Healing of sickness in the Atonement

Preamble: This is the sermon (notes) for my sermon at a Divine Healing Service, for 19 Jul 2014 (It flows like an article, and so, you should have no problem reading it through) [the underscorings are only to assist in my sermon delivery; the gray-shaded portion NOT shared in the sermon].

What is the Atonement?
Is Healing of sickness in the Atonement?
If so, what does it mean or how does it flow out to us?

What is the Atonement?

Very briefly, the atonement in our faith refers to being made “at-one-ment” with God or being “at one”, in harmony, with God.  Jesus is the means and only means to our atonement or reconciliation to God; and so, we say Jesus is the atonement or is our atonement. 

It is through the saving works God did through Jesus Christ that reconciles us to Himself.  The saving works of Christ Jesus included His suffering and crucifixion, and His resurrection; the central portion being His (Jesus’) sacrificing Himself, to suffer and die crucified; and the one undeniable virtue or benefit from Jesus’ sacrifice is that He provided for us, spiritual healing or the forgiveness of our sins and the attendant cleansing. 

The question is other than spiritual healing, is the healing of sickness or physical healing in the Atonement?

Is Healing of sickness in the atonement?

The direct and short answer to the question is always a yes.  What is the core supporting scripture for saying so?

It is this:  Isaiah 53:4-5.

Isaiah 53:4-5 (KJV) - 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs {H2483 – choliy, meaning sicknesses}, and carried our sorrows {H4341 - mak'ob, meaning physical and mental/emotional pain and sorrows}: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded {defiled or wounded} for our transgressions, he was bruised {crushed} for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed {H7495 - rapha', meaning healed}.

In this prophecy, God revealed through Isaiah that the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, He would come doing a number of things, and included in that, was that He would be bearing, carrying, be wounded and be punished/chastised for sicknesses, sorrows, transgressions, and iniquities of men, to bring about reconciliation with God and healing for men. 

The sickness healing can be seen from the relevant Hebrew words used in the prophecy above.  The Hebrew word, H2483 – choliy, used for “griefs”, means sicknesses.  The “sorrows” was translated from the Hebrew word, H4341 - mak'ob, meaning physical and mental/emotional pain and sorrows; this is sickness of the emotional kind, like depression, etc.  Jesus suffered and was crucified (atoning works) to make available to us, healing from sicknesses.  We say, healing of sickness is provided for, in the atonement.

[The gray-shaded portion below, you can skip over it, if you want – they are secondary to the main issue]

The “he” or “suffering servant” in Isaiah 53 was referring to the Messiah Jesus Christ, although Jews still steep in Judaism, may believe that the “suffering servant” here was the nation of Israel, NOT the Messiah.  It is only when we take the “suffering servant” as the Messiah that we can see that Isaiah 53 was talking about the suffering around and at the crucifixion, and so, Isaiah 53:4-5 was about the atonement.  For example, we read this of Isaiah 53:8 (KJV) – “He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.” 

The strongest ground that we believe Isaiah 53 was a prophecy about the Messiah; in fact, about the suffering and death of Jesus, is that it was so regarded by His disciples apostles like Matthew and Peter.  We can see it from passages like Matthew 8:16-17 and 1 Pet 2:24.

NOT necessary to argue from Matthew 8:16-17

It is very clear that Isaiah 53:4-5 revealed to us that sicknesses healing is in the atonement works; there is no need to bring in Matthew 8:16-17 to argue that sicknesses were covered in Isaiah 53:4, as is done by some preachers, for as discussed above concerning the relevant Hebrew words, it is already clear that sickness healing was provided for, in the atonement.

Matthew 8:16b,17 (KJV) - 16 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: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.”

Matthew 8:16-17 merely added strength in the sense that it made clear sicknesses and infirmities were covered in Isaiah 53:4, which we have seen, are already apparent from the relevant Hebrew words used. 

There is still one more reason that one can be wanting to bring Matthew into the picture:  it is to show that the apostle disciples such as Matthew (also Peter), their understanding was that Isaiah 53 was about the Messiah, Jesus, Christ, and NOT what the Jews still steep in Judaism believed, the nation of Israel (Isaiah 41:8 – Israel; Isaiah 52:13 – my servant).

When the argument is solely on Matthew 8:16-17, the counter-argument by some, is that Matthew was affirming Jesus’ earthly ministry as being backed up by Isaiah’s prophecy that Jesus would take our infirmities and bear our sicknesses; in other words, the Matthew passage was NOT talking about atonement.  If one emphasises the Matthew passage, and subjugate Isaiah 53:4 under it, one could even say, the healing of sicknesses referred to, in Isaiah 53:4, was to be played out in the ministry of Jesus when He lived and moved on earth, NOT at His last sufferings and death by crucifixion.  Isaiah 53:4 should be interpreted within its own context, and Isaiah 53:4-5 is about the atonement works.

1 Pet 2:24 too is NOT necessary

What about 1 Pet 2:24; sometimes, it gets quoted in support?

Because the last bit of 1 Pet 2:24 referred to Isaiah 53:5, at times, it is also quoted to support the view that healing of sickness is in the atonement.  The relevant phrase in 1 Pet 2:24 is this: “by whose stripes [or wounds] ye were healed”.  In all fairness, the context of 1 Peter 2 has nothing on sicknesses or about sickness healing except reference to sins and sinning and that we have received grace and mercy, to bear suffering for good, with Jesus having shown us the example.

1 Pet 2:24 (KJV) - "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."

Really, we do NOT need to insist 1 Pet 2:24 pointed to sickness healing to support that sickness healing is in the atonement.  I believe the last bit of 1 Pet 2:24 of “by whose stripes ye were healed” was included to more completely quote Isaiah 53:5  (In my view, the healing virtue covered in this last bit of “by whose stripes ye were healed” did include spiritual healing, even as it was covering healing of sickness).

