2008

The Truth About Healing

BY DAVID C. PACK

Does God still heal today? Did such miraculous intervention end with Christ and the apostles? Is God now working through medical science? Should Christians ever seek doctors? If so, when—under what circumstances? What about public “faith healers”? Here is the plain truth about healing!

INTRODUCTION

Why must people be sick? Why do so many move from illness to illness and doctor to doctor seeking remedies, cures and relief from a host of ailments, often spanning a lifetime? Why should so many have to spend much of their lives suffering—battling every conceivable condition from the common cold to life-threatening strokes or cancer?

Consider the average doctor’s waiting room. It is filled with people seeking treatment. They have no idea why they are sick—or what they should do about it. Such people have been trained—conditioned—to believe they must seek “expert medical advice” when sick. As a result, work loss is increasing, hospitals and clinics are full, medical and healthcare costs are soaring—with a corresponding rise in cases of physician fraud and malpractice—and there is a constant need for more doctors and equipment to diagnose and treat the skyrocketing number of patients. Suffering and confusion abound! And many are dying long before the end of a full lifetime.

Illness and disease have stalked mankind for millennia. Plagues and sickness have been as inseparable from the history of civilization as the weather or people themselves. Sadly, today, disease and crippling conditions are a fact of life for large segments of humanity.

Medical science once believed that it could control and conquer disease. It has failed. The reality is that new diseases are continually emerging and older ones are rapidly mutating into antibiotic-resistant forms. Therefore, the medical world is losing its main weapon in the war against disease.

News media reports are now filled with rising statistics—and how the battle is being lost. Casualties—deaths and debilitating illnesses—are exploding around the world. Hardly a week passes without reports of new disease outbreaks occurring somewhere on earth. Civilization seems to be taking two steps back for every one step forward.

Is this what God intended?

No! Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). This verse is hardly compatible with spending a lifetime suffering every possible illness and malady known to man. And then there is the apostle John’s statement, written under the inspiration of God: “I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health” (III John 2).

Yes, God’s purpose is that all human beings enjoy robust health. His intention has always been that they enjoy a life of radiant, abundant living. Yet this has never been the case for the majority of mankind. This is because humanity is ignorant of what God says about healing. While people have many opinions about healing, we must look to God and His Word—the Bible—to see what HE says about this subject.

The Question of Healing

The four gospel accounts record that Christ performed many miracles during His ministry. Many of His most dramatic were healings. He made the lame walk—gave sight to the blind—healed lepers—healed others with the palsy—and “healed all that were sick” (Matt. 8:16). He also performed many healings of the mind by casting out demons from those who were possessed. He even resurrected some from the dead.

Not only did Christ heal large numbers of people, He also commissioned His disciples to do the same. We will learn that His ministers, when asked, still “anoint the sick” today.

Throughout my ministry, I have seen every kind of sickness and disease—and have seen thousands of people anointed. Having done this myself to one or more people weekly, for well over thirty years, I have probably performed additional thousands of anointings. Sometimes people have been healed—sometimes not. On certain occasions, I have personally been healed—and on other occasions I have not. This will be explained later.

I have also counseled many hundreds who faced serious illness—some that were life-threatening. This caused people to have a number of questions. Generally speaking, they asked the same basic questions.

Does the God of the Bible still heal today? Or has He now commissioned medical science to be His instrument—to take His place? Has the time of miracles and healings passed? What are the “gifts of healing” described in I Corinthians 12:9 and 28? Are today’s “faith healers”—and their “healing revivals”—modern manifestations of these gifts? Is it a sin to go to a doctor or a hospital? If God still heals today, what part does faith play—and what is real faith?

Healing—An Artificial Doctrine

Genesis contains God’s description of the creation of man. The creation week and the time immediately following it are described in the first three chapters. The account reveals what God thought of His work after it was finished.

Chapter 1, verse 25 states that each animal was made after “his kind.” Notice: “And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creeps upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.”

Then God said, “Let Us [more than one] make man in Our image, after Our likeness” (vs. 26). Verse 27 continues, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.”

Next, verse 28 begins with an important statement: “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.” This verse addresses—though indirectly—the subject of healing for the first time. Let me explain.

If God had instilled viruses, bacteria, parasites, inherited traits that led to certain diseases, and degenerative conditions that would have led to others, at the moment of Adam and Eve’s creation, it could hardly be described as blessing them. It would be better described as cursing them!

Now consider another key point about the original condition of the first human beings. This account concludes with, “And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good” (vs. 31). Think about what this scripture is saying. Does it leave room for the hidden presence, within Adam and Eve, of every disease, illness, sickness and ailment known to man? Of course, not! Disease is not “very good”—it is very bad!

Since God “blessed” this couple and said that their creation was “very good,” disease could not yet have been present. So then, disease must have entered the picture later.

It was never God’s original purpose that He would have to heal human beings of illness and disease. Later, we will learn that His Plan for all people is that every form of sickness will disappear forever. But, since man has brought this condition upon himself, God has had to address it and explain His role as Healer!

In the first chapter, we will examine what the Bible—Old and New Testaments—teaches about healing.

Chapter One –

EXAMINING THE BIBLE TEACHING

If I wanted to learn to fly an airplane, I would ask a pilot. If I wanted to build a house, I would speak to a contractor. If I wanted to understand plumbing, I would consult a plumber.

The same is true of healing. If one wants to learn about healing, he should not ask a doctor, a nurse, a paramedic or any other “medical expert.” They cannot heal anyone—and most will readily admit this! They will also admit that they do not know what the Bible says about it.

God is the One who heals. If you want to learn about healing, you must ask the One who knows about it.

God says in Hosea, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you” (4:6). All the essential knowledge of God is available to any who seek it. But to get the full picture, the scriptures must be put together carefully and completely. God states that He reveals His purpose and teaching to those mature enough to be instructed: “Whom shall He teach knowledge? And whom shall He make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” (Isa. 28:9-10). Therefore, all the verses on healing are not in one place.

The Bible reveals God’s will—His understanding and teaching—on every spiritual matter. It has much to say about healing. We must examine many verses in order to strip away the mystery behind this subject. You can understand healing. God’s willingness to heal you can be known. Answers to the most commonly asked questions about healing are addressed in the Bible—and this booklet will reveal its plain answers!

Two New Testament Healings

Two vital New Testament scriptures set the stage for all that we will study.

Mark 5 records the case of a woman who had a chronic “issue of blood.” After many physicians had made her condition worse, she sought Christ for healing. Notice: “And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse” (vs. 25-26). Christ healed her and concluded with this all-important statement: “Daughter, your faith has made you whole; go in peace…” (vs. 34).

Doctors did not, and could not, heal her. But Christ could, and did—and faith was the key.

Next, Matthew 9 shows how healing is always directly tied to faith: “And when Jesus departed there, two blind men followed Him, crying, and saying, You son of David, have mercy on us. And…the blind men came to Him: and Jesus said unto them, Believe you that I am able to do this? They said unto Him, Yes, Lord. Then touched He their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you” (vs. 27-29). These men believed that Christ could give them sight. His answer? “According to your faith be it unto you.”

