Lasting Healing

to live a life restored

There are two primary perspectives of salvation: forgiveness and healing. The difference between the two is monumental and essential to understanding the saving work of Jesus Christ; to accept one and miss the other is to discount the miraculous totality of grace.

While many add specifiers and caveats to increase the scope of the standpoint, the common worldview of Christ’s salvific work centers on a concept of forgiveness. For good reason, forgiveness is one of the most used words in our Sunday gatherings, and, make no mistake, it was on the minds of the Biblical authors as well; throughout Scripture, the word forgiveness is referenced 143 times:

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.” Psalm 86:5

“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” Micah 7:18

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Ephesians 1:7

“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.” Acts 13:38-39

Thankfully, by the grace of God, forgiveness is woven throughout Scripture with the message ringing unapologetically: if we call upon Him, He is ready and willing to forgive. The consistent allegory partnered with this theological truth depicts a courtroom in which the verdict against us is final and the judgment justly severe; however, before we are required to face the consequences of our guilt, Christ enters as our substitute: He took upon Himself our due burden. This is accurate. And, to this end, you are freed of your debts and have been washed clean. Despite receiving such beautiful news, many remain in such theological conversations with a limited understanding of its application. For instance, the Church has practiced the discipline of penitence for centuries; we were wiped clean, but, to remain in His favor, we must continually atone for our ongoing sins. This beckons the question as to whether Christ came that we might have a second chance; such an outlook ignores the truth that “it is finished” (John 19:30).

While we must accept that we are sinners who have a reason to need divine pardon, we have a real and significant need for forgiveness, we must also come to know that Christ came for more than to provide us with a second chance: He came to heal:

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

“As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!” Psalm 41:4

Whenever we continue to allow our identity to be infested with shame, whenever we permit our relationship with God to be characterized by our insufficiency, whenever our religious efforts strive to earn His favor, we exchange the miraculous and secure healing salvation of Christ for a futile, legalistic pursuit of penance. The truth is that we are the poor in spirit, beggars before the cross, incapable of securing a positive balance in our spiritual account; as the truly poor, we can only incur additional debt. To be provided a second chance with a clean start will not be sufficient for our renewal. We are, instead, provided with lasting healing to live a life as one restored in perfect union with God. In Christ, our relation with the divine is perfectly healed to the extent that we are called His children, His friends, His heirs. The relationship with God has been reconciled! This is not a conversation of trifling semantics but is instead the light breaking into the darkness to meet us and call us home.

“He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them their destruction.” Psalm 107:20