Healing In the Atonement, part 3 of 16

III. The fall and the restoration

The first thing we have to recognize is how this world got into such bad shape. Then we will look at God's plan for restoring the world to its original perfection. Regardless of whether you interpret the Genesis story literally or figuratively, it seems that the entire world, including our bodies, became cursed as a result of sin. God said to Adam, "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:17-19)

Since then, we have lived in an imperfect world. The ground has been cursed. We continue to bear the stain of the original sin. The results of the original sin include both natural and moral evil. Because of it, we ourselves have sinful natures. We are all born predisposed to sin. Nobody ever has to teach their children to be selfish or to lie. They are born concerned about their own self-gratification, and they figure out on their own how to lie and manipulate to serve their self-gratifying natures. We try to teach them not to live according to their sinful natures. Likewise, we all sin against God because of our fallen human natures. We have also all become susceptible to sickness and death.

"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned." (Romans 5:12)

It would seem that Satan succeeded in destroying a creation God once called "good," (Genesis 1:31) but then along came Jesus. Jesus was born "in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering," (Romans 8:3) yet he never sinned.

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin." (Hebrews 4:15)

Because Jesus was able to live a sinless life in the midst of a fallen world, he was able to become a perfect sacrifice on our behalf. He paid the pentalty for our sins by dying on the cross, and then he also defeated death by rising from the dead.

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

For those of us who put their faith in this gospel, we too will reap the benefits of Christ's victory over sin and death since it was for us that he won this victory.

"For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:21-22)

The realization of this victory will begin at the resurrection when Christ returns, and will culminate 1000 years later in new heavens and a new earth free from the curse that resulted from the original sin.

"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:3-4)

At the resurrection, our bodies will be changed. They will no longer be susceptible to sickness and death, but until then, they still bear the scars of the fall.

"So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body." (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)

Paul makes it very clear that though, when we are saved, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30) who is a deposit guaranteeing what is to come (2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5), we have not yet attained it. It is something we hope for, and nobody hopes for what he already has.

"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." (Romans 8:22-25)

Physical healing, therefore, is not guaranteed in the here and now. God has never promised that our bodies would be free from the consequences of original sin until the resurrection. If he had, we would never die because dying was part of the curse. If any Christian had perfect health, he would not be blind, he would not have any missing limbs, he would not have to wear glasses, he would never lose his hearing, his body would never deteriorate, he would never get old, and he would never die. In the Bible, however, we find that, "man is destined to die once." (Hebrews 9:27) Not only that, but we also have Christians who, while commended for doing good, nevertheless became sick.

"In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room." (Acts 9:36-37)

We also find that Paul, who said, "Therefore, I urge you to imitate me," (1 Corinthians 4:16) and was therefore an example for Christians to follow, suffered from a bodily illness.

"As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me." (Galatians 4:14-15)

Proponents of the "healing in the atonement" doctrine deal with this scripture in one of two ways. They either say that (1) Paul became sick as a result of some personal sin, or they say that (2) Paul was not sick at all, but that his illness (literally "weakness" in the Greek) had more to do with opposition and persecution. I will examine both of these views individually.

Continue to Part 4.