Christ asked, “When the Son of man comes, shall He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). This verse speaks of conditions at the time of His Return. Christ leaves this an open question. He understood that most people would not have faith at the end of the age—just before the establishing of the kingdom of God. He knew that most would not be willing to believe direct statements from the Bible. He recognized that conditions on earth would create an anti-faith atmosphere, making it very difficult for people to believe even plain scriptures. He knew that very few would be willing to take God's promises at face value!

But Christ promised 2,000 years ago that He would build His Church (Matt. 16:18). It would be composed of the few (Luke 12:32)—not the many—who would be willing to believe God, and “live by faith” (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17) and “every word of God” (Matt. 4:4; Luke 4:4; Deut. 8:3).

Faith and healing are inseparable. You cannot be healed without true faith. This booklet will make this point absolutely clear.

Yet, what is faith? Without understanding what it is, one cannot have it. In the second chapter, we will thoroughly discuss what the Bible teaches about real faith—sufficient for healing, or for receiving any promise of God!

First, we will examine many Old Testament scriptures about healing. As we do, you must be willing to believe what the Bible says.

The Old Testament Teaching

Does healing first appear in the New Testament? Certainly Christ and the apostles did perform miracles and heal many who were sick. It is commonly supposed that these things first happened in the New Testament, for the sole purpose of proving that Christ was the Messiah.

This is simply not true. Healing did not first appear in the New Testament. The Old Testament records numerous miraculous healings. It is here that God first reveals Himself as the One who heals. Prepare to be surprised!

Almost immediately after God delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt, He had to perform a miracle just for them to have water to drink. It was at this point that He revealed Himself as the God who heals. Notice: “If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord your God, and will do that which is right in His sight, and will give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon you, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that heals you” (Ex. 15:26).

In the Old Testament, God uses several names to designate who and what He is. In this verse, He introduces Himself as Yahweh-Rapha, meaning the “God who heals”—or the “healing God.”

Soon after this, God told Israel that they were not to serve any other gods. Here is His instruction and promise to them if they obeyed: “You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but you shall utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images. And you shall serve the Lord your God, and He shall bless your bread, and your water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of you” (Ex. 23:24-25).

In Deuteronomy, God added, “And the Lord will take away from you”—heal—“all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you know, upon you” (7:15). And then, “See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of My hand” (32:39).

God establishes Himself as our Healer in these plain verses.

King David understood this. In Psalm 6:2, he prayed, “Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed.” Psalm 41:4 is similar: “I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against You.” After these kinds of prayers, David was able to say, “O Lord my God, I cried unto You, and You have healed me” (30:2).

David also prayed, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Psa. 103:2). Most today do not understand that there are many wonderful benefits to serving God. He is often depicted as a God of “Thou shalt nots…” instead of as the God who desires to bless His people. David knew that God is always willing to forgive and to heal every kind of sickness and disease. Notice the very next verse: “Who forgives all your iniquities [sins]; Who heals all your diseases” (vs. 3).

Sometimes people become sick through foolishness—poor diet, lack of rest or wrong living and thinking. Others are injured in unnecessary accidents due to carelessness. God is still willing to forgive such people—and heal them. Consider this passage: “Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhors all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saves them out of their distresses. He sent His word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions” (Psa. 107:17-20).

Take notice that Psalm 103:3 said in the same verse that God forgives all iniquity (lawlessness) and heals all diseases. David had asked God for mercy in Psalm 41. Mercy is required when forgiveness is necessary. Healing involves the forgiveness of physical sins.

No doctor, drug or medication can forgive sin—only God can do this! Therefore, no doctor, drug or medication can heal. But God can! It is vital that we understand why healing and forgiveness of sin are often mentioned in the same context. God is the only One that can do either!

Three Examples

Now we must examine three separate Old Testament case histories that each involved a king. Critically important lessons come from these accounts.

David was not the only one that God healed. King Hezekiah of Judah had been told personally by the prophet Isaiah that he was going to die. Ask yourself: What would I do in such circumstances? II Kings 18:5 records that Hezekiah “trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.”

Here is the account: “In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus says the Lord, Set your house in order; for you shall die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, I beseech You, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father, I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears: behold, I will heal you: on the third day you shall go up unto the house of the Lord. And I will add unto your days fifteen years…and he recovered” (II Kings 20:1-7).

In faith, Hezekiah tearfully sought God. He did not rush off to a hospital or seek doctors. He sought to overturn God’s will through prayer and faith.

The next account involves King Ahaziah of Israel, son of the wicked King Ahab. His example is far different than that of Hezekiah. Notice: “And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease. But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that you go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? Now therefore thus says the Lord, You shall not come down from that bed on which you are gone up, but shall surely die. And Elijah departed. And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are you now turned back?” (II Kings 1:2-5).

Baal-zebub was the patron deity medicine god, who was located in the city of Ekron. His name literally means “the lord of dunghills” or “the lord of flies.” Anciently, people understood that flies were filthy and transported many diseases. Of course, they are commonly seen on dung of all types. Baal-zebub’s intervention was sought by inquiring through his priestly representatives. Yet God says that He is the one who heals.

God was not pleased that Ahaziah sought a different god—one that could not heal. The result? Ahaziah died. Hezekiah’s account indicates that it may have been needlessly. Had Ahaziah sought the true God who heals, he might have been granted many more years to live.

The final account involves the fascinating story of King Asa of Judah. Asa was a righteous king who initially trusted in God. As a result, God blessed and protected Judah for over thirty-five years. II Chronicles 15:17 records that “the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.” His obedience to God was perfect, but his faith was not. This is the critical lesson here.

While God had promised that He would always fight Judah’s battles, Asa lost faith and paid tribute money to the king of Assyria in exchange for his assistance as an ally. God consistently condemned His people to captivity for seeking physical alliances with surrounding nations, when He was perfectly willing and able to defend them—to fight for and in place of them. Almost as consistently, Israel rebelled and would not seek the true God first.

Here is Asa’s account: “And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians.” Because Asa ignored God’s role as Healer, he “slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign” (II Chron. 16:12-13).

The rest of the account shows that the prophet Hanani had visited Asa to jolt him into recognizing that he had drifted from God. But Asa became angry and threw him in prison. It was only a short while later that Asa fell sick.

Two Gospels

Many New Testament verses address healing, but we are not yet ready to examine and understand them. It is important that some additional background material first be brought into the picture.

Throughout Christ’s 3 1/2-year ministry, He preached—as an advance announcement—the gospel of the coming kingdom of God. Mark 1:14-15 records the first statement of Christ’s purpose and commission—His message: “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent you, and believe the gospel.”

When speaking to a group of listeners in the desert, Christ explained His purpose—His responsibility: “And He said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent” (Luke 4:43).