There is confusion as to what part Matthews 8:16-17 and 1 Pet 2:24 play in the whole issue of sicknesses healing in the atonement.  If you are including these 2 sets of passages; they are to serve these:

1.      Both Matthew 8:16-17 & 1 Pet 2:24 support there was the apostle disciples’, Matthew’s and Peter’s, agreement that Isaiah 53 was about the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and that Isaiah53:4-5 was about the atonement.

2.      Matthew 8:16-17 additionally supported that sicknesses were referred to, in Isaiah 53:4 (Matt 8:17 used “infirmities” and “sicknesses”) [The Hebrew word used in Isaiah 53:4, H2483 – choliy, already meant sicknesses].

As a side, how does one handle the “by whose stripes ye WERE healed” of 1 Pet 2:24, and the corresponding phrase of “and with his stripes we ARE healed” of Isaiah 53:5? 

Also, is the “last portion”, “the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed”, referring to Isaiah 53:4, referencing sicknesses healing, or the front part of Isaiah 53:5, referencing spiritual healing?

For the first question, this is how I believe it should be handled:  the “and with his stripes we ARE healed” was part of a prophecy; NOT only that, was projecting forward from a prophecy event, and so, it did NOT use past tense; it meant to say, at the time when the event, that Jesus suffered and crucified, would occur, “healing virtue is provided for”; and   healing to take place subsequent to that.  Whereas when the Apostle Peter made reference to the prophecy, the event of the prophecy had already happened; and so, he used the past tense to say that the healing virtue was provided for (at the past event).  The healing virtue or benefit or even “credit” was provided for, already, but it is being applied from time to time.  When a person (a believer) is now healed, we say “he IS healed”, but the healing benefit or credit WAS from the atonement.

For the second question, my understanding is this: We have to understand that originally there are no chapter and verse numbering for the scriptures, and they were written in Hebrew.  The Hebrew language, the ancient one, in written form, differed so significantly from our English language, in such thing as absence of vowels, and absolute articles, and so on, that often enough, although Bible scholars numbered the verses, some verses still ending up as composite sentence, often with various punctuation marks like “;” and “:”, multiple ones, even, in the composite sentence, like that of this Isaiah 53:4-5.  

You can see it (a composite) in this KJV of Isaiah 53:4-5 - 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 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.

My revelatory understanding is that the “last portion”, “the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed”, was meant to elaborate on both the things said in verse 4 & 5.  There would be an event where the punishment to wrought back our peace with God would take place, and it would be that, the punishment would be upon Him, Jesus.  Because it was a singular event expected to take place, “WAS” was used as in “the chastisement of our peace WAS upon him”. Jesus WAS punished for our reconciliation with God.  This has to do with forgiveness of our sins and so, spiritual healing, and so, it connected back to the things said in v5 (the earlier portion of v5). 

Now, as to whether “and with his stripes we are healed” was connecting back to v4, about sicknesses healing, my answer is yes; but because Jesus was also with the stripes or wounds and was even inflicted more wounds (stripes were even believed to be indistinguishable), the healing from the wounds, with His blood flowing from them, I am inclined to consider the healing virtue from it, covered both healing for sicknesses as well as for our sinfulness.  The whole of Jesus’ injuries and suffering culminating in His death crucified counted to wrought us healing virtue, which when all fully consummated wrought us full and complete redemption of us, in all 3 components of Man - body, soul and spirit.

How does sickness healing in the atonement flow out to us?

We have, in the above, established that sickness healing is in the atonement (in Isaiah 53:4-5), but how does it flow out to us? 

Not having correct understanding on how it is to apply to us or flow out to us, can confuse us, even can cause some of us to accuse God of NOT being faithful or NOT honouring His own words.  Lack of understanding can cause some to be frustrated, even to leave the faith.

Before I give what I believe is the appropriate view, let me let us know one extreme of the extreme view that causes much damage!  What is this view?

It is this:  First, it says that sickness healing is in the atonement; this is NOT wrong, as we have seen; it is correct – sickness healing is in the atonement.  It is how it is expected to apply to us, that is the issue.  In this extreme of extreme view, it is said that it is applied in the same way as the extreme of extreme view of how forgiveness of sins (spiritual healing) is applied to us.

What is this extreme of extreme view of how spiritual healing is applied to us? 

It is this:  It says all our sins, including the FUTURE ones were forgiven us AT OUR MOMENT of entry into salvation.  This is the core theology of the hyper-grace or overly grace brethren, and is also the core theology of the OSAS believers (once saved, always saved believers). 

For those who believe in this, likewise, they consider all the sicknesses of us, including the FUTURE ones were healed of us AT OUR MOMENT of entry into salvation, and so, it follows from there, that whatever sicknesses that a believer is experiencing is NOT real, but lying or fabricated symptoms of sicknesses put in us, by Satan.  It follows from here that if you are NOT well, it is because you have NOT have faith in this extreme of extreme truth (or purported truth)!

It is my understanding and same of many mainline churches that this extreme of extreme view is INCORRECT.  

The spiritual healing in the atonement does NOT flow out the way it is said to flow out – that your future sins were forgiven you at the moment of your entry into salvation, so much so, there is no more forgiveness to be sought in your walk as a believer.  This is contrary to 1 John 1:9 and various other scriptures, including the Lord’s Prayer. 

The sickness healing (as separate from spiritual healing) also does NOT flow out to us, as suggested – that all sicknesses including FUTURE ones were already healed by God at our moment of entry into salvation. 

NOT only it is possible for you to fall sick, really sick (real, NOT apparent) subsequent to your entry into salvation, it is even NOT necessary that at entry into salvation, the person with sickness is healed of his sickness. 

