Is there a connection between the forgiveness of sins and healing in Scripture?

[Always in His Presence]

I'm not talking any doctrine here - just looking at scripture verses in context. So before you pull out you WoF, or PHIA or EIEIO flag, let's just look at the scriptures.
​

There's two verses just as a start.

Pslam 103 - NKJV
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s

Pslam 103 - Amplified
1BLESS (AFFECTIONATELY, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name! 2Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits--
3Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases,
4Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy;



Psalm 103 - NLT
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!



Seems to me there's a connection there.



Then from the NT


Luke 5 - NLT
17 One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus.
18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, 19 but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”
21 But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
22 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 23 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 24 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
25 And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”



Luke 5: - Amplified
17One of those days, as He was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the Law sitting by, who had come from every village and town of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was [present] with Him to heal [g]them.
18And behold, some men were bringing on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed, and they tried to carry him in and lay him before [Jesus].
19But finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him with his stretcher through the tiles into the midst, in front of Jesus.
20And when He saw [their confidence in Him, springing from] their faith, He said, Man, your sins are forgiven you!
21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason and question and argue, saying, Who is this [Man] Who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?
22But Jesus, knowing their thoughts and questionings, answered them, Why do you question in your hearts?
23Which is easier: to say, Your sins are forgiven you, or to say, Arise and walk [about]?
24But that you may know that the Son of Man has the [power of] authority and right on earth to forgive sins, He said to the paralyzed man, I say to you, arise, pick up your litter (stretcher), and go to your own house!
25And instantly [the man] stood up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went away to his house, recognizing and praising and thanking God.

Luke 5: - NKJV
17 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.[a] 18 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19 And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.
20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”


But that you may know that the son of Man (Jesus) has power on earth to forgive sins - Jesus healed the man. Seems a pretty clear connection there.

Thoughts about these verses.

 

[TasManOfGod]

If we sit under a flag and that flag has the truth why should we not wave that flag? It is not as if WOF is based on emotion as the opposition to it is but the very basis of WOF is that it's teaching is according to Scripture -including that on healing. Yes healing is included in our salvation just as it was under the Law that Jesus ministered under albeit that we have a better covenant -paid for by the blood of the Lamb of God once and for all - rather than by the blood of animals.

 

[FaithfulRemnant]

Yes, they have much in common. Both are proclaimed by the Lord and his Apostles and Prophets. The Lord proclaimed healing and forgiveness of sins. So did the Apostles and so shall the Church do for all ages.

 

[TheMatmanReturns]

I'm not talking any doctrine here - just looking at scripture verses in context. So before you pull out you WoF, or PHIA or EIEIO flag, let's just look at the scriptures.
​

There's two verses just as a start.

Pslam 103 - NKJV
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s

Pslam 103 - Amplified
1BLESS (AFFECTIONATELY, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name! 2Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits--
3Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases,
4Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy;



Psalm 103 - NLT
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!



Seems to me there's a connection there.



Then from the NT


Luke 5 - NLT
17 One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus.
18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, 19 but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”
21 But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
22 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 23 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 24 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
25 And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”



Luke 5: - Amplified
17One of those days, as He was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the Law sitting by, who had come from every village and town of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was [present] with Him to heal [g]them.
18And behold, some men were bringing on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed, and they tried to carry him in and lay him before [Jesus].
19But finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him with his stretcher through the tiles into the midst, in front of Jesus.
20And when He saw [their confidence in Him, springing from] their faith, He said, Man, your sins are forgiven you!
21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason and question and argue, saying, Who is this [Man] Who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?
22But Jesus, knowing their thoughts and questionings, answered them, Why do you question in your hearts?
23Which is easier: to say, Your sins are forgiven you, or to say, Arise and walk [about]?
24But that you may know that the Son of Man has the [power of] authority and right on earth to forgive sins, He said to the paralyzed man, I say to you, arise, pick up your litter (stretcher), and go to your own house!
25And instantly [the man] stood up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went away to his house, recognizing and praising and thanking God.

Luke 5: - NKJV
17 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.[a] 18 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19 And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.
20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”


But that you may know that the son of Man (Jesus) has power on earth to forgive sins - Jesus healed the man. Seems a pretty clear connection there.

Thoughts about these verses.

While I agree with everything you are saying, I would note the greater significance of Luke 5.

If I were to say, "Balance, I forgive your sins," I would not be able to prove to you that your sins are forgiven. But by this same token, you would not be able to prove that your sins were not forgiven.

It's easy for people to talk about spiritual healing and forgiveness because there are no outward manifestations of the same. You and I could argue about my ability to forgive your sins, but neither one of us could win because neither one of us could offer any objective proof that your sins had been absolved.