In the Old Testament, Jesus was prophesied to come as a messenger—He was sent with a message—of the gospel. Notice Malachi 3:1: “Behold, I will send My messenger [John the Baptist, prior to Christ’s first coming], and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger [Jesus Christ] of the covenant, whom you delight in.”

Christ was the Messenger, not the message. His message—the gospel of the kingdom of God—is the very core of the entire Bible.

Now compare this verse with another: “The law and the prophets [only the Old Testament scriptures had been preached previously] were until John [the Baptist]: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it” (Luke 16:16).

The preaching of Christ’s message was accompanied by miracles and healings. These always went hand in hand. Notice: “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people” (Matt. 4:23).

The world is ignorant of the true gospel. The leaders of this world’s brand of Christianity have suppressed it and substituted a variety of false gospels in its place. The apostle Paul powerfully warned those who would twist or pervert the gospel, or replace it with a counterfeit. Here is what he told the Galatian Christians: “I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ” (1:6-7). It states the gospel “of” Christ, not “about” Christ. Remember, Christ’s gospel was about the kingdom of God.

Paul went on to warn, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that you have received, let him be accursed” (1:8-9).

Strong words! Woe to any who would preach a false gospel! Yet for almost 1,900 years, the true gospel was not preached. It was not until the twentieth century that God restored the knowledge of what is the true gospel to the world as a whole.

Satan is the god of this world. He has been able to blind humanity for thousands of years to the truth of the coming kingdom of God. Paul also warned the Corinthian brethren not to be deceived. Speaking of Satan, he wrote, “In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (II Cor. 4:4). Revelation 12:9 states that Satan “deceives the whole world.”

How has he done this? More specifically, how has he deceived the masses of traditional Christianity?

The New Testament Church was warned to reject those who brought “another gospel,” or “another Jesus,” or derived their authority from “another spirit.” Seven chapters later in II Corinthians, Paul explained how Satan (11:3) deceives so many: “For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him” (11:4). Generally speaking, this “other Jesus” that professing Christianity follows is one who does not heal and did not suffer horribly for our sins (as we shall understand later), prior to crucifixion.

Many to be Deceived

Now understand! The devil does not personally walk up and down the street or enter churches teaching a false gospel or false doctrines. He uses his ministers. Notice Paul’s additional warning to the Corinthians: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (11:13-15).

Yes, Satan has ministers—and they appear as ministers of light and righteousness. They seem to be God’s ministers. It is not surprising that those who bring a false gospel would not understand the miracles and healings that always accompany the preaching of the true gospel.

In Matthew 24, Christ discusses the most important trends, conditions and events to appear just prior to His Return. His disciples wanted Him to explain what would happen: “And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many” (vs. 3-5).

Many have come claiming Christ’s authority—and many have been deceived! Satan’s ministers have failed to announce the coming, world-ruling kingdom or government of God. They have most often replaced Christ’s message about the kingdom with a message about the Messenger. The Messenger is not the message. His announcement was the message—and still is.

But Christ foretold that, just prior to the end, His Church would preach the true gospel around the world. Notice: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (vs. 14).

Mark’s account of this same prophecy adds, “And the gospel must first be published among all nations” (13:10). Three chapters later, Christ commissioned His followers—the apostles, and those true ministers who would faithfully teach His message—to faithfully carry the true gospel to the world: “And He said unto them, Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (16:15).

Matthew 24:14 plainly states that the preaching of the kingdom of God would occur prior to “the end.” If this had been occurring for the preceding nearly 1,900 years, this statement would make no sense. (Only a relatively few people secretly heard the true gospel through this time.) How could it be prophesied to occur at the end if it was happening throughout history? But Christ foretold that a final period of witness and warning would happen prior to His Return. And, beginning in 1934, it did!

The Restored Church of God continues to preach this gospel today!

Two Churches

However, neither Matthew nor Luke recorded that public healing would accompany the preaching of the gospel at the end of the age. This is because healing is now for the Church (Jms. 5:14-15), which Christ promised to build (Matt. 16:18). It was to be a commandment-keeping Church comprised of those seeking to please God in everything they do (I John 3:22).

Revelation 12 describes in summary the 2,000-year history of Christ’s true Church. The small, faithful few of God’s flock (Luke 12:32) have been persecuted, suffering extreme hardship and martyrdom at the hands of another church, described in the Revelation 17. This large church is described as politically powerful and controlling this world’s rulers, nations and kingdoms. It is also pictured as “drunken with the blood and martyrs of the saints.” It has suppressed the true gospel of God’s government coming to earth, and has described itself as “the kingdom of God on earth,” present in “the hearts of men.”

This false church, described as a “great whore,” began in A.D. 33, under the leadership of Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8)—and by the second century was masquerading as God’s true Church. Jude 4 describes those who “crept in unawares…turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness [license].” II Kings 17:18-24 describes how, in 718 B.C., Samaria, in northern Israel, became the headquarters of the Babylonian mystery religion—from which the false church received her doctrines (Rev. 17:5).

But the kingdom of God is still being proclaimed—and it is going out in power around the world today. When that gospel is being preached, healings and other miracles will take place. Miracles do still occur in God’s Church. The true Church of God teaches and practices the truth about healing. The result? Miracles and healings occur—and are increasing!

Healing in the New Testament

Some will admit that the Old Testament shows that God heals. But at the same time, they seem unwilling to understand many basic New Testament scriptures that are just as plain. Instead, confusion reigns due to the lack of faith in God’s clear promises.

Some think that God still heals, but that He only does it through medical science—that God raised this up for us today. Others believe God healed in the past, but only through Christ and the apostles in the first century. Still others go further, believing that God can heal, but are not sure that He will—or that He will heal them.

Of course, we saw in Matthew 4:23 that Christ healed “all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” After Christ’s Sermon on the Mount of chapters 5-7, chapter 8 records, “When He was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshiped Him, saying, Lord, if you will, you can make me clean. And Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be you clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed” (vs. 1-3).

Did you notice that, when asked by the leper if He would heal him, Christ said, “I will.” It was Christ’s will to heal him. It still is His will to heal.

Two verses later, Christ encountered a Roman centurion, demonstrating that God also heals Gentiles: “And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto Him a centurion, beseeching Him, And saying, Lord, my servant lies at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus said unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it. When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom [the Jews of that day] shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go your way; and as you have believed, so be it done unto you. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour” (Matt. 8:5-13).

What is Healing?

Recall that David asked for mercy—forgiveness—when he sought God to heal him. Also recall that this is because healing involves forgiving sin.

We must understand. Paul wrote that “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). But what is sin? Many proclaim themselves “sinners,” while having no idea what this means. How did they sin?

I John 3:4 states, “sin is the transgression of the law.” This is critical knowledge that directly relates healing to the kingdom of God. How? God’s spiritual law of love (Rom. 7:14, 13:10; I John 5:3) will be enforced in His kingdom. It is best described as the “give” way of life and is summarized in the Ten Commandments.

Sin carries a terrible penalty. Romans 6:23 states that “the wages of sin is death”—eternal death. It could be said that the wages of physical sin is sickness and disease. Violation of spiritual law will result in eternal death. Violations of physical law can result in illness or even physical death.

