Golden Nuggets

Aug

2008

GOD IS ABSOLUTELY SURE ABOUT OUR DOUBLE CURE

Add this entry to Your Favorites

[5] Comments

The Bible, God’s Holy Word, states and restates that Christ’s suffering as God’s sacrificial Lamb at Pilate’s Judgment Hall, followed by His death, burial, resurrection and ascension provided the “Double Cure” for humanity’s sin and sickness problems. This fact is incontrovertible, if you believe the Bible is inerrant and infallible.

Isaiah 53: 5 says, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” This scripture shows the conjoining of Christ’s provision for our SINS and our SICKNESSES (“pains or diseases”). This truth depicting God’s concern for both our spiritual AND our physical wellbeing is stated again in Matthew 8:17 (“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.”). We see it again being confirmed by the Holy Spirit in  1 Peter 2: 24 (“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed”).

For yet a fourth verification of these phenomenal benefits of Christ’s crucifixion, we journey back to a prophecy in the Old Testament. The Psalmist David, looking ahead and seeing the redeeming work of the Messiah, stated emphatically in Psalms 103:2-4, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies” (key words underlined for emphasis by the author).

It is important to see that the Psalmist was instructing his readers not to forget all the benefits that would accrue from Calvary. This is critical for the believer to actively remember, lest we forget, all that Christ has accomplished for us. Here we are concentrating on the first two, which are salvation and healing. However, the passage lists others that are also of great significance to the child of God. Many times, we allow the circumstances to overwhelm us and we simply fail to remember the promises or the provisions Christ has purchased for us. No matter what is transpiring in your life, do not forget that we have the benefits of forgiveness and healing available upon request.

If it was God’s plan for Christ to provide forgiveness for all sins, and to equally provide healing for all diseases, then the conclusion must be drawn that Christ’s exclamation from the cross, “It is finished,” was, at least in part, referring to His dual mission assigned by His Father. The stripes had been administered to His back for our healing and His blood had been poured out as an offering for our sins according to the prophecy by Isaiah. What remained of Christ’s mission was to transpire over the next forty days culminating in His Ascension ten days before the Feast of Pentecost. After Calvary, there would be no more stripes and no more blood. The full redemptive price for our Double Cure had been “paid in full.” These are undeniable facts based upon the Word of God.

There are two additional scriptures making five and six that add further reinforcement to this principle of “The Double Cure.” As you continue to read in Isaiah 53, you see a remarkable statement in verse ten. It says that Christ would be “put to grief” (Hebrew: Strong’s Concordance 2470). This language is a little blind to us because it does not mean Jesus was going to become the sad figure He is depicted as in many paintings. The literal Hebrew says that Christ would be “MADE SICK, DISEASED, OR PUT TO PAIN” for us. If He truly was to be our substitute, He had to “carry our sicknesses and diseases” in His body prior to His crucifixion.

The other significant verse for consideration is found in 2 Corinthians 5:21. Here Paul states, “For he hath MADE HIM TO BE SIN for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Jesus, the Holy Lamb of God, sinless and pure, was forced by virtue of His substitutionary work on Calvary to carry the sins of the world. Paul and Isaiah each portray an aspect of the dual work of Christ’s redeeming sacrifice for mankind. Isaiah said He was made sick and Paul said He was made sin in order to provide the Double Cure of salvation and healing to a sinful and suffering world.

Perhaps it will help us grasp the reality of this “Double Cure Provision” if we make a chart. In one column, list all the sins you have repented of that have not been forgiven by Christ. Then, make another column listing any sicknesses, pains or diseases that still linger in your body. Just as you have addressed the “sin situation” through faith in His blood, now begin to address the “sickness situation” through faith in His stripes. It is God’s expressed desire that BOTH columns be empty with this seventh verse,

(3 John 2), “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth”).

I WILL NOT "PUT UP" WITH ANYTHING THAT CHRIST "PUT UNDER" HIS FEET FOR MY BENEFIT (Ephesians 1:22, “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.”).

