Saved and Healed at the Cross of Christ
We continue in our series on Hope Found Here and this month our focus is on Hope in the Cross. If we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour we have the certain hope, the assurance, God has forgiven us of all our sins because of what Jesus has done on the Cross.
On this healing and wholeness Sunday, I want to remind you, the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross paid the price for our salvation and also our healing.
1 Peter 2:24 says, “Jesus personally carried our sins in His body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By His wounds you are healed.”
At the Cross there is salvation and there is healing.
700 years before Christ went to the cross, God revealed to the prophet Isaiah the suffering and death Jesus would endure, he wrote in Isaiah 53:3-6, “He was despised and rejected — a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.”
The price has been paid, the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross is sufficient for all who place their trust in Him.
When we repent, when we turn away from our sin and turn to Jesus as Lord and Saviour, all of our sins, past present and future are dealt with. By trusting in Jesus, the power of God cleanses and changes us, we are born-again. Jesus has paid the price for our redemption and our healing at the Cross.
Here is a wonderful truth, our God is a God of miracles. He created everything we see and everything we can not see.
He spoke this universe into existence, in Old Testament times people prayed for salvation and for healing and God answered. In Exodus 15:26, in the original Hebrew, God revealed His name is JEHOVAH RAPHA, or “I AM the LORD who heals you.” How could God reveal His intentions any more clearly to His people? God is the one who Heals and the one who saves.
In New Testament times when Jesus walked upon this earth He spoke and people were healed. Jesus never turned anyone away. In Matthew chapter 8, There was a man with leprosy who approached Jesus and knelt before Him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” He said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. (Matthew 8:2-3).
Throughout the Gospel narratives, there are examples of people who came from far and wide and spoke to Jesus and He healed them, He healed the sick, the blind, the deaf, the disabled, the leper, He even raised the dead back to life. Matthew 9:35 records how Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.
He healed every kind of disease and illness. That means that if you or I had been there, He would have healed us as well.
In the book of Acts there are many accounts of God healing people. Over the last 2000 years, there have been many men, women and children who have prayed and been healed, physically, spiritually, emotionally, miraculously.
Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” It was His will to heal then, it is still His will to heal today. God’s ability to heal is not limited by time or geography. Friends, God still heals people today. God is healing people today. His desire to heal has not changed. His desire to save has not changed.
Salvation and Healing by placing our faith and trust in God is possible today.
Today we can proclaim the truth of the words of King David in Psalm 103:1-4, “Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.”
If you are in Christ you are forgiven, you are redeemed, God is merciful and gracious to you. God loves you. God so loved you that He sent His son, Jesus to pay the price for your salvation and healing on the cross.
2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
Because Jesus is your Saviour, you will not be condemned.
Because Jesus is your Saviour, you will not be sentenced to the punishment your sin deserves.
Because Jesus is your Saviour, you will never see hell, you will spend eternity with God.
God the Father, in His love and His mercy, has said to you, “I forgive you, because you trust in my Son Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you are saved, you are healed.”
Romans 10:9-10 says, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.”
Here is a quick greek lesson for you, the word translated “saved” in this verse comes from the Greek word ‘sozo’.
In biblical Greek Sozo often refers to being delivered from the penalties of God’s judgment or to being saved from evil. Sozo is defined as to save a suffering one from perishing, to save from the suffering of disease, to make well, heal, restore to health, to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue.
Sozo is used throughout the New Testament to express the full impact of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.
Sozo literally means “healing and wholeness of the physical and the spiritual”.
For example Sozo is the word translated as Healed in Mark 6:56, “Wherever Jesus went—in villages, cities, or the countryside—they brought the sick out to the marketplaces. They begged Jesus to let the sick touch at least the fringe of His robe, and all who touched Him were healed.”
Healed - Sozo, made whole, saved. Do you need to experience the ‘Sozo’ touch of Jesus on your life this morning?
James 5:14,15 says, “Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.”
We will come to a time of prayer in a few moments, God can move in power over every person here today.
God is the God of miracles, God is the God of the possible and the impossible.
Jesus purchased salvation and healing for you at the cross. This morning may I encourage you to draw near to God. God’s will is to heal, but things like unconfessed sin, disobedience, unforgiveness, or doubt can hinder our ability to receive healing.
James 4:7-10, “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honour.”
This morning may I encourage you to focus on the Cross and what Jesus’ blood purchased, focus your faith and be confident in what God has already done for you in Christ.
Remember the blessings God has already given you, remember the promises God has already given you in His Word.
Remember every word from God is powerful. Proverbs 4:20-22 says, “My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.”
And as we pray together, may I encourage you to pray in faith.
On the cross Jesus paid for your salvation and your healing.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
In faith receive from Him this morning.
Sometimes people are instantly healed, sometimes healing is a gradual process but thank God, we are healed eternally because of Jesus sacrifice on the Cross.
Remember the words of Jesus in Mark 11:22-24, Jesus said, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.”
There is hope found here. God’s Word is true, and He will faithfully to do what He has said He will do.
This morning as we pray, say, “I believe it, and I receive it.”
Let’s pray in faith to the God of Miracles.