But sin has other consequences. It cuts people off from God (Isa. 59:1-2), and this includes His blessings (Jer. 5:25). When God set His great spiritual law in motion, automatic penalties for disobedience were set in motion with it.

But how is one released from the penalty of sin—physical or spiritual?

While most traditional Christians never fully understand Christ’s sacrifice for our spiritual sins—and what it means—they do generally know “Christ died for us.” Take time to read Colossians 1:13-16 and Ephesians 3:9. His shed blood paid the penalty for broken spiritual laws. But what about the forgiveness of physical sin? How does this work? Most do not even know that there is such a thing as the forgiveness of physical sin—partly because almost no one understands and uses the term.

Let’s understand. Human beings are made from the dust of the ground (Gen. 2:7). No matter how long a person may live, eventually, he dies. There are no exceptions (Heb. 9:27).

But your body was made with numerous inter-connected systems that, when functioning properly together, result in good health. When physical laws are broken, systems break down and no longer work in harmony. Things go wrong—and sickness and disease is the result. This is the penalty for disobedience to one or more of these laws.

Let’s return to Matthew 8. After the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, the account picks up in verse 16 with critical understanding of Christ’s prophesied role in our healing. First let’s read: “When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses” (vs. 16-17).

This is a plain New Testament verse about Christ’s fulfillment of a prophecy to bare “our”—including ours today—infirmities and sicknesses. That is what it said. This is God’s promise—and it was always part of His Plan that Christ physically suffer so that He could remove the penalty of broken physical laws hanging over us.

Jesus Christ willingly paid the penalty for every physical mistake human beings make that result in bad health. Every condition, pain, suffering, disease, illness, injury, physical infirmity—and even death itself—is covered within Christ’s promise.

Jesus literally takes your physical sins and bears them on your behalf. They are not placed in some kind of suspended condition. They are removed by Christ. Through God’s miracle, they are gone!

Isaiah’s Graphic Prophecy

Matthew referenced Isaiah. This prophet recorded two astonishing passages describing Christ’s terrible suffering prior to His crucifixion on the stake. Examining and considering their meaning reveals how Christ was able to bare our infirmities and sicknesses. This time, let’s read in the Revised Standard Version: “As many were astonished at Him—His appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and His form beyond that of the sons of men—so shall He startle [shock, astonish] many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of Him; for that which has not been told them they shall see, and that which they have not heard they shall understand” (52:14-15).

Yes, Christ’s true suffering and condition will one day be shocking—startling!—to a great many. Notice that two groups are mentioned when referencing what Christ endured. Those who “were” astonished at what He suffered—and those that “shall” be startled by this knowledge, and by the supreme power and glory Christ will have when He returns as King of kings and Lord of lords. At that time, the entire world will recognize Christ as both King and Healer of every sickness known to man!

This extensive passage actually continues past the manmade chapter division. These verses complete the picture of Christ’s fulfillment of His role—and how the vast majority of mankind would misunderstand and “reject” the true Christ. Now continue: “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 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. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (53:3-6, KJV).

These are graphic words. What Christ suffered was not a light thing. The typical picture of Him hanging on the stake only shows a tiny amount of blood where the spear entered (John 19:34) and a little more coming from His crown of thorns (Matt. 27:29). This picture falls far short of how He really looked!

One additional New Testament passage summarizes the picture we have just seen. I Peter 2:22, 24 speaks of Christ, “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth…who His own self bore our sins…by whose stripes you were healed.”

Christ’s Beating

The apostle Peter spoke of Christ’s “stripes.” Does the New Testament record when and how this was done? Notice: “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see you to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified” (Matt. 27:24-26).

Two other gospel accounts confirm what happened: “And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged Him, to be crucified” (Mark 15:15). Also: “Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Him…Then [afterwards] delivered he Him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led Him away” (John 19:1, 16).

These passages clearly reveal that Christ’s “scourging” happened before He was led away to be crucified. It was a separate event. It carries distinct and important meaning. Now you understand why it happened.

Pause for a moment and reflect on what Christ was willing to endure on behalf of those who need God’s marvelous healing power. Ask yourself when, if ever, have you heard even one of this world’s preachers explain, or be willing to describe, the terrible beating that Christ was willing to endure so that human beings could be restored back to perfect health from every conceivable physical malady one can imagine.

God describes Himself as a Father “who pities His children” (Psa. 103:8-13). All parents know how painful it is to see their children sick or suffering. And we are merely physical human beings. How much more compassionate would God, as our spiritual Father, feel toward His sick children, than would any human parent?

God is eager to apply Christ’s physical sacrifice of suffering on your behalf. He is neither reluctant nor grudging in His desire to see you “prosper and be in health” (III John 2)—and enjoying the “abundant” life (John 10:10). Though we must be willing to acknowledge that we have broken certain laws—and be willing to change—God is anxious to heal!

Satan hates the laws of God. Ephesians 2:2 states that his spirit “works in the children of disobedience.” He wants mankind to believe that it can disobey God’s laws—physical and spiritual—and suffer no penalties. Then, when certain natural penalties do occur, people reach for medical science to remove the effects—sickness and disease.

Christ Our Passover

I Corinthians 5:7 states that “Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.” Each year, on the night of the Passover, Christians are commanded to assemble for a very solemn memorial service, which looks back at Christ’s suffering and crucifixion. It is unlike any other occasion in the year.

Paul explained, “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do you, as oft as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as you eat this bread, and [two separate symbols] drink this cup, you do show the Lord’s death till He come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup [both] of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood [both] of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation [judgment] to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep [have died]” (I Cor. 11:23-30).

Christians are instructed to pause—to stop activity—and reflect soberly on what Christ endured. Some in Corinth neglected to do this. They did not appreciate how Christ would have healed them. The result? “Many [were] weak and sickly…and many [died]”—needlessly.

God wants us to understand the forgiveness of sins. This is why Paul wrote of Christ’s “body, which is broken for you.”

Matthew 9, Mark 2 and Luke 5 all contain a parallel account of Christ healing “a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed” (Matt. 9:2). Luke explains it in the most detail, and it makes absolutely clear how healing directly involves the forgiveness of sin. Carefully read this long passage:

“And…as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before Him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And when He saw their faith, He said unto him, Man, your sins are forgiven you.

“And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answering said unto them, What reason you in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Your sins be forgiven you; or to say, Rise up and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has power upon earth to forgive sins, (He said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto you, Arise, and take up your couch, and go into your house.

“And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things today” (5:17-26).

Consider what this account is actually saying. Christ says that telling someone he is healed (“Rise up and walk”) and forgiving him (“Your sins be forgiven you”) are one and the same. Of course, the Scribes and Pharisees did not understand this, and considered it blasphemy. (Of course, as God, Christ had the power—the authority—to forgive sin.) Men today do not understand that doctors cannot heal because doctors cannot forgive sin.

But now you understand!