Real life is with people entering into salvation, but are NOT healed of their sicknesses.  For example, a crippled man can enter into salvation, but still remains a cripple; or a person with diabetic sickness is still with the sickness after giving his life to Jesus.

For spiritual healing, one can argue one cannot see it, but for sicknesses, we can tell, if one is sick or NOT.  We are to operate in faith, but we should NOT be self-deluding.  There is a difference between the two.

You may say, “Bro Anthony, I thought you said sickness healing is in the Atonement.  When it is in the Atonement it is ever-flowing, is it NOT?”

Let me explain, and also give us the appropriate perspective of how sickness healing can flow out to us.

Yes, what is of the Atonement is ever-flowing. Spiritual healing or forgiveness of sins is of the Atonement, and it is ever-flowing.  Jesus’ atoning works also made available sickness healing; and this sickness healing is also ever-flowing. 

If you look at the overall counsel of the Word, you will also agree with me that on a general basis, grace, mercy and much blessing are also made available in the atoning works of Jesus; and they are also ever-flowing.

Benefits or virtues from the Atonement are ever-flowing. There are 2 possible angles to this “ever-flowing”, and I will try to explain it; first, looking at spiritual healing, and then physical healing: 

On spiritual healing - one, lots of people before us, they have availed themselves to the spiritual healing or forgiveness of sins at their salvation entry; we have, too, and we can expect the same spiritual healing to be still available for the future generations; in that sense, it is ever-flowing. 

But it must be clear that, it is ever-flowing as applicable to those who enter into salvation, NOT to those who are NOT (entering).  In other words, it is ever-flowing in that it is always happened at every entry into salvation, in the past, present or in the future.  

Two, ever-flowing is also in terms of “it is still there”.  What do I mean by that?  It is like there is an ever-flowing stream of water for washing (created by Jesus).  You were dirty, you went to wash yourself, and you came off, clean.  Then, you walked around in the dust or mud, and dirtied yourself.  The stream is still there; you can go to the same stream of water and have yourself cleansed again.

Spiritual healing flows to us like that - we got forgiveness of our sins at our entry into salvation (at every entry into salvation, there is spiritual healing); and when we subsequently sin, we can again be forgiven; in this metaphor, you get back to the stream.  In Scripture, the Apostle John used the metaphor of light, in which case, he said that you have to get back into the light, and you will be “cleansed” of your sins (1 John 1:5-7). 

The Apostle John also, in 1 John 1:9, told us that God is just and faithful, and so, onus is straight-forward - we need to turn back into the stream or the light.  What it requires is that you repent and confess.

Now, we consider the case of sickness healing in the Atonement; is it operative in the same manner? 

It is ever-flowing in that “it is still there”.  In the Atonement works, Jesus made available this sickness healing benefit or virtue; it was there when Jesus completed the works more than 2,000 years ago; and it is still there (available), this benefit or virtue. 

Just as the spiritual healing is for spiritual redemption of Man, sickness healing or bodily healing is for bodily redemption of Man (The Redemptive works of Jesus are of 3 folds, on the body, soul and spirit of Man; so, there is also the redemption of the soul of Man, which I am NOT covering here).

Now, the way the bodily healing, separate from spiritual healing, flows out, is a little different, from the spiritual healing; and has been elaborated on, by the Apostle Paul, in Scripture (1 Cor 15:35,42). 

What is the relevant understanding, we are to know?  It is that FULL redemption of the body (of Man) is NOT had in this life or in our mortal/physical life.  Scripture tells us that it is after this life that we will receive an incorruptible body; it is only after death, that we will get this incorruptible body (or when Jesus comes back again and you get raptured/resurrected).  Is the sickness healing virtue or benefit, still there or always there?  Yes, but the consummation of it, is NOT now, but after-life. 

If we cannot get FULL, can we get “partial, of the benefit or virtue”, meanwhile? Yes, you can get healing, but you and I cannot get the end-point healing, now. 

Also, we have to know that the “God-factor” features more strongly than the “man-factor”.  What do I mean by this?

In on-going spiritual healing, the pattern is more of the reverse order – you repent and confess; God is faithful and just to forgive you or heal you spiritually; the onus is more, on you – the man-factor.  For bodily healing, until the time of the end-point healing, with an incorruptible body, the “God-factor” features more strongly.  What do I mean by the “God-factor” here?

It is referring to the “God’s discretion factor”.  So, in the case of sickness healing, it is more of God can and does heal, than God must heal.  There is the God’s discretion featuring more strongly here, than in spiritual healing.

If I may contrast the spiritual healing and the bodily healing, the spiritual healing is of the nature of “one ‘big-bang’ (at salvation entry), and then, we go on ‘maintenance mode’” whereas the bodily healing takes more of a “’maintenance mode’, to be followed by a ‘big-bang’ (taking on of incorruptible body)”.   Is there any support of such “one big-bang and maintenance mode” analogy or metaphor? 

Yes, Jesus, in the Last Supper, in His “administration of the washing of the feet” of the disciples, said of the body being clean, and then, subsequently, the feet needing cleaning/washing, from contact with the dirt. 

For the disciples then, the metaphorical body-cleaning (body-cleaning used as a metaphor for spiritual healing) was done through the receiving in of the teaching of Jesus, but for us, it (spiritual healing) happens when we enter into salvation.  How do we get our “feet cleaned/washed” (metaphorical to spiritual healing subsequent to salvation entry)?  Through acting according to 1 John 1:9 – repent and confess our sins to God, and He is just and faithful to forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.

I recap:  For spiritual healing: one big-bang, and then we are in maintenance mode; we go back to God for forgiveness from time to time. For bodily healing: maintenance mode, and then finally a one big-bang, which is the incorruptible body, after-life.