However, if I had the power to heal you miraculously while proclaiming the absolution of your sins, then I would have stronger evidence to support my claim that I had just forgiven your sins. Because if I can perform the outward healing, then it would follow that I could do the inward as well.

Now, of course, I do not have this power. Only Jesus does. However, you get my point. By healing bodies, Jesus also demonstrated his ability to heal souls. Therefore, if this miraculous power were made manifest on a wide scale basis, people needing spiritual healing would be more inclined to accept the gospel than if no physical healings were to occur.

 

[Atlantians]

He healed the man as evidence that He was truely God and could forgive sins. Not that healing a body is somehow equated with forgiving sins.

If we sit under a flag and that flag has the truth why should we not wave that flag? It is not as if WOF is based on emotion as the opposition to it is but the very basis of WOF is that it's teaching is according to Scripture -including that on healing.

Why then the constant false exegesis?
Why then the explaining away of Job, Timothy's frequent illnesses, the sickness that nearly killed Epaphroditis, and other clear scripture that contradict your dogmatic views?

 

[Father Rick]

There are four different types of healing discussed in Scripture.
1.Physical healing-- this is pretty much self explanatory, healing of our physical bodies.
2. Inner (or emotional) healing-- Christ came to heal the broken hearted. There are far more who are wounded emotionally than there are those who need physical healing.
3.. Spiritual healing-- this deals with sin (and our will). This arena deals with forgiveness of sin as well as breaking patterns of wrong/sinful behavior. Just because someone is forgiven doesn't automatically mean they know how to change.
4. Deliverance from evil spirits-- scripture gives several examples where sickness is a result of demonization.

One of the most important things to remember regarding healing is that we are rarely dealing with just one of these four categories. Doctors have proven that things such as anger/bitterness/stress are a direct cause of physical ailments such as heart disease. Someone who is obese (gluttony) is susceptible to many different illness, including diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, etc. Those who “give up”; on life--due to tragedy, the loss of a loved one, etc.-- often become ill and die in a short period of time. There are numerous studies that show how one's emotional/mental/spiritual states have a direct bearing on one's physical health.

A good example would be an alcoholic. An alcoholic frequently needs inner healing, since there is almost always emotional scars/pain that prompted the person to drink in the first place. The person then entered into sinful behavior (getting drunk), and may have learned a pattern of sinful behavior in order to deal with the emotional pain. This has continued to the point that the person now has a physical condition (addiction), as addictive substances actually change how the human body works-- causing the body to need the alcohol to function properly-- and without the alcohol, the person will become ill (which is why medical treatment is frequently needed to detox). There may be other physical problems as well, such as cirrhosis, etc. This addictive behavior may have continued to the point that some form of demonic bondage may be involved as well.
So many times, people come to Christ for healing-- but they are thinking only of physical healing. Scripture is clear that Christ wants to do more than just heal our bodies. He wants to make us whole. That means healing in every part of who we are. Many times, physical healing alone would be useless. If Christ were to heal a physical condition caused by an underlying emotional/spiritual issue-- and not heal the underlying issue-- then we would just wind up right back where we started off (or sometimes even worse). God, in His wisdom, knows that it is necessary to not only heal the person, but to make them whole.
In the case of the alcoholic above, the most important area of healing is not necessarily what may appear to be the most urgent. While on the surface, the most urgent symptom may be appear to be cirrhosis, the real issue is the original emotional wounds that need to be healed. Sometimes we try to jump ahead of God and go straight for the physical (after all, that's what is the most dramatic), yet God wants to start at the root of the issue.

He wants to make us whole. He wants to heal our emotional wounds. He wants to teach us right behaviors and break off the patterns of sin. He wants to set us free from bondage. AND He wants to heal us physically.
With this in mind, we must always remember to create and maintain a healing environment in which people can be set free. Our ministry must be a “safe place” where those in bondage can expose the hurts and wounds that they have endured so that the healing grace of Christ can bring wholeness in every area.

 

[Father Rick]

1)The problem of sickness and disease is intertwined with the problem of sin and death– i.e., the consequences of the fall. Whereas medical science views the causes of sickness and disease in physiological or psychosomatic terms, the Bible presents spiritual causes as the underlying or basic problem:

1)Sin, which has affected our spiritual and physical makeup (John 5:5, 14)​

2)Satan (Acts 10:38; Mark 9:17,20,25; Luke 13:11; Acts 19:11-12)​

2)God’s provision in redemption is as extensive as the consequences of the fall.