The “Prayer of Faith”

I mentioned previously that healing is now for those in the Church. Where does it say this? The apostle James describes those in the Church who are sick being “anointed” by the ministry. (Acts 19:12 states that this is sometimes done through use of an anointed cloth sent by mail.)

Let’s read it: “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 have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him” (Jms. 5:14-15).

We will return to this verse later, but we should recognize here that it introduces the crucial element of faith to God’s equation for healing. The verse speaks of the “prayer of faith” bringing “forgiveness of sins” and saving relief to the “sick.”

What then is the Bible definition of faith? It is all-important to establish this understanding. All who wish to be healed must learn to understand and demonstrate real biblical faith.

In the next chapter, you will learn what true, believing faith is!

Chapter Two –

DEVELOPING REAL FAITH

The Bible states that “without faith it is impossible to please [God]” (Heb. 11:6). This is an incredible statement—yet, it is in the Bible! Take it for exactly what it says. Just think! Anything a person does, in attempting to be Christian, means absolutely nothing, if he lacks faith. For without faith, he has no hope—no possibility of pleasing God. Any who are not pleasing God are Christians in vain. That is serious! Consider yourself. Do you have real faith? Is it sufficient for healing? Can you know? You can! This chapter will explain how.

A Lack of Real Faith

Through the years, people have often asked, “Mr. Pack, I lack faith. I do not feel the presence of God or His power in my life. How can I have more faith?”

What about you? Do you lack faith to know that God is with you? To overcome sin and guilt? To believe all things in His Word? Do you lack faith that “all things [will] work together for good” if you love God (Rom. 8:28)? To believe God will work out injustices you have received? To believe God will provide for you? To believe that you can endure severe trials and persecution? Or that God will deliver you from them? Do you lack faith to see the soon-coming kingdom of God more clearly and that you can be in it?

Do you lack faith to be healed of disease?

The Bible says that you need not lack faith in any of these areas! You can develop real faith. However, the Bible says that most people, in the age preceding Christ’s Return, will not have sufficient faith to confidently claim any of these or other promises from God’s Word!

Faith Found When Christ Comes?

This world is in trouble. Problems are escalating everywhere on a planet removed from God. The Return of Christ is imminent. This event will only occur after certain catastrophic events have taken place. Wars, famines, disease epidemics, religious confusion, economic upheaval and catastrophic weather will have first rocked civilization to its foundation.

Again, when speaking of our time—the last generation before His Return—Christ asked, “When the Son of Man comes, shall He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). Think of the incredible implications of this question! Is it possible that true faith could be completely gone from earth at Christ’s Second Coming? Christ was able to look forward, into our time, and know that conditions would exist allowing this to be true—almost!

An article entitled “A Famine of the Word of God,” by reporter Wendy Griffith, discusses the issue of people’s ignorance of the Bible:

“It is clear that many Americans do not know their Bible, and a recent George Barna study backs up that notion.

“Barna’s research showed that 60 percent of Americans cannot name half of the Ten Commandments and 63 percent can’t name the four gospels of the New Testament. Eighty-one percent believe that ‘God helps those who help themselves’ is a direct quote from the Bible…”

What a shame! What a terrible indictment of the most blessed nation on earth. And it is the single greatest reason why so little genuine faith is to be found.

But recall that Christ said that He would build His Church and He promised that it would never be destroyed (Matt. 16:18). His Church—God’s true Church—is where people do have true faith according to the Bible definition. Therefore, the presence of God’s true people on earth will ensure that at least a few people will be found to have faith when Christ returns.

Notice Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” We must establish another important point relating to the life of all true Christians. Real faith comes from the Spirit of God—it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. No one can have it—or even be a true Christian—without God’s Spirit.

But what is faith? Surely God would not state that those lacking faith cannot possibly please Him—and then withhold the real definition of faith from all who seek to know it. Before examining what the Bible says about real faith, one must examine what people think it is.

Various Counterfeits

There are several common ideas about faith. If you doubt this, then merely ask a half-dozen people to explain it—to precisely define it for you. Be prepared for just as many different ideas—probably all of them wrong.

I have known many people who believed that faith is an intangible “feeling” that cannot be defined. It is often thought to be personal, mysterious and unique to each person. This feeling usually has no definition, structure, or clear purpose and, inevitably, is whatever people want or need it to be. In other words, for almost every person, there is a different description and definition of faith. It is strange how many people view faith this way, yet the Bible has never said anything of the sort.

Others believe that faith is some kind of “positive thinking.” It is as though as long as people take an optimistic view and remain upbeat about events and circumstances, they are demonstrating faith. The Bible nowhere describes faith with the words positive or optimistic—though these are certainly good qualities of mind.

Other views of faith are that it is hope or confidence. Neither is true! Hebrews 10:35 does say that confidence is important. Notice: “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense of reward.” While this passage reveals that confidence is vital for Christians, confidence alone is not faith. Regarding faith being hope, I Corinthians 13:13 states, “And now abides faith, hope, charity [love], these three; but the greatest of these is charity [love].” If faith and hope are the same thing, why are they listed separately? Why does God refer to them as “these three”? When mentioned with love, should He not have said, “these two”? Obviously then, faith is different from hope.

Still others believe that one’s faith is the equivalent of the church denomination or affiliation they attend. This description of faith is seriously flawed and unscriptural. Notice Ephesians 4:4-5: “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism…” If faith is a church denomination, and there are well over 2,000 different churches in the United States alone, then there cannot be just “one faith.” Of course, this idea would also make the apostle Paul wrong. He should have written that there are “thousands of faiths.”

Bear in mind that you have just seen in your Bible that there is only one kind of faith! We will soon explore whether the Bible precisely defines that one kind of faith or leaves it up to individuals to guess its meaning.

The last and perhaps most common idea is that faith is any general belief that Jesus died for your sins. As with the idea that faith is a feeling, the extent of people’s “personal” belief in the sacrifice of Christ becomes the deciding factor in how each professing Christian chooses to define it. Certainly we will see that the true definition of faith does include this important belief. There is no doubt that if someone does not believe the most basic understanding that Christ died for his or her sins, this person does not have saving faith. Remember, without faith it is impossible to please God, and if someone doubts Christ died for his sins, he certainly is not pleasing God and will not be saved! Believing that Christ died for your sins is a direction—an avenue—of faith, but not what faith is!

What Faith Is

It is now time for the most fundamental question in this chapter. Does the Bible give an exact definition of faith? Since it says there is one faith, does it, in fact, give one definition of that faith? Is there a place where the Bible says, “Faith is…” and a precise definition follows? If so, where is it, and what does it say?

Hebrews 11 has often been called the “faith” chapter. It describes many of God’s greatest servants and how their faith enabled them to perform great acts and miracles, or to endure severe trials. This long chapter is very inspiring, and all who want to have real faith should periodically read it. It contains the word faith two dozen times. Verse 2 says, “For by it [faith] the elders [these Bible figures] obtained a good report.”

