The Scriptures reveal that we have been given a great salvation (Hebrews 2:3-4). C.I. Scofield gave this Biblical definition of salvation. “The Hebrew and Greek words for salvation imply the ideas of deliverance, safety, preservation, healing, and soundness. Salvation is the great inclusive word of the gospel, gathering into itself all the redemptive acts and processes: as justification, redemption, grace, propitiation, imputation, forgiveness, sanctification, and glorification.”
Gloria Copeland has taught about the connection between the Greek word for salvation soteria and the Hebrew wordshalom or “peace.” The word shalom means “completeness, wholeness, peace, health, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, absence of agitation or discord, to be complete, perfect and full.”
This covenant of salvation and peace that we have received through Christ Jesus provides complete wholeness with “nothing missing, nothing broken.” Isaiah 53:5 said the chastisement necessary to bring us this wholeness was laid upon Jesus. His peace encompasses every area of life—including physical healing.
One of the most compelling arguments for divine healing is the fact that Jesus administered healing throughout His earthly ministry. And according to the Scriptures Jesus fulfilled the will of His Father when He healed people (John 4:34; 17:4). The fact that healing is God’s will should not be surprising when we note that God has always wanted His people well (Exodus 15:26).
Healing was a fundamental component of the ministry of Jesus. Matthew 8:16-17 says, “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.” These verses make it particularly clear that the sicknesses and infirmities that Jesus healed were not only spiritual, but also physical. And that physical healing was part of a true fulfillment of Isaiah 53:5 which says, “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.” (Also see Luke 4:18-19; I Peter 2:24).
Jesus indicated that miracle healing power was available for all who would believe on Him. In John 14:11-12 Jesus said, “Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”
When Jesus sent out His disciples to minister in His name He told them to, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8) We find no indication that the disciples were ever under the impression that healing should cease. Instead, we find them ministering healing to the multitudes (Acts 5:12-16).
Healing is an essential part of the Great Commission given to us by Jesus Christ Himself. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:15-18). The healing power of the gospel is as viable today as it was in the early church.
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