THE GIFT OF HEALING
This article is merely a brief summary on this topic, for more in-depth study on this topic, please see our list of resources.
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
– 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (KJV)
The Gift of Healing is an extraordinary gift of the Holy Spirit, which empowered a person that was gifted with such the ability to heal others, beyond what is even medically possible for physical healings.
The gift of miraculously healing someone physically would include things, such as: curing blindness, regrowing limbs, healing someone of skin diseases (such as leprosy), making a lame person be able to walk again, or even the ability to bring back someone (who is dead/lifelessness) to life.
These gift of healing can include spiritual healing, such as healing by removing (and healing from the effects of) demonic forces that are afflicting persons (referred to as exorcism).
What must be explicitly stated, is that the traditional understanding of the doctrine of Cessationism does not contend that “God does not (let alone can not) heal and work miracles today”. At any time, God in His divine providence can certainly bring about miracles, including healing for persons. We as Christian believers are also commanded to pray, by lifting up our requests to God – but ultimately yielding to God’s will and sovereignty by praying “Lord, let thy will be done – on Earth as it is in Heaven”. [James 5:13-16]
“Well, what about the Laying of hands? Should we not do this also?” This is another good question, simply put: the laying of hands is not commanded or required in the Scriptures, in order for healing to take place (otherwise, we would have seen this commanded in James 5:13-16). However, neither the instructional text in James or any other text prohibits the laying on hands of a sick person. Ultimately, there is no promise or guarantee in Scripture that physical healing that will always come if prayer or the laying of hands is done.
Now, what the doctrine of Cessationism does contend, is that there are no longer persons who are especially gifted with the “Gift of Healing”, as this gift has ceased along with the Apostolic ministry. Firstly, the Scriptures do not ever explicitly assert that certain gifts (like Healing) will always be available to Christians of all time or generations. Next, we can see that the Scriptures assert that while there will be things that pass away and cease (such as speaking in Tongues, among other gifts): but Love never ends. Throughout the Scriptures, we also see God working in incredible ways to inaugurate, confirm, or establish something. We see this in the New Testament with the office of an Apostle (and the Apostolic sign gifts), which served in a unique capacity in establishing Christ’s church.
Today, there is a movement among some Christians (or those pretending to be Christian), who contend that they or others have the Gift of Healing. These would be considered Continuationist and Charismatic in their theology. Some of those that ascribe to such theology may assert an idea of “Apostolic succession”, which means that there are still Apostles in the church today, and therefore there are still extraordinary gifts. For conciseness, we will not dive in-depth into this topic here, but you should know that Cessationism affirms that there is no succession of or continuing of the office of Apostle (as there is no need for such office in the Church today, it has already been fulfilled).
Next, we should also examine and respond to the claims among those who claim to be able to heal…
When someone has claimed that they or someone possesses and has used such gift, we must ask:
1) is any such instance of healing evident (plainly obvious)?
2) is this healing verifiable (actually able to be demonstrated as truly occurring)?
3) is the healing actually supernatural and miraculous (did such a healing accomplish something beyond what is already normally possible)?
Further, when you present your own (or someone else’s) physical condition in need of healing, often they are simply unable (or are unwilling to try) to heal such. Regrettably, there are also those who operate unbiblical ministries and espouse falsehoods that are often referred to as “Faith Healers” will claim to have the Gift of Healing. At the simplified core of their message, Faith Healers will generally assert that people can only be healed “if they have enough faith” …and whether they say so or not: this also essentially means that “if you do not have enough faith, you can not be healed”. Faith Healers will use this tactic to avoid being blamed for not being able to heal someone, as “it is not their fault – but the fault of the person who was to be healed”.
Indeed, in the Bible, Jesus Christ recognized the faith (even “small” faith, rightly placed faith) of those who came to Him for healing; so there is indeed healing from God that can come by having Faith. However, we should also recognize that Jesus Christ (and those with the Gift of Healing) were not dependent on such persons having faith (or some measure thereof) to be able to do such healings (as there are instances of those who were without any faith that were in fact healed).
The reality is, that the ministry of these modern day Faith Healers is simply just “a show”, and one that is done to accomplish worldly fame and fortune for the Faith Healer. This theology similar to that held by these Faith Healers and their followers inevitably leads to people being deceived into having false hopes, and they can become the target of being subjected to spiritual abuses.
This list is not exhaustive list of healings, but it is a list of notable references to healings that are recorded in texts of the Bible:
• List of Healings as recorded in the Book of Acts:
– Peter and John heal a man who was lame from birth (3:1-1-26; 4:1-31).
– Christians ask God to validate their message with healing, signs, and wonders (4:29-30).
– God answers the Christians’ prayer for healings (31-32).
– The Apostles heal and deliver many (5:12-16).
– Stephen (a non-Apostle) works miracles (6:8-15; 7:1-60; 8:1-3).
– Philip (a non-Apostle) heals the sick and casts out demons (8:4-8).
– Paul is healed by Ananias (9:1-19).
– Peter heals a man of paralysis (9:32-35).
– Peter raises a woman from the dead (9:36-42).
– Signs and wonders are done by Paul and Barnabas (14:1-3).
– Paul heals a paralyzed man (14:8-18).
– Paul casts a spirit of divination out of a girl (16:16-40).
– Paul works unusual miracles in Ephesus (19:11-20).
– Paul heals many on the Island of Malta (28:7-10).
We, as Cessationists, earnestly contend that we have a high (and the highest possible view) of the Person and work of the Holy Spirit. Let us remember that God is faithful and true to His Word, and that we as Christians have everything that we need from the Holy Spirit today – we are not lacking anything from the Holy Spirit.
It is our hope and prayer that this online article will be helpful to you, in your further studying on this topic. We encourage you to study the Holy Scriptures and to prayerfully seek guidance and illumination from God the Holy Spirit, in order to know God and His Word – and to know Him rightly and apply His Word rightly.
We also encourage all people to be filled with and show grace, as we consider and contend for these subjects. We recognize that there are genuine Christians who simply come to a different conclusion than ours on this matter; however, we strongly rebuke those who distort/twist the Gospel and spiritually abuse others.
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