings nearly 600 years before it happened. We see three preceding truths here. That Christ:

1. Was wounded for our transgressions.
2. Was bruised for our iniquities.
3. Was chastised for our peace.
4. “Stripes” refers to the wounds and lashes inflicted upon Him during His crucifixion.

In this context, we see that Christ’s stripes were to heal us from sin (transgressions and iniquities).

The second and final place the phrase “by His stripes we are healed” appears is in 1 Peter. Through Peter’s writings, the Spirit of the Lord reinforces Isaiah’s prophetic truths – that Christ’s wounds healed us from sin:

and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. – 1Pe 2:24 NASB95

In this context, we see:

1. Christ bore our sins (no mention of sickness) in His body.
2. He did this so we would die to sin.
3. His wounds healed us from sin.

In both passages, the phrase “by His stripes we were healed” refers to us being healed from sin with no mention of sickness or diseases whatsoever.

Context of “He took our illnesses”

We may be apt to conclude from the verse preceding Isaiah 53:5 that Christ did indeed die for our sicknesses and diseases. Perhaps this is where the misunderstanding originated. For it reads:

However, [it was] our sicknesses [that] He Himself bore, and our pains [that] He carried; Yet we ourselves assumed that He had been afflicted, struck down by God, and humiliated. [Isa 53:4 NASB20]

However, Matthew clarifies that this statement from Isaiah was fulfilled before the cross as Christ went about healing people and taking away their illnesses:

Now when evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. [Mat 8:16 NASB20]

Next verse:

[This happened] so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR ILLNESSES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.” [Mat 8:17 NASB20]

In summary, the proper interpretation and spiritual truth of Isaiah’s and Peter’s writings are:

As Christ walked the earth, He went about healing and removing people’s sickness and diseases. When He died on the cross, He healed us from sin.

Other Contradictions

Beyond the contextual errors previously noted, the belief that “by His stripes we are healed of sickness)” misaligns with the Father’s overall ways and Kingdom purposes. Here are five reasons why.

#1: There is no Old Testament pattern or shadow for the shedding of blood for sickness. The shedding of blood was solely to forgive sins. This applies to both the old and new covenants:

[Heb 9:22 NASB20] 22 And almost all things are cleansed with blood, according to the Law, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

The scriptures confirm that the purpose of Christ’s blood was to bring forgiveness, free us from sin, make us holy, cleanse us, & bring us to God.

2. Jesus nor any of His disciples taught the cross brought physical health

If something so significant and profound as a promise of universal healing from the cross were true, then surely Jesus would have mentioned it at least once. Instead, He did not.

Furthermore, it would be reasonable to conclude that at least one apostle would have mentioned this promise in at least one of their letters. However, no such claim exists in the entire New Testament – from Acts through Revelations.

#3: Healing and Sickness cannot co-exist. The “were healed” part of the “by His stripes we were healed” statement is often emphasized as a past event. However, sickness and healing cannot co-exist.  Either we are healed, or we are not. True and genuine Spirit-led faith does not deny reality, but it does see hope beyond it.

#4: The blood of Christ is only applied once. Because the blood was only applied once, we only receive forgiveness once for all our past, present, and future sins. If Christ’s stripes also removed sickness, like forgiveness, we would never need healing after salvation.

#5. Gifts of Healings are given to the Body. Why would the Spirit distribute gifts of healings if Christ removed our sicknesses on the Cross? To be discussed later in detail.

Now that we have examined this phrase against the entire council of truth, let’s explore the sin-sickness connections and how the Lord heals today.

The sin-sickness connection

Although Christ did not die for our sicknesses, the scriptures confirm two cause-effect relationships between sin and sickness. However, not all sickness is caused by sin. To imply so is not only ignorance but can lead to spiritual abuse and shaming. Other causes of sickness may include demonic influences, genetics, environment, lifestyle factors, viruses, or a combination thereof.

The first cause-effect relationship between sin and sickness is direct and the most common:

1. Sin directly impacts our physiology.

 

We see Jesus perhaps revealing a hint of this truth after healing a lame man:

[Jhn 5:14 NASB20] 14 Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.“

Notice that Jesus emphasized that this man’s physical wellbeing hinged on living righteously (sinning no more). The scriptures do not reveal the exact sin(s) committed thirty-eight years before his illness ensued. One can only speculate (i.e., accidental fall from drunkenness, a physical altercation, etc.).