There are people who say that full consummation of all the virtues or benefits of atonement is completed on our entry into salvation.  This is incorrect; there is the bringing to completion, referred to, in Scripture.   The overall counsel of the Word points to that; examples included: Phil 1:6 – “….that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Rom 12:2 – [we need to] “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  It is NOT instantly your mind is renewed; if it were, there was no need of Paul to exhort.

Still the question to ask: how readily will God heal us of our sickness as we live, that it is He can and does heal and NOT He MUST heal?  How readily?

Readily enough, that we should ask of Him to do so (heal us).  Why do I say that?  Because:

1.   It was in the atonement.  We cannot have the end-point healing of incorruptible body given us, now, but we can expect some healing along the way, in our so-called maintenance mode.

2.   James 5:14 has it that those who are sick, they are encouraged to go to the elders to pray for their healing.  It implies God’s readiness to heal us of our sicknesses.

3.   The attributes of God included love, and therefore, too, grace, mercy and compassion.  From the nature of God, we can expect healing, some healing. 

Can healing of sickness be coming apart from the atonement?  It can. Non-believers have also been healed by God.  Because they are NOT believers, NOT having entered into salvation, they are NOT receiving their healing from the atonement; they are healed, often from the love of God, the mercy, grace and compassion of God.

4.   God can even be healing to glorify Himself (John 9:3 – blind man; John 11:4 – Lazarus’ sickness and resurrection).

5.   God, through the Great Commission given (Mark 16:15-18), said as signs and wonders and miracles following the Word, there can be expected demons be cast out of people and sick be healed.

6.   God is willing to heal.

a.   Jesus, during earthly ministry demonstrated his willingness, and so, too, the Father God’s willingness to heal.  For example, the “are you willing leprous man” (Matt 8:2-3).

Another example, the demonised daughter of a Gentile woman healed (Matt 15:22-28).

Jesus actually spent a lot of His time, ministering and healing the sick; you can see it if you study the Bible.

b.   There is also the gift of healing in 1 Cor 12:9. God does gift some believers with an auction, authority and power to heal people of sicknesses.  Although it is NOT that these people could heal of their own, but they do have varying delegated sanctions from God, to work for Him, in this works or ministry. This does show that God has a willingness to heal.

c.    Healing is in one of His names – Jehovah Rapha – “God who heals thee” (Ex 15:26).  God would NOT have revealed Himself in that name, would He, if He does NOT wish to heal at all?!

7.   Some even got healed from the Holy Communion Sacrament; from taking of the elements with correct posture.

[Drawing to a close ….]

So, today be encouraged that sickness healing was provided for, in the atonement, and that God can and does heal.  Get yourself healed of sicknesses; there are means to that, and it included divinely by God, in addition to, through medical sciences.

You are holding fast to the teachings of God, and living in accordance to them (abiding in His Word), when you want to get well, including to be divinely healed by God, of your sicknesses, apart from spiritual healing or forgiveness of your sins.  It is the right thing to do. 

I tell people, “Do what you are supposed to do, and then let God be God (He knows, and knows best, what He is to do, or NOT do)”.  Whether one gets healed or NOT, of his sickness, and his salvation state (spiritual healing) are separate matters (it is NOT, for example, “you are NOT saved, if you are NOT healed [of your sickness]”).

So, rather, just go/come in faith for healing prayers (as suggested in James 5:14).

 

Anthony Chia, high.expressions

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Parable of the Lost Sheep pointed to Universalism - Wrong!

Recently, I read an article which talked about the Parable of the Lost Sheep being pointing to salvation universalism. 

What is the doctrine of Universalism or salvation universalism?  It is basically this: That everyone will be saved eventually, meaning everyone gets to Heaven, eventually; no one gets sent to Hell to suffer the terrible sufferings.  And so, it is saying that unbelievers, too, get to go to Heaven; independent of faith or religious faith.  Behind the doctrine is the simplistic and shallow argument of “if God is really a good and loving God, He cannot be sending people to Hell!”

There are therefore, people out there who claim that Scripture sometimes or at some places, pointed to universalism of salvation, and at others, NOT.  One Biblical text which is quoted to support this universalism of salvation is the Parable of the Lost Sheep; which I am saying as a one-liner, now – No, it does NOT (point to or supports universalism of salvation).

Before I go on to expand on my one-liner that I have just stated, let me get 2 things straight:

1.   Not in support of universalism is NOT about denying any class, race or color of skin, of people, the salvation grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.  So, salvation through Christ Jesus, is open to all peoples; but it also is “there is no other name through which anyone can be saved”.  It is open to all peoples, but the way is only one – accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, and thereafter be living a life after the Holy Spirit, instead of after the flesh.  And so,

2.   Universalism is unbiblical belief.  It is NOT that we, believers, made ourselves to be intolerant and exclusive, but it is the dictate of God and His Word.  In fact, believers are expected to develop to be patient, longsuffering and persevering, and be loving, compassionate and merciful, but the matter of going to Heaven is NOT the prerogative of the believers to decide how, but it is as prescribed by God, the owner of Heaven.

Let me put down the Parable of the Lost Sheep as given in Scripture:

Luke 15:3-7 - 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Matt 18:12-14 - 12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

The proponents of universalism (of salvation) argue that

1.   God will go out of His way to save people, even a single person, and in this parable, the lost sheep has to do nothing at all.  It is saved, in the parable. 

2.   It is NOT punished for getting lost, for going off on its own.

3.   NOT only is it NOT punished, but God celebrates.

4.   It is NOT the will of God that one of these little ones should perish.

5.   Although we see repentance in the Luke account, it is NOT in the Matthew’s account.

The proponents conclude that God will go out of His way to save because of His love, and it is regardless of the person being wayward or otherwise; the person is NOT punished, while God celebrates; and it is the will of God to save, and so, everyone will be saved, purportedly God will, God must.  Repentance is NOT a must – seen in the Luke account but NOT in the Matthew’s account.

