HEALING

Even though we do not believe in the physical disease theory, nevertheless, the concept of "healing" is very much applicable to God's process of restoration. While there may be physical healing required to address the physical consequences of one's sinful activities there is the more important spiritual component addressing the condition of one's soul. We will leave the treatment of the physical effects of introduction of toxic chemicals into one's body to medical doctors and focus our efforts upon spiritual matters in terms of prevention, treatment and cure. Concurrently, we will apply another Biblical concept, cleansing, to the process as an essential ingredient from a somewhat different perspective. The reader should always keep in mind that by definition restoration involves closure. One is healed; one is restored; one is cleansed; one is made new; one recovers; one is cured; one is mended; one is made whole. Does this mean that one is made immune so as to be able to tempt God and the tempter with impunity. To use Paul's words from his letter to the Romans, "God forbid! May it never be!" Instead, to be restored includes the meaning that one is equipped to understand the nature of temptation and motivated to seek the God provided way of escape. With healing comes strengthening, both in terms of repair of past spiritual damage and resistance to satan's enticements in the present and future. With these things being said, let's look at what the Bible has to say about healing and cleansing in the spiritual sense.

G2390*. iaomai, mid. of appar. a prim. verb; to cure (lit. or fig.): -- heal, make whole.

(Matthew 13:15) "FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES LEST THEY SHOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I SHOULD HEAL (iaomai) THEM."

(John 12:40) "HE HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES, AND HE HARDENED THEIR HEART; LEST THEY SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND PERCEIVE WITH THEIR HEART, AND BE CONVERTED, AND I HEAL (iaomai) THEM."

(James 5:16) "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed (iaomai). The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."

(1 Peter 2:24) "and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed (iaomai)."

G2511*. katharizo, from G2513; to cleanse (lit. or fig.): -- (make) clean (-se), purge, purify.

(Acts 15:9) "and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing (katharizo) their hearts by faith."

(2 Corinthians 7:1) "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse (katharizo) ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

(Titus 2:14) "who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify (katharizo) for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds."

(Hebrews 9:14) "how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse (katharizo) your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

(1 John 1:7) "but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses (katharizo) us from all sin."

(1 John 1:9 NASB) "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse (katharizo) us from all unrighteousness."

G2513*. katharos, of uncert. affin.; clean (lit. or fig.): -- clean, clear, pure.

(1 Timothy 1:5) "But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure (katharos) heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."

(1 Timothy 3:9) "but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear (katharos) conscience."

(2 Timothy 2:22) "Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure (katharos) heart."

(Titus 1:15) "To the pure (katharos) all things are pure (katharos); but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure (katharos), but both their mind and their conscience are defiled."

(1 Peter 1:22) "Since you have in obedience to the truth purified (katharos) your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,"

G37*. Hagiazo, from G40; to make holy, i.e. (cer.) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate: -- hallow, be holy, sanctify.

(James 4:8) "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse (katharizo) your hands, you sinners; and purify (hagiazo) your hearts, you double-minded."

From these scriptures the reader should begin to get an idea of the expansiveness of the healing component of restoration and its application to mental and spiritual conditions. We acknowledge that in the Bible the same words can be, and in fact are, used to address physical conditions. Rather than a contradiction, we view such usage as a reinforcement of the applicability of the concept.

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*All definitions are taken from the Dictionary of the Greek Testament by James Strong.