Isaiah 53:5 – Healing: Physical or Spiritual? 

 

A person asked this question on the www.gotquestions.org website:

“Why is it that when Jesus touched the sick all were healed and yet when we pray for healing of others it seems to be hit or miss? Are we lacking in our faith or in some other way? I believe God definitely still heals today as I know people who have been healed.” 

 

Here is the answer that he received:

“Isaiah 53:5, which is then quoted in 1 Peter 2:24, is a key verse on healing, but it is often misunderstood and misapplied. "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." The word translated "healed" can mean either spiritual or physical healing. However, the contexts of Isaiah 53 and 1 Peter 2 make it clear that it is speaking of spiritual healing. "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24). The verse is talking about sin and righteousness, not sickness and disease. Therefore, being "healed" in both these verses is speaking of being forgiven and saved, not physically healed.

The Bible does not specifically link physical healing with spiritual healing. Sometimes people are physically healed when they place their faith in Christ, but this is not always the case. Sometimes it is God's will to heal, but sometimes it is not. The apostle John gives us the proper perspective: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him" (1 John 5:14-15). God still performs miracles. God still heals people. Sickness, disease, pain, and death are still realities in this world. Unless the Lord returns, everyone who is alive today will die, and the vast majority of them (Christians included) will die as the result of a physical problem (disease, sickness, injury). It is not always God's will to heal us physically.

Ultimately, our full physical healing awaits us in heaven. In heaven, there will be no more pain, sickness, disease, suffering, or death (Revelation 21). Whether or not God grants us physical healing in this world, we can trust His goodness and focus our hope on heaven where we will no longer have to deal with physical problems. Revelation 21:4 describes the true healing we all long for: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”             

                  If you are chronically or critically ill, or disabled in any way, God can still use you, but you have to be willing to be used.  I believe that everything that happens in this world of ours happens intentionally. God is over all and in complete control of all things. He has His reasons for allowing certain things that we find terrible and unnecessary, according to our sense of right and wrong, but God doesn’t ask for our permission to cause or allow that which takes place in this world. He knows what He’s doing and face it; we don’t have a clue. Trust Him with your life. It’s better than any insurance policy you could ever buy. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.gotquestions.org

Conviction vs. Condemnation

Religious conviction refers to a strong, deeply held belief or opinion related to religious faith. It's not merely a casual belief but a deeply ingrained principle that shapes an individual's worldview. It can be a source of personal conviction, guiding individuals' moral and ethical decisions, and influencing their behavior. It can also be a factor in interfaith relations and a basis for understanding different perspectives. 

In Christianity, "satanic condemnation" refers to the belief that Satan, or the devil, actively attempts to condemn individuals, often by focusing on their sins and failures rather than God's grace and forgiveness. This condemnation is seen as a spiritual attack, an attempt to instill feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and hopelessness. 

            The enemy is called in scripture “the accuser of the faith” (Rev. 12:10b NLT). He will do everything in his power to drag believers down. THAT is precisely why believers MUST stay close to God. It is the Lord that is committed to protecting His children. 

Satan does his level best to upset the apple cart of our lives, by pointing a finger of condemnation on any individual who has fallen into temptation. God forgives. Satan does not. One of his jobs is to make Christians believe that God will not forgive them for what they may have done. The condemnation may manifest itself as feelings of guilt, shame, hopelessness, and a sense of being undeserving of God's love and forgiveness. 

            Recognizing the difference between God's conviction and Satan's condemnation is crucial. Faith in Christ and the forgiveness offered through Him are essential in overcoming feelings of condemnation. Focusing on God's love, grace, and the finished work of Christ can help dispel the lies and accusations of Satan. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

The Purpose & Theme of the Book of Proverbs  part 2

 “...for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair;...”- Proverbs 1:3

            When someone presents you with a gift, you would receive it, open it, and use it for what it is intended to be used for. The instruction we receive from the Lord is, in a manner of speaking, a gift. We should apply it to our lives, for it’s not useless talk. The sayings in Proverbs are jewels of wisdom that flow from the very mouth of God thru His servant Solomon. 