On the surface, the above points seemed legitimate, but the problem is the lack of understanding of how parables were used and handled.  Wrong identification and handling of the key object and metaphor of a parable will lead to wrong interpretation of a parable.

The thing about interpreting a parable is to get to the “that is what it is like in case of the Kingdom of God”!  A parable is used to tell of a thing/an aspect, the “that is what it is like” of God or the Kingdom with the help of an approximation in our human living. In the case of the parable of the lost sheep, it is NOT about the sheep owned or lost sheep as such. The “that is what it is like” was the rejoicing.  The key object of the parable (the thing that the parable was trying to point to) was the joy or rejoicing of God and rejoicing in the Kingdom of Heaven.  The equivalent key metaphor of the parable (the thing in the parable that pointed to the key object of the parable) was the joy of the man (who had the sheep), and the rejoicing of his friends and neighbours.

Jesus was trying to explain the why of “He did what He did” just before He gave this parable. Jesus had repeatedly said what He did was to do what the Father God had wanted Him done.  Why did He, Jesus, do so, to do what the Father God had wanted?  The answer is simple, He wanted to please the Father God; He wanted the Father to rejoice, to be joyous. 

Isn’t that so, for us, too?  Yes, we, too; the overall counsel of the Word pointed to us to exist to please God.  We are to bring joy and rejoicing to God (Read this article: if you want deeper understanding of this: Do we exist to please God, glorify and honor Him?)

What was it that was said against Jesus, before He gave this parable to explain Himself?  The Pharisees and Sadducees (these were snobbish Jews) frowned at His (Jesus’) welcoming and eating with the sinners.  The tax collectors and sinners were gathering around Jesus to hear Him, then.  To the snobbish Jews, they had the notion that if Jesus were indeed the Son of God or the Messiah, He could NOT be associating with the sinners (they, the Pharisees and Sadducees, didn’t; they didn’t eat with the Gentiles. Even the Apostle Peter was rebuked by the Apostle Paul for doing so, once [Gal 2:11-14]).  Jesus, using the parable, explained why.  So, the parable was to bring out this: the Father God would be joyous and Heaven would rejoice when people (even the Gentiles) be turned/turned back to be His.  To give an idea of the joy and rejoicing, Jesus used to the joy and rejoicing of the man with a 100 sheep who lost one and found it again. 

There is always a limitation of any presentation in a parable to portray the actual thing of the Kingdom, and so, the key to parable interpretation is to identify the “that is what it is like” of the parable; reading too much into the rest, is uncalled for, and will lead to wrong conclusion.  The “that is what it is like” here is the joy and rejoicing of having recovered one that is precious and once owned, or having gained one more, as precious.

Those of us who truly appreciate that the parable’s intent was to highlight the joy of God and rejoicing in Heaven, would use this parable this way and say, on the occasion of a person coming into salvation or coming back from a backslidden state, something to this effect, “We are very happy for you; God and Heaven rejoice over you.”  Or I may even tell the person this, “Remember today, it is a very special day; it is your birthday – the day of your born-again [for those entering into salvation]!  Rejoice, for Heaven rejoices with you.”

If you are still NOT convinced that the highlight is indeed about the joy and rejoicing, you can check Scripture, and see that, immediately following the above Parable of the Lost Sheep is the Parable of the Lost Coin.

Luke 15:8-10 -   8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

In fact, the text started with “Or suppose a woman ……”; in other words, Jesus was saying we could either consider the parable of the lost sheep or this other parable, parable of the lost coin; they are saying the same thing.  What same thing?  The same thing is that “God is joyous and Heaven rejoices over one who …..” 

The story line is the same for the parable of the lost coins as that of the lost sheep, just that instead of 100 sheep, it was 10 silver coins.  So, we can see, it got nothing to do with what kind of sheep the man was having, nor was it about how the finding took place or the method employed or whether or NOT the sheep did anything or NOT, or any punishment should be meted out or NOT.  I believe, just in case people over-focus on the sheep (unto misinterpretation) in the first parable, Jesus gave another, and in this case, an inanimate object, coins! [I am NOT here saying the owner shepherd-sheep representation used by Jesus was a bad one; it was NOT, and it did have its root in the OT; Isaiah 53:6 – “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all.”]

Sure, it is God’s will that all men be saved and NOT perish; we know that, even from other Scripture verses, but it is clear that, that does NOT mean that every man will be saved and NOT perished.  Jesus did talk about this, when He was asked: “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” (Luke 13:23).  Jesus talked about the narrow road and gate and the wide road and gate, and in that, we know that NOT all would be saved.  The main reason is there is still the volition of man.

Men have to exercise their volitions to believe the Gospel, to repent, to turn back to God, ask Him for forgiveness, and walk thereafter after the Holy Spirit, and no longer after the flesh. 

Is repentance important?  Yes.  The Apostle Luke, being a medical doctor, was more meticulous in his observations and writings, and so, much of his gospel writings were with more details than the other gospel writers'.  That the Apostle Matthew failed to record it, repentance, does NOT mean repentance is NOT important.  The overall counsel of the Word attests to the importance of repentance, if NOT the absolute necessity of repentance, for salvation.

Now, on the argument that God MUST go after the wayward, and so, saving everyone, if you believe, like I believe, Jesus perhaps, was also pre-empting this (just as I believe, he pre-empted people focussing on the sheep instead of the joy and rejoicing, and gave the lost coin parable), He gave one more parable – the parable of the lost son or as I preferred it, the parable of the return of the prodigal son [I am NOT saying this is only reason He gave this 3^rd lost-parable]. 

