While Isaiah 53:4-5 and Matthew 8:17 indicate Christ’s atonement for both physical and spiritual healing. However, with the limited contemporary experience of such healing fuels the Cessationism doctrine to deny their continuation and manifestation of such healing, signs, wonders, prophesying etc. While the Word of Faith Movement advocates for declarative, proclamation and call out healing, similar to speak God’s word by declaring ‘Let there light (Genesis 1:3)’.
THEOLOGY VS. DOCTRINE
However, God’s truth cannot rely on theology. Through the years, there are hundreds of theologies, movements, and denominations developed. All these movements and theologies came and gone.
Nonetheless, only His truth that is based on doctrine and context stands forever. The Bible is the only authority.
Before we jump to a conclusion, perhaps it is good to look at 1 Peter 2:24,
24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24 NIV)
Compare and contrast with Isaiah 53:4-5 and Matt 8:17, the greatest difference for 1 Peter 2:24 is the phrase “so that we might die to sin, and live for righteousness”.
What’s so big a deal about that phrase?
My understanding is as below:-
Firstly, both Isaiah 53 and Matthew 8 are written for pre-believers. Before Jesus glorified the Father and the coming of the Spirit, no one was a believer.
Secondly, Peter’s account is written for Christians. Before coming to verse 24, Apostle Peter writes in verse 10 “Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:10)”
Thus, Peter is addressing born-again Christians.
Thirdly, there are two parts to Christianity.
John 8 highlights an incident of a woman caught in the very act of adultery. Jesus passes His verdict as:-
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:11)
There are two portions of John 8:11:-
– Part 1, Neither do I condemn you, and
– Part 2, Go and sin no more.
As a pre-believer, Jesus “Neither I do condemn you”. He accepted pre-believers as it is.
However, Christians don’t continue to live in the first portion. Believers have to live on “Go and sin no more”.
Perhaps, full grace Christians might shout that no one can live a sinless life. That’s right. That is why believers have to confess their shortcomings. Both 1 John 1:9, and James 5:14-15 are two of the provisions or ways out for believers should they be caught in sin.
Context is king. in opening verse, Peter commands moral purity, urging believers to ‘rid yourselves of all’ vices (1 Peter 2:1). This aligns with verse 24, which emphasizes dying to sin and living for righteousness
Further evidence is found in John 5. After healing a man infirm for 38 years (John 5:1-9), Jesus warns him in verse 14: ‘Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.’ This suggests consequences for Christians who, despite receiving grace and healing, persist in sin.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, Matthew 8:17 and Isaiah 53:4-5 are not for believers to confess. These verses are for pre-believers.
Instead, 1 Peter 2:24 is for believers. Christians have to clearly divide the word. Christians no longer live under Jesus’ earthly Ministry. Christians are living under the Church age, Grace Generation, or the Holy Spirit era.
In summary, believers are supposed to live under “Go and sin no more” and not “Neither do condemn you”.
And the meaning of “So that we might die to sins and live for righteousness (1 Peter 2:24)”, is literally dying to sin and not imputed dying to sin.
READ:-
WORTHY LIVING
WILL THE WRATH OF GOD AND HIS PUNISHMENT FALL ON CHRISTIANS?
END TIMES:- THE BOOK OF LIFE OPENS