How could they have obtained a “good report” unless they understood faith? Now for God’s definition in verse 1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Did you notice that faith involves “evidence” of things “not seen”? The marginal rendering of “substance” is “assurance.” Faith involves an assurance “of things hoped for.” But, if something is hoped for, that something has not yet been received. Therefore, where faith is involved, there is an assurance that it will be received!

But how can evidence be related to something that is not seen? Do we not rather think of evidence as involving things that are seen?

In a courtroom, evidence is what can be proven. It involves facts visible to a jury. In other words, evidence only involves things that can be seen or demonstrated. How then can faith involve evidence that is invisible—not seen?

Faith involves evidence in the following way. Real faith, in any promise made by God, is actually the evidence. It is the belief that is the evidence. If God promises to do something, it is impossible for Him to lie (Heb. 6:18). Your evidence that He will perform it is the very unwavering faith that you hold. Do you understand this? Remember, Hebrews 11:1 said, “faith is…the evidence.” If you have true Christian faith, you do not need to search for the evidence—you already possess it!

The Doctrine of Faith

We have read the biblical definition of faith, but faith is also a doctrine. Notice: “The principles of the doctrine of Christ…of faith toward God…” (Heb. 6:1). Faith is always exercised toward God, but it is Christ who makes this possible.

Faith is something Christ teaches—this is why the Bible calls it “the doctrine of Christ.” By now, you realize that faith is important for all Christians to understand. You need not be confused about it, though people around you may be. We must eliminate the misunderstanding and deception about faith.

Perhaps when Christ returns, He will find real faith in you!

For every doctrine of God, there are endless ideas that people conjure up about it. The Bible explains what God says and thinks about His doctrines. If a doctrine comes from and belongs to God, we ought to examine what HE says about it. You should never be concerned with the opinions of people. The balance of this chapter will explain the Bible’s true teaching about the doctrine of faith toward God. Prepare to be surprised!

Not the Five Senses

Almost everyone believes that faith involves feelings. But physical feelings merely come from the human senses and have nothing whatsoever to do with God—or faith!

Human beings accept knowledge that they have received through the five senses—seeing, hearing, smelling, touching and tasting. These senses all involve physical information—physical knowledge. The mind receives and processes this information in order to draw conclusions about circumstances, things and events taking place around it. Faith is spiritual, not physical. It is a confident assurance, which comes from the Spirit of God in the mind of a converted human being.

So many today lack the strength—the power—to believe that God will perform the promises contained in His Word. He seems far away, vague and ethereal to billions of human beings caught up in a materialistic world. The vast majority do not have time for God. There seems to be no room for prayer, Bible study, fasting and meditation. All these things draw us closer to God. Most give up trying to do them, and then wonder why they have no faith! This leaves them forced to rely solely on their five senses for guidance. Most people feel that anything derived from a source other than these is not to be trusted.

No one would ever wish to lose his or her physical sight. Certainly no one would ever consider driving a car if he were blind. Now, consider the following verse: “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (II Cor. 5:7). Practicing true faith means learning to disregard what you see. Literally, sight does not count in relation to what God has promised to do or when He will do it.

This verse reveals that Christians do not walk by what they see!

Think of this example in the following way. Just as you would never consider driving a car without sight, a Christian is not permitted to walk through life by sight! This is not a principle that people learn overnight. The very concept of this kind of spiritual understanding is foreign—completely alien—to human thinking. Unlearning the wrong idea of faith requires a lifetime of practice.

Prayer, study, fasting and meditation are spiritual activities. God is Spirit and Christ explained, regarding Christians, “They that worship Him [the Father] must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Of course, people who do not know the truth of all the other doctrines of God, though they may know the truth about faith, cannot possibly worship God “in truth.” They may strive to worship God “in spirit” but it is impossible to worship Him in truth if they are doing it in ignorance of many crucial Bible truths. However, for our purposes here, at least all who read this booklet will no longer be unaware of the truth about the doctrine of faith—and how it relates to worshipping God in spirit.

Many wonder why they are never healed—or why their prayers are not answered. They wonder why they are not blessed or are not receiving deliverance from God when it is needed. They lack faith, which comes from the Spirit of God. If they had faith, they would have evidence—assurance—confidence—that they would be healed, blessed, delivered or receive answers to their prayers! They would know that these things were coming, in advance of their arrival.

Christ Had Real Faith

We have already seen that faith is a fruit of God’s Spirit. Obviously, Christ had tremendous faith. Filled with God’s Spirit, and possessing it from conception, Christ was the most converted Person who ever lived. It gave Him tremendous understanding of the importance of the power of God’s Spirit. This is why He said, “I can of Mine own Self do nothing” (John 5:30)! He knew that “the Father that dwells in Me, He does the works” (John 14:10).

It was through the power of God’s Spirit in Him that Christ accomplished everything that He did. He understood completely that it was only the presence of the Spirit of God in Him that allowed Him to perform miracles. He perfectly exercised the fruit of faith present in Him because of the Holy Spirit. No doubt, God gave Him the additional gift of faith (I Cor. 12:1, 7-9) that He would need to endure all He was to face through His sacrifice as Savior of the world.

Christ went on to say in John 14, “He that believes on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do” (vs. 12). All the apostles, evangelists and others (including even deacons) performed mighty miracles after Christ’s Resurrection and the start of the New Testament Church. The Bible records this. Through the power of real faith, ordinary people can do amazing things!

But can you have the same kind of faith that Christ had—or that the apostles had? Do Christians today have a different kind of faith?

The Faith OF Christ

What kind of faith does God expect you to have? Most people think that they must “work up” faith through human effort. They see it as something from within that they can WILL themselves into possessing. This is terribly wrong and the Bible plainly says so. Do you realize that you can have the exact same faith that Christ possessed? You not only can—you MUST!

Notice: “Knowing that a man is not justified…but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ” (Gal. 2:16). This is an extremely important verse. It differentiates two vital points. First, it states that “we believe[d] in Jesus Christ”—this is something we do. Second, it is the faith of Christ—Christ’s actual faith in us—that justifies us (makes us righteous). Most people never get this understanding straight. Faith starts with human belief, but must quickly move to the real faith of Christ, which enters a person at the moment of baptism and conversion with the receiving of God’s Holy Spirit.

The Bible describes a certain temporary human faith that many people have. In the New Testament, when Christ healed people, none of them were converted. Yet, He sometimes told them, “your faith has made you whole” (Matt. 9:22) or “according to your faith be it unto you” (vs. 29). These people lacked God’s Spirit but they did have a temporary human faith that allowed Christ to heal them.

It is this growth from human faith to the faith of Christ that Paul referred to when he said, “the righteousness of God is revealed from faith [human] to faith [of Christ in us]” (Rom. 1:17). If there was not human faith and the faith of Christ in us, how else could people go “from faith to faith”? If one is in a room, that person cannot go to a different room and still be in the same room. Do you see this point? It is the same with faith. Human faith is like a small room, which true Christians must leave to enter the great room of Christ’s faith working in them.