SIN COLUMN

SICKNESS COLUMN

Sins and sicknesses will linger as long as we allow them to linger. However, we have the promise of God in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Then, in James 5:14 -15, God says, “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” These two additions to our study make the EIGHT AND NINTH verses that are connected to proclaim the “Double Cure” provided by our Lord Jesus Christ.

God places the responsibility to receive and act upon Christ’s provisions squarely upon us. We, the sinner, must confess. We, the sick, must seek healing. Even James, the bother of our Lord, in verse fifteen conjoins the forgiveness of sins and the healing of our physical bodies into the “Double Cure Provision” of Christ. This is now six different Bible writers who proclaimed the identical benefits of Calvary.

Far too many Christians wrestle with sins, failures and spiritual weakness for much of their lives. However, the victory comes when you never give up hope that repentance will bring forgiveness no matter how many times you stumble. You have learned to TRUST CHRIST’S BLOOD. Now, apply that same determination to see your body receive the healing that Jesus has already provided. You must lean to TRUST HIS STRIPES.

Obviously, the emphasis should always be on Jesus, Whose blood saves and Whose stripes heal. But, hopefully, you get the point that redemption is all-inclusive. Christ’s redeeming work was not to provide an either/or alternative. David, Isaiah, Matthew, James and Peter all stated this identical, eternal truth. Should we ever question the infallibility of their inspiration and proclamations? I think not! They told us that the sufferings of Jesus in the past were endured so that we might presently experience the remedies they provided. There is no more blood to be shed or stripes to be administered. Jesus paid it all and none was done on the installment plan. It was all paid at one time.

The Holy Communion we observe in our churches is done “in remembrance of me” as stated by Christ. He then proceeds to tells us WHAT to remember. First, remember His body that was broken in order to provide our physical healing. Then, remember His blood that was shed for cleansing from our sins. Too many congregations dismiss the healing aspect of Calvary as though the effective date of this blessing has expired. There is no expiration date placed by God on His benefits (Psalms 103). If you can still “Bless the Lord,” you can still be saved and you can still be healed.
I have suggested in previous writings that those churches that have taken the benefit of healing out of their theology should have a “JUICE-ONLY” Communion. If you do not believe the Bible, which states that His bodily suffering provided our healing just as surely as His blood provided our salvation, then the bread should be eliminated because the benefits of the bread have expired. However, based on God’s Word, there is NO expiration date for the provisions Christ made for us by His redeeming work.

Salvation and healing are not promises; they are provisions already placed on the table He has prepared for us in the presence of our enemies (Psalms 23). Sin and sickness are the two greatest enemies of our spiritual and physical dimensions. God has served up a big portion of salvation and healing and placed them on OUR banquet table right in the face of our adversaries. So, all we need to do is just “dig in.”

As long as we live under this dispensation of “grace through faith” (Ephesians 2:8), God’s grace still provides the double cure of salvation AND healing. These benefits are available as long as we receive them by faith in Christ’s finished work at Calvary. God is absolutely SURE that His Son, Jesus, provided our Double Cure. Therefore, I will not undo with my words of doubt what Christ did with His sacrifice!

There is much more you can explore in God’s Gold Mine!

Donald M. Frazier, PhD, Litt D
http://www.donfrazier.com

Reader Comments

What an awesome, uplifting and inspiring article on the Double Cure you have brought to us! You have provided us with much spiritual food to ponder and absorb. Our God is such an awesome and great God for who He is, and all the great things He has done and provided for us!

Thank you for all you have shared in this article. I know I will be reading it time and again to take in all that you have expounded on here!

Many blessings to you!

Amazed in His presence and humbled by His great love!