In the previous two lost-parables, Jesus said that the owner set off to seek out the lost (the lost sheep and the lost coin) and bring them back.  For this third one, just to make sure that people do NOT get the wrong idea and said that He (Jesus) said it is God MUST (or we say, “you push all bucks back to God”), Jesus detailed the parable of the lost son where the younger son insisted to leave and go live his wayward life. 

You will notice here, that the father was NOT said to go after the wayward son, and get him back (unlike the owner of the sheep who went out to find the sheep and carried it back, or the coin owner who probably combed every each of space and found the coin and put it back to where it belonged, with the other coins, in safe-keeping). 

The parable of the Lost Son can be read from Luke 15:11-32.  Luke 15:20 recorded this: “So he [the prodigal son] got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

We can see from the above that God was eagerly waiting, “from a distance”.  Many believers are too cavalier about “God with us all the time; He is with us everywhere”.  Yes, God is omnipresent, meaning He can be present anywhere and everywhere.  The “with”, is NOT just about presence (as in “physically” present), it is about God identifying with you and in agreement with you. 

If you are believer, God is always present with you by His Spirit, but He may NOT be with you!  I tell people there is one place God cannot be found!  Where?  In evil.  God can be looking on, but He is NOT with you in evil.  If you are bent on doing evil, He does NOT identify with you and cannot agree with you, and so, He is NOT with you.  But He can be like the father in this parable of the return of the prodigal son, eagerly waiting for his turning back or repentance. [Never preach this parable arguing there is NOT even the need of repentance, as some overly grace preachers do, it is WRONG].

It is clear, it is NOT God MUST, but God desires for all men to be saved. God could go and find the sinner, work on him, and bring him back into the fold or He could be eagerly waiting for the sinner to turn back or repent.  We must NOT forget God is God, meaning He is sovereign, and being sovereign, it is His prerogative when it comes to grace, mercy and compassion.  Scripture, in Romans 9:15 said this:  “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”  But we also know this: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (1 john 1:5).  God is good; there is no evil in Him.  He may come for you, but why don’t you go into the light, turn away from your evil ways or darkness; and He will let Himself be found by you.

It is NOT God MUST.  Non-believers can wait all they want, and backslidden believers can wait all they want, if they miss the boat, they cannot blame God, for God NEVER committed He MUST.  People need to know, faithfulness and MUST are NOT the same; God is faithful, but it is NOT He MUST.  God is holy, and His love is love unto righteousness (‘ahab love [For better understanding of ‘ahab love, read this: ‘Ahab love – love unto righteousness]), and so, punishment, even to suffer in Hell, is NOT inconsistent with the nature and character of God; He is still the good and loving God. 

The Parable of the Lost Sheep does NOT point to God will save everyone, regardless.  It shows God’s desires to have those lost be back to Him, and He would be joyous and Heaven would rejoice each time it happens. That is the main thrust of the parable.  God wants to save you as His child, even when He already has [many children], but it is NOT regardless.

Anthony Chia, high.expressions

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If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything (1 John 3:20 – NIV2011)

Those steep in the overly grace or hyper grace doctrine, often use this 1 John 3:20 to support such other verses like Romans 8:1 in saying that there is just no more condemnation possible for a believer, and so, if one has it, felt it or otherwise, the condemnation, it has to be false and from the Devil, and purportedly, one should just dismiss it. 

Before I go on to expound on 1 John 3:20, I would like to quickly point out that the assertion that Romans 8:1 unqualifiedly said, “there is now no condemnation possible for the believers”, is NOT quite correct.  For understanding of this, read my separate article – Romans 8:1 is NOT unqualified!

Now, although commonly, for this text of 1 John 3:18-22, “condemn” is used, the Greek word for condemn here is NOT the same as the one in Romans 8:1.  The Greek word, here is the word, “kataginōskō” - G2607, and its meaning is “accuse against or find fault with or blaming”; whereas the Greek word for Romans 8:1’s condemn (or condemnation) is the word, “katakrima” – G2631, and its meaning is more of a judgment against.

On 1 John 3:20, we start by looking at the wordings of a couple Bible translations of this verse:

NIV1984 - whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

NIV2011 - If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

ESV - for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

KJV - For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

TLB -  But if we have bad consciences and feel that we have done wrong, the Lord will surely feel it even more, for he knows everything we do. [readers, please note that TLB (The Living Bible is a paraphrasing of a translation (ASV 1901))]

Amplified Bible - Whenever our hearts in [tormenting] self-accusation make us feel guilty and condemn us. [For we are in God’s hands.] For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows (perceives and understands) everything [nothing is hidden from Him]. [readers to note that Amplified Bible is amplified from ASV 1901]

We start the discourse by first saying that NIV2011 has materially changed how the verse can be interpreted! 

In its 1984 version, you will note that the verse (v20) begins with a small letter (i.e. NOT capitalised) for the first word of the verse, “whenever”.  What this means is that the first part of verse 20 is undisputedly a continuation of verse 19.  This is how verses 19-20a read in NIV1984:

1 John 3:19-20a (NIV1984) - 19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence  20 whenever our hearts condemn {accuse}us.

Now, what the NIV 2011 did by having it, verse 20, starts as a new sentence, capitalizing the first letter of the word, “if” and joining the second part of verse 20 to it, instead of leaving it as a new sentence (as was the case of the 1984 version), makes verse 20 detached from verse 19, to stand on its own.  This rendering, in my view, is NOT that appropriate.

The ESV rendering makes verse 20, including the second part of verse 20 (the “For God is greater …”), a continuation of verse 19.

What about the KJV?  Now, although this version starts verse 20 capitalised (a new sentence), the customary understanding of “For” of a new sentence, in the King James Bible English, can (although, not always)  be that it is still a continuation of the previous sentence.  The equivalent of “For” can be our contemporary “A more fundamental/the fundamental truth is”. 