Human faith wavers continually and goes up and down according to how one feels at any given moment in time. It is much like a rollercoaster. When events seem positive or look good, human faith is up. When things look bad and the outcome of a matter appears gloomy, human faith disappears in an instant. God’s faith is permanent and does not waver. He requires that all who come to Him in prayer, with requests, do “not waver.” He considers all who waver to be unstable in everything they do, and says that they will receive nothing from Him (Jms. 1:6-8).

The Bible Contains Promises

Every time you demonstrate faith in God, it involves a specific promise. A promise can involve healing, answers to prayer, receiving blessings (Jms. 1:4-8), deliverance in a trial, guidance in a difficult decision and, most importantly, receiving salvation. In every instance, faith involves claiming a specific promise made by God. We will see the importance of searching His Word to find those promises.

Consider: “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Eph. 6:16). Now notice: “Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him. Add you not unto His words, lest He reprove you, and you be found a liar” (Prov. 30:5-6).

When put together, these two verses show that God, through faith, becomes a SHIELD to all who trust in exactly what the Bible says. To doubt His Word, or to alter it in any way, is to call God a LIAR! That is serious! Understand. When God makes a promise, He keeps it. Human beings may break their promises, but God does not. If He tells you that He will do something for you, if you meet certain conditions, He will perform His promise. You have faith as an assurance that He will. So, browbeating yourself into faith is silly. It suggests that you doubt God will do His part after you have done yours. Faith is relaxed. It is calm. It is sure. Where most people might have great doubt, the person led by faith is confident that God is guiding the final outcome of matters.

When you claim a promise, expect it to be carried out by God. Do not try to figure out when or how He will do it. I have learned two things about answered prayer. First, God always answers my prayers, if I seek His Will, but second, He almost never answers them in the way that I expect. This is why walking by faith cannot include sight. “Looking” for God to answer prayer a certain way or in a certain timeframe is a waste of energy. Besides, it is far more important that God answers our prayers and fulfills His promises, than HOW He does it! And He always knows the best time and way to do it anyway.

Always Examine God’s Word

No promise of God can be claimed unless you have learned what the promise is. God promises some things and does not promise others. Therefore, the only way to know whether He has made a particular promise or not is to continually study His Word.

In any matter, always ask yourself, “What does the Bible say?”

Paul wrote, “Prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom. 12:2). Proving involves study. Study involves effort. Then, knowledge of God’s promises brings confidence to those who pray about them. God is eager to bless people, but He cannot do this if people are ignorant of what He is willing to do. Paul also wrote, “Wherefore be you not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17). Let’s face it. It is terribly “unwise” for people to live in ignorance of God’s promises. Why? Because they cut themselves off from so much that He is willing to do for them! Therefore, you do not have to wonder about God’s viewpoint. His Word reveals it on every single important aspect of life. (Take a moment to read II Timothy 3:14-17.) But this is not the only condition to consider regarding faith.

Faith Has Other Conditions

As we have seen, most people believe that the only kind of “faith” needed for salvation is to “just believe.” It is popular to recite, “if you shall confess with your mouth…and believe in your heart…you shall be saved” and “for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:9, 13). But is this all there is to receiving salvation? Can it really be this easy? If so, then the Bible should be two verses long. The rest of it becomes unnecessary and can be thrown out!

It is amazing how millions of people are content to accept outright twisting of the Bible in order to practice a “Christianity” of their own devising. Peter wrote, “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation” (II Pet. 1:20), and this is true of every other Bible doctrine (Isa. 28:9-10). All the scriptures pertaining to any matter must be taken together in order to have the complete picture. Seizing “pet verses,” and taking them out of context, leads to deception, confusion and outright ignorance.

What about law, sin, grace, faith and works? How do these work together? Do they bring any requirements to those who practice true faith? Is faith alone sufficient for everything? Or do Christians have to obey God? Are there any works attached to salvation? Most people believe the answers to the last two questions are “no.” They want to believe that Christ “died for their sins,” and that they are saved by “faith alone” without doing anything about sin in their lives. Human nature does not want to obey God (Rom. 8:7). Yet Paul taught, “Not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified” (Rom. 2:13).

If the law is done away, then nobody can be guilty of sin. But Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned…” How is this possible if there is no law to be kept? Several things must be carefully considered. I John 3:4 states, “sin is the transgression of the law.” All professing Christians are certainly willing to acknowledge that Christ “died for their sins,” but they continue with the assumption that, because Christ died for past sins, they no longer need to worry about future ones. This is a ridiculous argument. Yet it has effectively swallowed hundreds of millions of professing Christians for nearly 2,000 years.

Now consider Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” People love to quote this verse. It is also common for people to quote Romans 3:20: “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight…” Few are willing to read the very next phrase in Romans, which says, “for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” We could ask: What would be the purpose of having any law except for keeping it? Would its only purpose be to demonstrate that people may freely break it without worrying because Christ “died for their sins?”

The purpose of the law has never been to forgive sin or bring justification. (No law could do this.) This is what the blood of Christ is for—and it is why mankind needs a Savior. The purpose of the law is to point out sin!

Consider the prison systems in most countries of the world. Convicted criminals are sometimes pardoned or their sentences are commuted. Others are released from prison early through what’s called “shock probation.” Are these people pardoned and released with the idea that they can re-enter society and repeat the exact same crimes that put them in prison? Of course not!

The very idea is absurd. The police would simply re-arrest them and incarcerate them again—probably with a stronger sentence! How is it that Christians can believe that the judgment of the great God of the universe then somehow requires less justice with His Law than do physical, civil authorities with theirs? It insults God to suggest that He would give His Son for people’s spiritual crimes (sins), only to see them continue in the very things that required Christ’s death.

What pitiful human logic!

To believe the deception that forgiveness, through Christ’s blood, permits people to freely break the law is hypocrisy. It not only insults God, and the intelligence of His Master Plan, but it ignores the following extensive series of verses in James 2. These plain verses explain how law, sin, faith and works fit together.

Consider this longer passage carefully: “What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say he has faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?…Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone…I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils [demons] also believe, and tremble. But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? See you how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?…You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (vs. 14, 17-22, 24).

Like the demons, many people do believe God exists. However, most of these same people do not tremble at the existence of God—which even demons do!

Remember, we must never “add to God’s Word,” because “every word of it is pure.” God says what He means and means what He says. The above verses do not teach that works save us. They do teach that faith must be accompanied by works. This is what Paul meant when he asked, “What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid” (Rom. 6:15).

What about grace, faith and works? How do they work together? Notice again: “Shall we continue in sin [transgressing the law], that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Rom. 6:1-2). The answer to Paul’s rhetorical question is obvious. We cannot. Finally, notice how the Bible asks, “Do we then make void the law through faith?” It answers its own question. “God forbid: yes, we establish the law” (Rom. 3:31). The ministers of this world may permit people to break God’s Law—usually because they want their congregation to pay them a salary—but God forbids law-breaking!