“God makes everything happen at the right time.” (In His Time) Eccl. 3:11

Commented by On 08/07/2008

When I was diagnosed as having fibromyalgia roughly a decade ago, I had never heard of the chronic, debilitating illness. In fact, I was first introduced to it by its alternate name, chronic fatigue syndrome. Indeed, I had been suffering from the illness for some time without knowing what was wrong with me.

While it was helpful to know what was causing all manner of aches and pains at work throughout my entire body, I had to face the realization that there was no known medical cure for it. There still isn't, although the Center for Disease Control has since recognized it among the general population. Medical science is pressing forward in conducting tests to try and determine the cause(s) for this rather mysterious illness.

Of course, I prayed for deliverance, as did my family and friends and others who knew of my misery. Anyone who knew me well understood the the extent of my distress. Because of frequent stealth attacks of the ailment, I was often unable to attend special church events, social engagements, and so forth. In fact, I was so ill that just getting ready to go to church on any given Sunday morning was a significant challenge. Often just getting out of bed in the morning was like walking into a brick wall that put me right back in bed. I was living the life of a semi-invalid while also caring for my elderly mother.

Then in June of 2007, I reconnected with Dr. Frazier after a mutual friend had died. He and I had been classmates at a denominational college in Georgia 41 years earlier. Our renewal of friendship proved to be an experience of life-changing proportions.

Shortly after Dr. Frazier learned of my ongoing struggle with fibromyalgia, he sent me a treatise he had written on healing. I read it, took it to heart, prayed the prayer of faith and was healed virtually instantaneously from fibromyalgia! The material in that paper and this article for "Southern Gospel News" is very similar. The primary principles of appropriating healing by faith are the same and they are indeed powerful.

Having recently had an ear infection that began in May, I was once again struggling with an health issue that called for divine healing because I had been through four rounds of antibiotics — all to no avail. Once again I turned to Dr. Frazier's teaching on healing and within several days I was completely symptom free! His sound teaching on healing led me in the right direction again! Today I am totally symptom free from an ear infection that even medical science could not clear up.

I am so grateful to the Lord and the wisdom of Dr. Frazier for the health I enjoy today. I no longer have to see a chiropractor to get treatment which produces pain relief that lasts only a few days at a time.

As often as possible and whenever the right occasion arises, I share my story of healing with others in hopes that it will bear witness to the healing power of our Lord and bring glory and honor to His Name, for it is in His Name that I have prayed the prayer of faith for deliverance not just one, but two illnesses.

I'll always be grateful that Dr. Frazier has come out and boldly proclaimed the principles of healing as found in the Word of God. In a real sense I owe not only the Lord, but also Dr. Frazier my restored life. I live in the reality of it every day I wake up and greet the new morning!

Commented by On 08/11/2008

Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever. Jesus Healed them All.

Commented by spirit7productions On 08/18/2008

I HAD NEVER NOTICE IT THAT WAY. PRAISE THE LORD!I MUST PUT MY FAITH TO WORK ON THE HEALING OF MY ILLNESSES.

Commented by On 08/22/2008

It is with great pleasure that I am able to count Dr. Frazier as a personal friend as well as my pastor from many years ago. His keen insight into scripture, both then and now, is a blessing in my life. Somehow, he captures nuances which have managed to escape me, but are oh, so relevant. This article is no exception. Thoughts expressed here are just what I need for today. Many thanks!

Commented by On 09/01/2008

Page 1 of 1 Comment Pages

Add Comments

If you are seeing this form you are not a Member or have not logged in. Why not consider becoming a Member?

Membership allows you to have a prepared signature of your choice applied to every comment you make, as well as the ability to choose an avatar to display next to your name to help identify your posts. Members are also given opportunity to vote weekly in our Weekly Chart as well as special Members Only contests, polls and giveaways during the year. If you are already a member, login here, otherwise please register here.

**Note: Forums membership is a seperate membership.

By posting you agree to our Comments Policy

Name:
Email:
Location:
URL:
Comment:
	Remember my personal information
	Notify me of follow-up comments?
Please enter the word you see in the image below: