By His Stripes (I)

who 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.” 

I Peter 2:24 NKJV.

Not too long ago, I came across a Christian blogsite where a heated argument was going on about the meaning of ‘healed‘ in ‘By whose stripes you were healed‘ of 1 Peter 2:24. While some persons supported the idea that ‘healed’ as used in this verse referred only to a spiritual healing with no physical manifestation, others thought it was totally a physical experience. Those who felt strongly that it should be purely spiritual, came from the standpoint that healing and salvation came as one package. And so if salvation is spiritual then healing must be too.

So what ‘ sayest’ thou? Is our healing (in Christ) Spiritual, Physical or both Spiritual and Physical? ?

What are my thoughts? ?

Salvation is not just spiritual

First, salvation is not just a spiritual experience. Yes we become spiritually alive, but what use is a spiritual rebirth that lacks tangible expression and manifestation in our daily lives?

Several scriptures draw clear distinctions between believers and unbelievers. The believer is righteousness and light, the unbelieving is lawlessness and darkness (II Corinthians 6:14 NKJV). The believer is the light and salt of the world (Matthew 5:13 AMPC). Expressions of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), should be clear delineating character traits between the Church and the world.

Believers should be separated from unbelievers by their conduct not merely by an invisible spiritual experience.

“Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.”
2 Corinthians 6:17 NLT

So salvation may start off as a spiritual event, but there are certainly physical expressions of the changed innerman.

By His Stripes we were healed: Our Healing is not just spiritual

Second, I agree that as a result of Adam’s disobedience, sin and death were introduced into the world and sadly sin and death spread to all men…..

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 

Romans 5:12 NLT

And I also believe the good news that a spiritually dead person, can become spiritually alive in Christ Jesus….

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

I Corinthians 15:22 NKJV

“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,”

Ephesians 2:1 NKJV

The argument for ‘1 Peter 2:24 healing’ being spiritual (and not physical) is often posited to support the thinking that in Christ we have been healed from the illness of sin. 

Question: Is sin an illness?

I would say that sin an act/state of disconnect from God.

Thank God Jesus came. He delivered us from the curse (sin, sickness and spiritual death). Sin entered the world following Adam’s disobedience (Genesis 2:17, Galatians 3: 13-14, Romans 5:15). But thank God for His grace, because in Christ, we were delivered from sin and its consequent death, we were made alive in Him.

“But God’s free gift is not like Adam’s sin. Many people died because of the sin of that one man. But the grace that people received from God was much greater. Many received God’s gift of life by the grace of this other man, Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5:15 ERV

Jesus saved, healed and made us rich.

God wants us to prosper in every way…He wants to prosper Physically and Spiritually….

“Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually].”
3 John 1:2 AMP

Jesus healed physical diseases

During His earthly ministry, Jesus healed different kinds of physical illnesses (John 4:46-54, John 5:1-15, John 9:1-7, Matthew 8:14-15, Luke 6:6-11, Mark 5:25-34, Matthew 9:32-34, John 5:1-15, John 9:1-12, Luke 11:14-23, Luke 17:11-19, Luke 10:46-52, Luke 22:50-51, Matthew 16:17-18).

So no, 1 Peter 2:24 healing cannot just be about a spiritual healing. He healed us of every bodily sickness and disease.

By His Stripes we were healed!

Don’t let the enemy deceive and distract you from enjoying the benefits of your redemption. Healing, health and a good state of well-being are parts of our redemptive benefits.

By His Stripes we were healed. If we were healed then, we are healed now. By faith, we seize what has already been provided for us. We Believe it, We Say it, We Receive it, We continually Confess it until we Have it physically.

Halleluyah!

………………

Reviewed from first published in 22/07/2019.

AboutGrace Obomanu

Grace obomanu is a Christian Blogger and Founder; 'Grace Obomanu Foundation'. Grace is an inspiring writer who intentionally projects the truth of God's word by sharing simple yet profound truths from the Bible. She writes with a revelational thrust, sharing wisdom, insights relatable to everyday living with particular emphasis on Victorious Christian Living. Her foundation, a non-profit trustee, continues to make impact, adding value to people's lives through outreaches, mentorship, bible teachings and counseling, partnerships. Grace has a diploma in Ministerial Training (with emphasis on Spiritual Leadership from Rhema Bible Training Center Nigeria. She trained as a medical doctor and has years of experience in Health Systems Management. She also holds a master's degree in Public Health from the University of Liverpool.