So, in my view, the KJV is still having verse 20 a continuation of verse 19, in actuality, only that the placing of the “For” is archaic.   It should have been placed just before “God”, as was in the case of the 1984 NIV.

Both the TLB and the Amplified Bible support the interpretation that verse 20 is a continuation of verse 19; only that TLB added that God would have felt the “sorrowful impact” more than your conscience/heart. 

The Amplified Bible rendering is a good rendering, and I will use it for the rest of the discourse here; and for the sake of letting us see the composite whole, I put down below, verses 18-22 of 1 John 3 of the Amplified Bible, striping off all the wordings enclosed in brackets (for ease of reading and seeing the composite whole):

1 John 3:18-22 (Amplified Bible [striped off, wordings in brackets]) - 18 Little children, let us not love in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth. 19 By this we shall come to know that we are of the Truth, and can reassure our hearts in His presence, 20 Whenever our hearts in self-accusation make us feel guilty and condemn us. For He is above and greater than our consciences, and He knows everything. 21 And, beloved, if our consciences do not accuse us, we have confidence before God, 22 And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we obey His orders and practice what is pleasing to Him.

There is a significant point to note still, and it is this: the word, “heart” in this 1 John 3:18-22 text is widely accepted among Bible scholars to refer to the conscience, and so, we do see it used as such (heart/conscience interchangeably) in the TLB and Amplified Bible, and even in common standard bible commentaries.

If I were to paraphrase (using the methodology of TLB) 1 John 3:18-22, it will look like this:

18 Little children, let us not love in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth. 19 By this [love in deed and in truth (v18)], we shall come to know we are of the Truth [as defined earlier], and can reassure our hearts or consciences [that we are indeed of the Truth] in His presence 20 whenever the [Iniquity in the] flesh accuses our consciences to make us feel guilty and condemned.  The fundamental truth is that God is above and greater than our consciences and He knows everything [Because God is greater than our consciences, He (by His Spirit, working through our spirit) is able to annul the enemy’s accusations or their pricking of our consciences; the accusations (against us) from our consciences being either from {the darts of} the enemy, or from God].  21 If our consciences do NOT accuse us [in other words, we are “in the clear”], we will have confidence before God, 22 and we will receive from Him whatever we may ask, because we obey His orders and practice what is pleasing to Him [which is we love in deed and in truth].

If I have the choice, I would have the verse no., “20” positioned before “The fundamental truth is that God is above…”, instead of it being placed just before “whenever our consciences make us ….”.

What is the Truth in verse 19 - “….. come to know we are of the Truth”?  This Truth is that we are counted as children of God.  It is given us in verse 1 [of 1 John 3] and repeated (conversely) in verse 10.

1 John 3:1a (Amplified Bible) – 1 See what [an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God!

1 John 3:10 (Amplified Bible) - 10 By this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are His children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children: no one who does not practice righteousness [who does not conform to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action] is of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother (his fellow believer in Christ).

So how do we know we are [still] counted as children of God (in the context of 1 John 3:18-22 [1 John 3:10 – gave us 2 tests; 1 John 3:18-22 here is talking about one of the two])?  How?  We know, if we indeed love others in deed and in truth, and when we have done so, we can assure our consciences/hearts.

And it is indeed possible, if we have done so [loved others in deed and in truth], that we can assure our consciences/hearts that we are [still] counted as children of God, because God is greater than our consciences/hearts in that if the enemy wrongly accuses, God can annul the accusation.  How does it work? 

Simply put, it is in “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (from John 8:31-32).  Some exposition is needed to make sure we know how we apply it in our context.  John 8:31-32 (Amplified Bible) reads: “31 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. 32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.”

You can see from the Amplified text, it is when one has held fast to a word from God/a teaching of God and lived in accordance with it, that he would know a certain truth, and the truth would set him free.  In other words, if you have NOT held fast to a word/teaching and have NOT lived in accordance with it, you may NOT know the truth, and if you do NOT know the truth, the truth (which you do NOT know) will NOT set you free. 

Now if you have indeed loved in deed and in truth (i.e. you have held fast to the requirement of God to love [a word/teaching], and lived in accordance with it), you will know the truth; meaning?  Meaning: the false accusation from the enemy, you know it to be false, and when you know it to be false, your heart or conscience will NOT be troubled or be accusing you. 

But how do you know the truth (or that the pricking of your conscience/heart is false, being from the enemy or the flesh [fallen flesh; the Iniquity in the flesh - the agency of Satan]), when you have held fast to a word/teaching and lived in accordance with it?  God, through His Holy Spirit (via your spirit), let your heart or conscience know; that’s how you know!  That’s how God annuls the [false] accusation.  That is how you NOT let your heart or conscience be troubled or be afraid.  The apostle John also explained these things in John 14.

In John 14, in the early part of John 14, John recorded how Jesus stressed that the disciples must abide in His words/teachings, meaning they must hold fast to His teachings and live in accordance with them.  Jesus, in John 14:15 said that if the disciples (and we, too) loved Him, they would keep (obey) His commands/His teachings; and then in v21 (John 14:21), added, it would be those who would keep (obey) His commands/teachings, who would be the ones who [really] loved Him, and such [persons], Jesus added that the Father God would love them, and He, Jesus, too, would love them, and He, Jesus, would reveal or manifest Himself to them.  And Jesus added further in v23 (John 14:23) that the Father God and Himself would come to live/dwell with such persons who are loving God, keeping His commandments/teachings.

Then in vv26-27 of John 14, Jesus revealed how God and Himself would come to make abode with those who are God lovers).  How? By the Holy Spirit who is the spirit of the Father God and is the Spirit of Christ Jesus.  Jesus explained the role of the Holy Spirit, and it included being our Helper, Teacher, and the Truth-bearer (He is Spirit of Truth), by being the one who would bring to remembrance the teachings of the Lord, including His Word, and being our Peace.

