Those of you who have read my book and followed my blog articles, will know that I speak about the sacrifice of Jesus having had 2 effects – the healing of the spirit and the healing of the body and soul. That’s why we have 2 communion emblems. That’s why forgiveness of sin and healing of disease is frequently linked in the miracles of Jesus.
This dual concept of the Atonement goes right back to Eden. When man sinned and ate the forbidden fruit, Adam could never undo his sin. Even if he could live a perfect life for the rest of his days, he could never become innocent again. He wore the effects of sin in his body and felt shame and guilt. Because of the trauma to their souls, Adam and Eve had hastily scrabbled some scratchy fig leaves together and tried to make themselves less visible to a perfect God with whom they had had daily communion without any barriers.
So what did God do? God sacrificed animals. The blood of the animals cleansed Adam and Eve of their sin and the coats of skins covered the effects of that sin, their unworthiness, brokenness and shame. (FYI “covering” is from the Hebrew “kaphar” which has been elsewhere translated as “atonement”).
Clearly, as soon as Adam and Eve had sinned God declared that it was His plan to heal man of his sin AND the physical and emotional results of that sin. Sin had taken away man’s security in his identity and made him feel a failure but God restored us and made us worthy and whole because of His grace. (Eph. 2:10)
Satan tried to lure Jesus to perform to prove His identity. “IF you are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread.” “IF you are the Son of God, jump off the roof of the temple.” Jesus knew His identity and was not tricked into performing for approval.
And nor should you! You are a child of God with a supernatural destiny. Anything other than this is a lie of the Devil. “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12 NLT).
Today, remember who you are in Jesus. Your shame and sicknesses are not from God. Rise up today and declare who you are in Christ and be healed, body, mind and soul, in His mighty name.
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