We've concluded that salvation through Christ Jesus was not only eternal, but also temporal. When our sin was removed (which was the barrier between God and us), we could begin walking in a new covenant of grace and truth.
In our Blog "The Law of the Kinsman Redeemer," we found that a brother or relative who had enough wealth could redeem or restore everything that his king had lost into bondage. Our Redeemer, Who is Heir of all things, hasn't only paid the price for our sin (the wages of sin is death), but also restored everything that was lost through the fall of our brother Adam. This included all of the temporal things as well as the restoration to the eternal life of God.
Adam was made to be in total authority over all of the earth and everything on it. Until the fall of Adam, there was no sickness, no lack, no heartache and no danger that Adam didn't have authority over. When Jesus died, or better yet, rose from the dead, He said in Matthew 28 that "All authority has been given unto Me, both in heaven, and in earth. Now go in My Name (He gave us the power of attorney in His Name), to make disciples of all nations, To proclaim the good news that the debt had been paid, restitution was now done, and all things had been restored."
We've centered in on the sin being done away with and man could now be born again (which is the most important thing), but all of salvation was important to God. If our temporal restoration (healing, peace of mind, justification and right standing) had not been that important, then Jesus wouldn't have had to suffer everything He did on the cross. If healing wasn't that important, then the stripes on His body would have been for nothing. The Word tells us that "By His stripes we were healed."
If our peace wasn't important, then the chastisement needful to obtain our peace of mind and well being wasn't needed either. It's true that the greatest miracle was receiving the price for our sin and being born again. Luke 10:17-20 (Amplified) says, "The seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name." Verses 18-19 say, "And He said to them, I saw sate falling like a (lightning) flash from heaven. Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and (physical and mental strength and ability) over all the power that the enemy (possesses), and nothing shall in any way harm you." Verse 20 goes on, "Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits are subject unto you, but rejoice that your naems are enrolled in heaven."
Jesus didn't say, "Don't take this authority into consideration," but to be rejoicing about being enrolled in heaven. This was what gave the power and authority to do all the other things. Without being endowed with the authority and power of heaven, there was no power over demons and sickness. So, when we say that being born again is the most important thing, this is true, but being born again places us in a position to stand in His authority. This is not to be overlooked.
It wouldn't be much different than a mother giving birth and saying, "I've done my part. If he's strong enough, then the baby will survive or if he's not strong, then he won't make it." God didn't give us new life only for us to subjugated to His arch enemy, but to deliver us from all satan's bondage. This body is now the temple of God. Do you really believe He would leave it in the hands of the devil to be made into a ghetto?
The Word says that the temple is holy and belongs to God. It wasn't only to be free from sin living in it, but it wasn't to have the results of sin in it. That includes all of the things our Kinsman Redeemer redeemed us from.
Salvation was to be complete in us the way it was in the One Who redeemed us. Through Jesus, we have become heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus. Romans 8:17 (Amplified) tells us how God intended for His sacrifice to be so complete that satan would have no hold on us at all. Salvation was to be our total protection from everything that was lost. When the Passover Lamb of Exodus was killed, the enemy had to pass over all who were under that blood. If there was enough power in the blood of a lamb to turn away the death angel, then how much greater power should there be for us who are under the Blood of Jesus?
We have a problem entering into the "rest" of our salvation mostly because we didn't know about it. The entrance of the Word brings light. Romans 10:14 (Amplified) says, "But how are people to call upon Him Whom they have not believed (in Whom they have no faith, on Whom they have no reliance)? And how are they to believe in Him (adhere to, trust in, and rely upon Him) of Whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?"
We've learned to believe in Him as far as we have heard. We've heard that He will remove our sin and give us new life by being born again. We've heard this and we believe God for this. The reason we don't believe in all the rest of what Jesus did for us, is that we haven't heard it. The reason we haven't heard it is mostly because it hasn't been preached. Romans 10:17 (Amplified) says, "So then, faith comes by hearing (what is told) and what is heard comes by the preaching (of the message that came from the lips) of Christ (the Messiah Himself)."
According to this scripture, did Jesus preach "temporal" healing as well as a new life? If He did (and He did), then this was to be the Gospel (the Good News) that we're to preach. People can't place their faith in God's healing them if they haven't heard that He will. Mark 5:25-29 (Amplified) says, "There was a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years And who had endured much suffering under (the hands of) many physicians and had spent all that she had, and was no better but instead grew worse." Verse 27 goes on, "She had heard the reports concerning Jesus, and she came up behind Him in the throng and touched His garment." Verse 28 says, "For she kept saying, 'If I only touch His garments, I shall be restored to health.'" Verse 29 says, "And immediately her flow of blood was dried up at the source, and (suddenly) she felt in her body that she was healed of her (distressing) ailment."
When did the women receive the faith to be healed? When she heard about Jesus. For twelve years, she was subject to this disease, but when she heard about what the Messiah was doing, her faith came by hearing. How could she believe without hearing and how could she hear until "It came from the lips of the Messiah?" What she heard was the message or Good News that Jesus Himself was preaching. When she heard it was God's will to heal her, then her faith in healing was restored and by faith, she received her healing.
If we don't preach it, then they won't hear it. If they don't hear it, then there is no faith in it. And, if there's no faith in it, then we still never believe in it even after everything Jesus did for us. We'll never believe in it and it remains a part of our lives that satan can still rule over. Once we know God's will for us, then "rest" will come. Hebrews 4:11 (Amplified) says, "Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest (of God, to know and experience it for ourselves) that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience (into which those in the wilderness fell)."
Did you know that the Israelites living in the wilderness lived there for forty years. Not one of them died, their clothes and shoes never wore out, manna fell from heaven for them to eat, they received water from a rock, they had shade by day and heat from a pillar by night, but they still wouldn't rest in God's promise to Abraham to provide for His people.
Praise God for His message about the new birth, but now that we're part of His family again, don't forget the other parts of His salvation. Psalm 103:1-5 (Amplified) says, "Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is (deepest) within me, bless His holy Name!" Verses 2-3 says, "Bless (affectionately, gratefully, praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not (one of) all His benefits Who forgives (everyone of all your iniquities), Who heals (each one of) all your diseases." Verse 4 says, "Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies." Verse 5 says, "Who satisfies your mouth (your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation) with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle's (strong, overcoming, soaring)!"
This is our God and Father. He is the One Who is now watching over as a Protector and Shepherd for now and for always. His arm is not shortened that He cannot save and His strength has not diminished so that He cannot heal. Trust in His Word and His covenant of promise. Dare to step out in faith when you have heard. Walking in the "rest" of His promise is the most exciting thing you'll ever do.
If you are bored with ritual and complacency, then walk in truth and faith. I can promise you will never be bored.
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