The scriptures do not divulge the mechanistic process by which various sins impact our physical health. However, scientific research offers us some clues. For example, research from the University of Notre Dame showed that lying triggers the release of stress hormones, increasing heart rate and blood pressure. Stress reduces your body’s number of infection-fighting white blood cells, and over time, could contribute to lower-back pain, tension headaches, a rapid heartbeat, menstrual problems, and even infertility.

Source : https://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2012/08/20/how-lying-affects-your-health

Other research-backed examples for how sin directly causes sickness include:

• Excessive drinking (debauchery) leads to cardiovascular and liver disease.
• Sexual intercourse outside marriage (immorality) leading to transmitted diseases.
• Pornography while married (adultery) leading to negative mental and brain health

The second cause-effect relationship between sin and sickness is indirect and occurs far less frequently.

2. Sickness from discipline

There are examples, both in the Old and New Testaments, where the Lord disciplined His children with sickness because of their refusal to repent. While this may shock some, it actually reveals the Lord’s grace and the Father’s heart to see us live the full life He desires. Let us review a couple:

1 Corinthians 10:11 (NASB)

Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.

The Lord’s discipline to the Israelites included: sickness for immorality, serpents for testing the Lord, & the destroyer for grumbling.

A New Testament/early church example:

1 Corinthians 11:9-32 (NASB)

For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason, many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

In this context, some believers in Corinth were not taking others into consideration and getting drunk overindulging on the Lord’s supper (bread and wine). By revelation, Paul discerned that their sickness was a result of the Lord’s judgement (disciplined) for their behavior. 

As the scripture reveals, the Lord’s judgment is more like a father disciplining his children to correct (not condemn) them. Having it recorded indicates the Lord wants to teach His Church at large concerning the importance of this sacrament and His proclivity towards disciplining His children when His grace and patience are ignored over a long period of time.

 The various stages of His discipline in this example (weakness, sickness, then eventually death) indicate a progressive approach the Lord took. Unfortunately, some of those in Corinth disregarded His discipline and were unwilling to repent, eventually suffering harsher and harsher consequences. 

Does this mean that the Lord will discipline everyone who sins with sickness? No! These were rare situations, but on the other hand, we cannot say that the Lord would not repeat such disciplinary measures. Afterall, He is God, not us.   

How does God heal today?

If Christ’s wounds do not bring healing from sickness, what does? There are primarily two Kingdom protocols: Exercising spiritual authority and applying a healthy lifestyle.

 

Authority to Heal

Let us start with developing a spiritual understanding of Christ’s authority and how He delegates it.

A law enforcement officer is someone authorized to act on behalf of the Federal Government. They are first granted legal authority within specific limits and freely given equipment such as handcuffs to arrest lawbreakers. They are also trained to use specific commands (i.e., “stop in the name of the law”). There are various rankings in law enforcement that one can be promoted or demoted to. The chief of police is the highest-ranking officer overall. The next in rank is police captain.

In essence, before the cross, Christ (i.e., “police captain”) was authorized by the Father (i.e., Chief of police) to act on behalf of the Kingdom Government. He then trained and granted the authority and legal rights to His disciples (i.e., “as law enforcement officers”) to arrest and remove sickness and spirits:

And he called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to heal diseases. [Luke 9:1 ASV]

Notice he gave them power and authority. What is the difference? Authority is for healing. Healing is the removal of something (i.e., the removal of sickness or the removal of a spirit). Power is for miracles. Miracles are the re-creation or addition of something (i.e., a new ear).

The Lord’s authority and power are distinctly different, but also intertwined. Authority is a prerequisite to power. Power, in turn, is the application of that authority.

After the cross, the scriptures tell us that Christ was given total authority over all creation (i.e., promoted by the Father as “Chief of Police”). After telling His disciples this, He then shared some of it again:

They (believers with authority) shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. [Mar 16:18 ASV]

Like in any government institution, authority can also get misappropriated. Over time, the Lord may remove it if it is used in the wrong ways, at the wrong times, and with the wrong motives.

Unlike worldly authority, spiritual authority is not granted for us to have control or power over people. It is given to serve and love others well by helping bring the Kingdom of God to them.

Authority is granted to three different groups. First, the Lord gives it to disciples and church elders. The Spirit of God also gifts it to some (i.e., gifts of healings). Let us review these three people groups and how we can begin to receive and walk in it.