•For sin, God provides forgiveness;​

•For death, God provides eternal and resurrection life; and​

•For sickness, God provides healing (Psalms 103:1-5; Luke 4:19; 5:17-26; James 5:14-15).​

Thus, during Jesus’ earthly life, this threefold ministry was teaching God’s word, preaching repentance (the sin problem) and the blessings of God’s kingdom (life), and healing every kind of sickness, disease, and infirmity among the people (Matthew 4:23-24).


God’s will concerning healing is revealed in four main ways in Scripture

1)God’s own pronouncement

In exodus 15:26 God promised health and healing for his people if they remained faithful to his covenant and commands. His pronouncement was twofold: a) “I will not bring on you any of the diseases (as judgment) I brought on the Egyptians” and b) “I am the Lord, who heals you (as Redeemer).” God continued to be the doctor or healer of his Old Testament people whenever they earnestly sought his face and obeyed his word (2 Kings 20:5; Psalms 103:3).​

2)Jesus’ ministry

Jesus as the incarnate Son of God was and is the exact representation of God’s nature and character (Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:15; 2:9) In his earthly ministry (Matthew 4:23-24; 8:14-16; 9:35; 15:28; Mark 1:32-24; 40-41; Luke 4:40; Acts 10:38), Jesus revealed God’s will in action, proving that it is in God’s heart, nature, and purpose to heal all who are sick and oppressed by the devil.​

3) The provision of Christ’s atonement

Jesus’ atoning death was complete and adequate for redeeming the whole person– spirit, soul, and body. (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; 1 Peter 2:24). As sin and sickness have become the twin giants designed by Satan to destroy us, so forgiveness and healing are twin blessings designed by God to redeem us and make us whole. (Psalms 103:3; James 5:14-16). The believer should press on in humility and faith to possess the full provision of Christ’s atonement, including the healing of the body.​

4) The ongoing ministry of the Church

Jesus commissioned his twelve disciples to heal the sick as part of their proclamation of God’s kingdom (Luke 9:1-2,6). Later, he commissioned seventy disciples to do the same (Luke 10:1, 8-9, 19). After Pentecost, the early church carried on Jesus’ healing ministry as part of preaching the gospel (Acts 3:1-10; 4:30; 5:16; 8:7; 9:34; 14:8-10; 19:11-12; Mark 16:18; 1 Corinthians 12:9,28,30: James 5:14-16). The New Testament records three ways that God’s healing power and faith were imparted through the church.: a) the laying on of hands (Mark 116:15-18; Acts 9:17), b) Confession of known sin, followed by anointing the sick with oil and the prayer of faith (James 5:14-16), and c) spiritual gifts of healings given to the Church (1 Corinthians 12:9). Note that it is the presbyters who are to pray the prayer of faith.​

 

[NorrinRadd]

... It is not as if WOF is based on emotion as the opposition to it is but the very basis of WOF is that it's teaching is according to Scripture -including that on healing. ...

Well, since you've phrased your remark in such terms, I'm rather obliged to respond in opposition.

I attended a WoF-type church for several years in the '80s when I was a relatively young believer just out of college. I was a avid consumer of WoF tapes and literature, and was in particular a fan of "Dad" Hagin, universally revered as the "father" of the "Faith Message."

It was not "emotion" that caused me to reject WoF dogma; rather it was realizing both that WoF teaching rested on highly questionable (at best) exegesis, and that Hagin's visions of Jesus -- important pillars of his ministry -- were demonstrably faulty.

 

[he4rty]

Thanks for the post Rick

 

[Always in His Presence]

If we sit under a flag and that flag has the truth why should we not wave that flag?

Because, my dear Brother, as you read the post below your - waving the flag takes the thread off topic and instead of talking about scripture - it get's derailed.

 

[Always in His Presence]

Well, since you've phrased your remark in such terms, I'm rather obliged to respond in opposition.

I would ask that you please stay on the topic of the thread and not hijack it.

 

[Always in His Presence]

.

 

[NorrinRadd]

I would ask that you please stay on the topic of the thread and not hijack it.

I would suggest that you leave out things that are not only tangential to the supposed "topic" of the thread, but also potentially inflammatory, if you are not prepared to receive commentary on them.

 

[LeadWorship]

and that Hagin's visions of Jesus -- important pillars of his ministry -- were demonstrably faulty.

Do tell how you came about this conclusion. Feel free to do so in another thread. I've read a large number of his books, and he in them are plenty of scripture to back up his teachings. Thanks!

 

[pdudgeon]

to answer the Op yes there is a definite connection.
Sin affects all three parts of man--the body, soul, and spirit--so all three must be healed for men to have the spiritual union with God that was intended from the first.