The devil will not obey God’s Law because he hates it. Neither will “his ministers” (II Cor. 11:13-15). They deliberately ignore these verses and many others. They deceive people who seem to willingly accept their shallow arguments—arguments that are ignorant of the plain truth of Scripture.

Paul taught that God’s Law is holy, just, good and spiritual (Rom. 7:12, 14). It endures forever (Psa. 111:7-8) and is perfect (Psa. 19:7). James calls the Ten Commandments “the royal law…of liberty” (Jms. 2:8-12). Christ said it will never be done away (Matt. 5:17-19). Deceiving impostors teach that Christians must focus on “just having love,” while ignoring plain scriptures like Romans 13:10, which says, “Love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Also see I John 5:1-3.) No wonder the apostle John said that any who claim to “know Him [Christ], and keeps not the commandments, is a LIAR, and the truth is not in him” (I John 2:4).

Strong words! I have known many people who claimed to know Christ but did not keep the commandments. We now see how God views them.

It takes faith in Christ for the Christian to be able to keep God’s Law. Recall that Christ said that He could of His own self do “nothing,” and that the Father did the works in Him. Christ kept the Law perfectly, and a Christian “follow[s] His steps” (I Pet. 2:21).

Christ Taught Law-keeping

With God’s help, you will be able to keep the commandments. Do not ever allow anyone to tell you otherwise.

Jesus never taught that people should just “believe on Him” to receive salvation. When a young rich man asked Him what he must do to have “eternal life”—receive salvation—Christ told him, “If you will enter into life, keep the commandments.”

Hearing this, the disciples were shocked. They did not understand how this was possible, and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Christ answered, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:17, 25-26). You cannot keep God’s Law, but Christ in you can—if you have true, living faith!

God gives His Spirit only to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32). Obedience to God is preceded by repentance and baptism, with the Holy Spirit being given at this point, upon one’s repentance of having broken God’s Law (Acts 2:38).

Christ said, “Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men” (Mark 7:7-8). Did you realize that it is possible to worship Christ in vain—that it is possible to think about Him, talk about Him and even use His name often and still do all of this in vain!

Notice: “Not every one that says unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven [“of,” not “in,” heaven]; but He that does the will of My Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). Remember, it is the doers of the law that will be justified.

The “Fight of Faith”

Paul told Timothy, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life” (I Tim. 6:12). Faith is more than a battle. It is a war that all Christians wage throughout their lives! And it is not an easy war, won by victory in a single battle. It involves many battles.

The apostle Jude tells all Christians, “You should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). The next verse warns of “certain men” who had “crept in unawares” into the early New Testament Church, diluting it with false teachings, which destroys the Church’s foundation—that of holding to the true doctrines of the Bible. The meaning of real faith also became corrupted in the minds of many at that time. Sadly, history shows that people have always been willing to let deceivers reduce Christianity to little more than “just believing.” Do not fall for this.

We have discussed how Christians must keep God’s Law, while they are at the same time justified by the faith of Christ. The Book of Revelation records, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (14:12).

There is a reason why this verse joins patience, commandment keeping and the faith of Christ. They are inseparable. Christians are able to keep the commandments, but only through the faith of Jesus. It takes patience to do this throughout a lifetime. Yet this is exactly what true Christians—saints—must continually do.

“Living by Faith”

There is an Old Testament verse that is so important that it is repeated twice in the New Testament. Habakkuk 2:4 says, “the just shall live by his faith.” This is a powerful statement about faith as a way of life! It is the faith of each person (notice the singular word “his”) that guides individuals through life. This verse is cited to show that God has always taught that His true servants must have real faith. Faith has never been merely a New Testament requirement for salvation. Some of the greatest examples of faith are found throughout the Old Testament. Actually, every one of the examples found in the “faith chapter” (Heb. 11) lived in Old Testament times. This did not keep them from being “witnesses” (12:1) to the awesome power of properly understood faith.

Hebrews 10:38 (also Rom. 1:17) repeats Habakkuk almost verbatim: “Now the just shall live by faith.” Take note that the definition of faith follows immediately on the heels of this verse, in Hebrews 11:1. Again, God could not require people to live by faith and then not tell them what it is! Then, in the very same verse 38, God continues, “but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him.”

Where faith is lacking, God is not pleased!

Faith is not merely something you only exercise during life’s moments of crisis. It is not just something to consider when “things aren’t going well.” In other words, faith is not just for the “bad times”—it is full-time! Grasp this vital point. Faith is completely inseparable from the entire spiritual understanding through which you are to confront all the issues you face in the Christian “walk” (II Cor. 5:7).

All people on earth will be sorely tested in the years that lie just ahead. Make no mistake! Without real faith no one will survive the terrible calamities prophesied to occur just prior to Christ’s soon-coming Return. Operating on human steam or ingenuity will not be sufficient to survive the great crisis coming at the close of this age! Complete faith in all of God’s promises will be required—and necessary.

A Personal Example

It will not be easy to follow and practice God’s truths and believe His promises. Thirty-eight-plus years have taught me this lesson—deeply! God will test your faith—and the devil will tempt you to abandon it. Have no doubt of this. I have also learned that God will always deliver, no matter how dark circumstances seem.

I grew up in a comfortable home. Then God called me at age 17 and the real trials began. By age 23, I was married and had an infant son of less than four months old. My wife had nearly died in childbirth and had lost her milk because of it. She could not nurse our son. During this brief period, I did not have a full-time job in the ministry. I had lost my salary. I was unemployed and we were struggling with significant debt from our college years. We were living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Even the heater in our car had ceased to function and it was late November. Space does not permit me to describe all of the trials we were facing at just that one time. Our faith was being sorely tested!

I will never forget one particular moment my wife and I shared. We were, quite literally, down to our last dime. There was almost no gas in the car or food in the house. Our baby was crying and we had nothing to feed him. I had a single dime in my pocket. I pulled it out and held it up to the light over our kitchen table. My wife and I determined that we would trust God to provide for us.

He did!

That evening (I remember it was a Thursday night), my wife was able to teach two flute lessons and was paid a total of seven dollars. She immediately bought milk for the baby. I received a job the next morning (Friday), and my boss offered to advance me a paycheck the first day I arrived. God had answered our prayers and left us with a faith-building experience that we have never forgotten. We have recalled it often, when times were difficult. We still draw strength from God’s intervention when we needed it—and numerous other similar interventions in our life!

Every day of our lives has not been “sunny.” I have had to face many obstacles in my nearly thirty-five years in the ministry. This very Work is a work of faith. God never fails to provide for our needs. The hindrance of accusers, slanderers, liars and outright enemies has, at times, been an almost daily way of life for us. God has never failed us.

In the end, He always defeats evil people who seek to overthrow His purpose. He has always protected and delivered my wife and me through “thick and thin.” I am confidently assured—I have faith—that He will continue to do this. You can also develop confident assurance—faith—that God will always deliver you.

Typically, people think of faith as something they work up or express toward God so that He will do something for them. Actually, the real case is often exactly the opposite! Many times, faith is something that God gives to a person so that he will have the strength to do something for God—usually to fulfill His overall pur