There are 2 dimensions to how the Spirit of Truth or the Holy Spirit operates or works:  One, you are off the light (so to speak), and He tries to convict you of your sins/wrongdoing, because He cannot agree with what you are doing or have done; and two, you are in the light, He abides with you, letting you know the truth, because He cannot agree with the dark (evil or the fallen flesh).  The Holy Spirit is always having a position, the position of truth, and when He abides in you (because you are in the light; and you are in the light when you hold fast the Lord’s teachings/commands and live in accordance with them), His truth is revealed to you (to your spirit, and then to your soul or heart or conscience); in this way, God (through the Holy Spirit) annuals the [false] accusation of the flesh or enemy.

Please, how do we counsel believers who are troubled of heart or conscience? Some overly grace or hyper grace preachers preached hard along this line: “I told you NOT be let your heart be troubled or be afraid-what; why you don’t listen; You just have to NOT let your heart be troubled or be afraid.  You are NOT listening; you just have to do that!” 

Please, don’t teach people to psycho themselves, without giving the basis!  In any case, it looks to me, this counsel is NOT true to their own grace teaching; insisting the believer to use full self-effort to accomplish something he obviously is NOT able to overcome, by self-effort.  The root cause is NOT even considered (Holy Spirit convicting sins or flesh/enemy falsely accusing)! 

Coming back to 1 John 3:18-22, back to v21; When we are free from accusation of the heart or conscience, we will have confidence before God (v21).  Verse 20b and 21 are together. If we do NOT interpret 20b as what I have suggested – “The fundamental truth is that God is above and greater than our consciences and He knows everything; and because He is greater [than our consciences], He [by His Spirit, working through our spirit] is able to annul the enemy’s accusations or their pricking of our consciences; the accusations (against us) from our consciences being either from the enemy or from God]”, verse 21 is superfluous or even irrelevant.  Since God is greater than our hearts or consciences, why still does it matter, our consciences accuse or NOT?  Verse 21 is NOT superfluous or irrelevant (despite some overly grace preachers seem to suggest by suggesting ignoring our consciences), because there are times our consciences rightly accuse us, because the pricking (of the conscience) is from God.

When we see v22 as a continuation from v21, we get the picture of under what circumstance we are in the clear to receive from God.  We are in the clear to receive from God when our consciences do NOT accuse us.

Now, there are overly grace or hyper grace preachers who teach their followers to ignore their consciences (i.e. telling them that once they have become believers, they are to ignore their consciences).  That is NOT what v21 and v22 are jointly saying.  V21 said, “If our consciences do NOT accuse us,”; it is NOT saying we should ignore our consciences.  It says, instead, if our consciences do NOT accuse us, i.e. we are “in the clear”, we will have confidence before God.

The point is that our heart or conscience serves a purpose and works to accuse or NOT accuse us; it accuses us when accusing things are put in it, whether it is put there by God or the enemy.  The only difference is that, that from God, it leads to godly sorrow (2 Cor 7:10), which leads to repentance; that from the enemy does NOT (instead, worketh misery to the soul)(2 Cor 7:10).

Under what circumstance are we in the clear to receive from God?  When our consciences do NOT accuse us (NOT we ignore our consciences-please).  Then, can the enemy prevent us from receiving from God?  No, if you have held fast to the Lord’s words/Word and lived in accordance with them, because if you have been doing so, you would know the truth (because the Spirit of Truth/Holy Spirit let you know), and false accusation of the fallen flesh or the world/evil, cannot prevail in your heart or prick your conscience.  So, what it means is that every believer must live life this way – hold fast to the Lord’s words/Word and lived in accordance with them, for in this way, our consciences would NOT accuse us, and we will have confidence before God.  V22 further adds that our confidence has come from obeying His orders/Word and practising what is pleasing to God.  Actually, the conditions of v22 for receiving what we may ask, is amounting to the very same thing that I have explained how our conscience can be in the clear, which is to hold fast to God’s teachings and live in accordance with them.

So, today, stop ignoring [on a regardless basis] your conscience or heart’s accusing you.  Yes, God is greater than your heart or conscience, and He knows everything, but it is NOT you are to ignore your conscience or your heart’s accusation.  Bring it before the Lord; be very honest before the Lord.  Let Him, by His Spirit, show you if the accusation is of any validity.  If the pricking is from the Spirit, you have to accept it that you have been wrong, and repent, confess and ask for forgiveness from God.  If the accusation is NOT valid, the Spirit will reveal that to you, too. 

Rare would be the case, that the accusation is of no validity, and you feel accused or troubled or “condemned”.  The reason why I say that, is because if you have been holding fast to the Lord’s teachings/Word and living in accordance with them, chances are that you would have known the accusation is of no validity and accordingly you should NOT be feeling accused or troubled or condemned.  Sometimes, it is an isolated incident or an aberration, which still points to some matter you have overlooked or have slackened, contributing to your less than “perfect” alignment with the Spirit of Truth. 

When you are really living according to the Spirit, there will be no conviction by the Spirit of sin/wrong on your part; and He is fully abiding in you, and you will know the truth; false accusation cannot prevail or linger against you.  But this is NOT the same as simply saying “If our hearts condemn/accuse us, we should ignore it because we know God is greater than our hearts (and knows everything about us)”, for the truth is our hearts can be accusing us, when the Holy Spirit is convicting us of sins or wrongdoings.

Anthony Chia, high.expressions

Comments are welcome here. Alternatively, email them to me @: high.expressions@gmail.com Or just email me your email address so that I can put you on my blog (new entry) notification list.

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