            The ‘instruction’ we receive is designed to lead us to a ‘prudent’ way of handling ourselves. A prudent man would be “a man who is careful and wise in handling practical matters; one who exercises good judgment and/or common sense.” ⁽¹⁾ He would be a sensible man.

            A prudent man, we are told, is a man who does what is right, just and fair in God’s sight. God’s fairness doesn’t always line up with the fairness of this world; however, fairness in a Godly sense is equitable for all parties involved. The world’s view of fairness typically favors one side or the other. 

            Godly justice involves man conforming to the will and standard of God. There is a fine line between doing God’s will and insisting on your own will. This implies that God doesn’t know what is best for you. That thought is ludicrous when you compare His achievements to ours. Living according to God’s standards is the only way to achieve peace for today and hope for tomorrow. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.          

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: NIV Bible Study Notes; MacArthur Study Bible; Reformation Study Bible. 

⁽¹⁾ the American Heritage Dictionary

The Purpose & Theme of the Book of Proverbs _{part 1}

“The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:  for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight;...” – Proverbs 1:1-2

A proverb is a brief, meaningful saying that expresses a basic truth or practical precept. The Proverbs of King Solomon, son of David, are a worthy read for they fill the reader with Godly knowledge and wisdom. 

In 1 Kings 3:1-15 we read the account of Solomon seeking wisdom and discernment to govern the people, rather than riches and honor. God was pleased with his request and gave him what he sought; plus, the riches and honor he did not seek. According to scripture, Solomon’s wisdom and discernment were unprecedented. No one was as wise before him or after his life had completed its course on this earth.

                  Verse 2 starts us off with ‘wisdom’. Proverbs uses the word wisdom to speak of the skill of living in a way that honors God. The difference between this type of wisdom and worldly wisdom is that the former’s foundation lies in a fear (awe and reverence) of God. This reverence for God is the controlling principle for applying these wise observations regarding the way life works. ⁽¹⁾

                  “The word ‘instruction’ incorporates several aspects: teaching, correction, discipline, reproof, learning, education, and training. Wisdom and His instruction in the virtues are emphasized throughout the Book of Proverbs. The purpose of correcting and disciplining oneself is to remove the deceptions of sin, so the God-given virtues in one's nature can manifest themselves.” ⁽²⁾ “‘Understanding’ is the mental discipline which matures one for spiritual discernment.” ⁽³⁾ “‘Insight’ or discernment (is) the ability to read between the lines and make correct distinctions.” ⁽⁴⁾

                  Based on the information given in this segment one can see the general purpose of the Book of the Proverbs of King Solomon. It is instruction on how to live a Godly life or in other words, a life that is pleasing to our Lord. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

⁽¹⁾ NIV Quest Study Bible Notes

⁽²⁾ Orthodox Study Bible

⁽³⁾  MacArthur Study Bible

⁽⁴⁾ Reformation Study Bible

What is Cognitive Bias?

 

            This is a quick look at what shapes our opinions of others as the doorway to judging others without truly knowing anything about them. Honestly, you know what others want you to know about them, while they keep their true self locked up deep inside. 

 

Familiarity Bias - Social Media operates on the "high volume = believability" principle. If we hear something often enough our brain will want to believe it is true.

Availability Bias - Our brains believe the things that are easiest to remember. This is why sensational stories easily spread. The easier it is for our brain to retrieve a memory, the more believable it will seem.

Confirmation Bias - Our natural tendency to seek out and believe information that supports our existing beliefs and expectations.

 

When we connect in person, or online/social media, we are regularly set up to fall into one of the Cognitive Biases; learn how to be aware of the influence our internal bias may have on our judgment to share information, verified or not.  

 

         Cognitive Bias is a psychological process that makes our brains more susceptible to believing things that aren't true. It affects your judgment when you are trying to determine facts from fallacies. 