1. Disciples

If we want it grow in authority to help others or ourselves with sickness, we must follow Christ’s example. Paul revealed the process by which Christ acquired authority to the Philippians:

And being found in appearance as a man, (a) He humbled Himself and (b) became obedient to [the point of] death, even the death of the cross. Therefore (c) God also has highly exalted Him and (d) given Him the name, which is above every name, [Phl 2:9 NKJV]

We see 4 steps here (a-d below):

a) Christ humbled Himself. Like Christ, the starting point for receiving authority is humility. This demands we forego pride and self-reliance. We must first come under God and draw near to Him before we can have authority over sickness or the enemy. This requires submission. Kneeling privately in prayer helps. Another way to humble ourselves before the Lord is to couple prayer with fasting.

b) Christ became obedient. The second step Christ took was obeying God’s will. For us, this begins with respecting and obeying (to the degree it aligns with God’s Word) earthly authorities. This includes our boss, our neighborhood ordinances, our church leaders, our city regulations, our state and national laws (1 Peter 2), and a mutual submission to spouses (Eph. 5:21). If we do not obey earthly authorities, why should we expect the Lord to give us Heavenly authority?

 c) Christ was exalted. After Christ humbled Himself and became obedient, God exalted Him to have supreme rule and authority over everything created (visible and invisible). The Lord promises to exalt us with more authority over His creation too. The lower we go, the higher up He takes us. The more we humble ourselves under Him, the more of creation He puts us over. This is what Jesus meant when He said, “Blessed are the meek (humble), for they shall inherit (be given rights over) the earth (God’s creation) – Matthew 5:5.

 d) The Father gave Christ a name above every name. His name, when used by one operating in genuine spiritual authority, is what brings healing:

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see. [Act 3:16 NIV]

Never mistake loudness with authority. Effective police officers do not shout aloud when reading someone’s rights, “YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT!!!!”. They use their normal tone and voice with self-control. A gentle whisper of Jesus’ name is often more effective than the loudest of shouts.

Note: Often, the laying on of hands is necessary to transfer power to another. This is outside this teaching scope.

Now that we’ve learned how disciples grow in spiritual authority, let’s move on to the two other ways His authority is given.

2. Church Elders

Is anyone among you sick? [Then] he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; [Jas 5:14 NASB20]

The Lord delegates authority to church elders to heal the sick. This requires: 1) that the one sick is attending a local church, and 2) The elders have a basic understanding of spiritual authority. Here is the protocol for church elders:

1. Gather around the one sick.
2. Pray for them.
3. Anoint them with oil (symbolic of the Holy Spirit healing)
4. Apply the name of the Lord.
5. Exercise faith on the behalf of the one sick

Afterwards, the expected result is the removal of sickness:

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. [Jas 5:15 NIV]

If the sickness was caused by sin, then it will be forgiven (i.e., “forgiven” in this context means the removal of the Father’s temporary discipline):

3. Gifts of Healings

While the previous two people groups are given authority to help draw attention to Christ’s name, the Holy Spirit has also given some in the Body gifts of healings. These gifts can be used for general purposes without using Christ’s name directly. We read:

And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, [and various] kinds of tongues. [1Co 12:28 NASB20]

Notice the plurality and multifaceted aspect of this gift: Gifts of healings (plural). Meaning, some have been graced to heal (make whole) various broken aspects of our human experience. For example, there is a spiritual gift for emotional healing, another for psychological healing, another for physical healing, and another for relational healing. Others may operate in a cluster of these gifts of healings in a more dedicated function.

Not everyone has these gifts:

All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? Not all interpret, do they? [1Co 12:30 NASB20]

Whatever area we may need healing in, we would be wise to submit ourselves to receive from those who have been given this gift. Examples include anointed counselors, psychologists, doctors, therapists, and others in the Body.

4. Medicine and Lifestyle

The Lord also instructs us to use medicine and healthy lifestyles to both treat and prevent sickness. This is common sense. For example, Paul advised Timothy:

Stop drinking only water and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. [1Ti 5:23 NIV]

We are told that both physical conditioning and godly living is valuable (useful) for overall health:

For physical conditioning is of some value (to our health), but godliness has value for all things (including health), holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. [1Ti 4:8 NIV]

It is better to prevent sickness than to be healed from it. Prevention starts by aligning with God’s basic creation framework for health. This includes nutrition, exercise, water, sunlight, temperance, air, rest, and a trusting relationship with Him and others.

When it comes time, the Lord’s ultimate protocol for our complete healing is death. This too will be put under His feet. Like a door, death is simply the tool that ushers us into the fullness of life.

Conclusion

To get the results the Lord desires, we must align our ways with His and rightly divide truth.

While Christ did not die for our sicknesses, He desires to grant us spiritual authority, common sense, and the basic building blocks needed to both treat and prevent sicknesses. Living godly helps us physically and has eternal benefits.

The science of health and longevity is not scripture’s enemy. For the Lord uses both to fulfill His good purposes in our lives.