 

         Understanding what the problem is makes it much easier to correct or remove the problem. We ALL judge others. We all need to stop. It has been well documented throughout my writings that I have this problem. It’s a tough one to break, but with the Spirit’s help, it can be accomplished. 

         I would like to make this clear. I try very hard to avoid an accusatory tone with my writings. Instead, I use a more inclusitory tone. (I think I just made up a new word. Lol.) Something like ‘I have this problem, maybe you do too.’ I hope that you pick up on that, because my feeling is that I am NOT the judge of anyone. Only God can judge. 

         Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

God’s Most Important Healing

Isaiah 53:5, which is then quoted in 1 Peter 2:24, is a key verse on healing, but it is often misunderstood and misapplied. "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." The word translated "healed" can mean either spiritual or physical healing. However, the contexts of Isaiah 53 and 1 Peter 2 make it clear that it is speaking of spiritual healing. "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24). The verse is talking about sin and righteousness, not sickness and disease. Therefore, being "healed" in both these verses is speaking of being forgiven and saved, not physically healed.

The Bible does not specifically link physical healing with spiritual healing. Sometimes people are physically healed when they place their faith in Christ, but this is not always the case. Sometimes it is God's will to heal, but sometimes it is not. The apostle John gives us the proper perspective: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him" (1 John 5:14-15). God still performs miracles. God still heals people. Sickness, disease, pain, and death are still realities in this world. Unless the Lord returns, everyone who is alive today will die, and the vast majority of them (Christians included) will die as the result of a physical problem (disease, sickness, injury). It is not always God's will to heal us physically.

Ultimately, our full physical healing awaits us in heaven. In heaven, there will be no more pain, sickness, disease, suffering, or death (Revelation 21). Whether or not God grants us physical healing in this world, we can trust His goodness and focus our hope on heaven where we will no longer have to deal with physical problems. Revelation 21:4 describes the true healing we all long for: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.gotquestions.org

Finite vs. Infinite

 

“I love you to the moon & back.”

“I love you to infinity & beyond.”

            

One is a finite statement, and one is an infinite statement. This world is finite. It has a beginning and an end, although we don’t know when that end will come. We don’t know if it will be instantaneous or a prolonged event. We cannot know the future, regardless of it’s unknown nature. Being the author of time, and being omniscient, as in knowing all things that can be known, God knows the future and the past and is IN the present. He is the first and the last; the Alpha & Omega; the beginning and the end *.

            Creation is considered finite because it is limited. It doesn’t go on forever. It has boundaries. We exist for a limited amount of time, as orchestrated by Almighty God. Knowing this we must understand that we have a certain amount of time to commit our lives to Christ. In God’s orchestration He has set up a certain time, known only to Him, when Christ will return & the precise time when a new heaven & a new earth will descend from the skies.  Once the heavenly trumpet sounds and time is no more, you will have locked in your selection. You decide. You either choose to follow Christ or you don’t. THAT one decision will shape your eternity. And once your choice has been locked in it is irreversible. No ‘do overs’. The stage is set. 

            It may seem difficult to assimilate all there is to know about the whole finite vs. infinite issue; however, I think the infinite side of the issue is more difficult to understand. It would seem that finite would be more easily understood because it is where we exist. We base our existence on time established in a world with a beginning and an end. 

Infinity cannot be contained. It is endless, limitless. It is where God exists and where we will be going. To an endless existence where no sun, moon and stars will be needed, for the glory of God will light up the heavens. We can only imagine what eternity will be like, based on statements made and verses written. We see cinematic artistry attempting to portray the heavenlies. But no one truly knows what awaits us. 

There is a stark difference between something or someone being either finite or infinite. It’s like having a limited shelf life compared to lasting forever. Mankind is finite now, but will live forever in either heaven or hell. God doesn’t assign to us our eternal home, man does by the decisions he makes in this life.

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries  

*To clarify, though God simply exists, He doesn’t have a beginning or an end because He is outside of the element of time as explained in another recent post. God being “the beginning and the end” is a statement in relation to His creation. To us, His beginning was when our beginning took place.