Redemption is a release or liberation from captivity or death by paying a price called a ransom. It simply connotes buying back unto freedom someone in servitude, slavery or captivity.
The fall of man brought all human race under sin, Satan and condemnation as a result of man’s disobedience to God and consequence of the broken law. For through the offence of one many are dead that as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation.
Man lost his purity and favor with God in the fall. Man cannot, by himself regain it. The whole creation was bought under the curse and all men (in Adam) became sinners and captives to sin, Satan and sickness (Romans 5:12). Consequently, man being under the sentence of death, could not pay his own death penalty and live again to enjoy freedom from sin and carry out the divine purpose for which he has been created.
God then undertook the redemption of man by sending His only begotten Son to die in man’s place. He being capable of redeeming man met the demands of the law and became the legal substitute by paying the redemptive price for those who are condemned to death because of breaking the law. This is absolute protection from eternal punishment through the blood of the perfect and spotless substitute (Exodus 12:13; John 3:16; Ephesians 1:7; Romans 3:24; Revelation 5:9; Romans 8:3; Isaiah 53:4-8; I Corinthians 6:20; 7:23; Matthew 26:28; I Peter 1:18-21; Genesis 3:16-24).
It is Christ who bore the curse of the law and suffered its condemnation of death in our stead. No sinner can acquitted except he accepts Christ as his Redeemer (Acts 4:12).
Man’s redemption is not limited to removal of guilt, but all consequences of the broken law, which are sickness, disease and satanic oppression. Healing of sickness and diseases well as continued health are provided for all men through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.
In the Old Testament, there was a divine plan by which God heals all those who were in covenant relationship with him. Not everyone can enjoy this unfailing healing and health plan made by God for all mankind based on the fact that not all men are in covenant relationship with Him.
The promise to keep the Israelites from diseases by which the Egyptians were afflicted was made at the instance of the healing covenant Israel had with God. Diverse sickness, pestilences and plagues came upon them when they disobeyed God and broke His covenant (Deuteronomy 28:28-61; Psalms 107:17-20), but when they repented and prayed, fulfilling the covenant conditions, they were healed (Numbers 21:4-9); II Chronicles 7:13,14; Psalms 107:17-20). God is in the business of healing today where the conditions of the covenant are met.
Jesus not only bore our sins, He also bore our sicknesses and diseases. He became our sickness-bearer in exactly the same way he became our sin-bearer. Christ was scourged and striped for our healing; nailed to the cross for our sin (John 3:14; 12:22-23; Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:16,17; Psalms 103:2,4). The Holy Spirit concluded saying, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law; sickness - pestilence, fever, cancer, ulcer, boils, as well as nameless sicknesses found in people’s life today and other infirmities recorded or not recorded in scriptures (Deuteronomy 28:15-29,58-61; Galatians 3:13; Deuteronomy 7:12-15). Christ has been made manifest to destroy the works of the devil - I John 3:8; Acts 10:38; Hebrews 13:8).
Divine healing and health like salvation has remained the right of every child of God. It is a vital part of complete salvation once we belong to the commonwealth of Israel and not strangers to the covenant of promise (Matthew 15:26-28; Ephesians 2:12-21; I Peter 2:9,10). Sickness in whatever form is of the devil. God calls it captivity (Job 42:10), Jesus calls it bondage (Luke 13:16,12) and the Holy Spirit calls it oppression (Acts 10:38).
The victory of Jesus is our victory. He did nothing for Himself. He conquered sin, Satan, disease and sickness on our behalf. He shares His victory with all who will repent and believe on His name. He bore our infirmities, sicknesses and diseases so that we could claim full release and deliverance. As much as disobedience to God’s word, misuse of tongue and unbelief will make the covenant of no effect, for the people of God, no more can anyone enjoy the blessing of healing without a current relationship with God through Christ, obedience to the Word of God and fulfilling the terms and conditions for healing (Exodus 15:26; 23:25-26; Deuteronomy 7:12-15,6-9; Leviticus 26; Psalms 91; Isaiah 1:19; Mark 2:5,9,11; III John).
It then goes without saying that curse causeless shall not come. Most often infirmities came as a consequence of:
*disobeying God (Genesis 20:1-18; I Chronicles 10:13),
*through Satan, the very source of sickness and affliction (Job 2:6-7; Matthew 4:23-24; John 10:10; 8:44; 5:14; Acts 10:38),
*backsliding (Exodus 10:10; II Chronicles 16:12-14; Matthew 12:43-45),
*misuse of tongue (Numbers 21:40;6; 11:10;3; 12:10;10),
*unlawful sin,
*covetousness or merchandising God’s gift (II Kings 5:20-27);
*rebellion (Psalms 107:17-20; Deuteronomy 32:39-41)
*or even breaking God’s law of nature.
The scripture reveals that evil spirits, devils and demons also assist Satan in its destructive work on human bodies. They possess, oppress, afflict, torment, and obsess people and cause: dumbness and deafness (Matthew 9:32,33; Mark 9:25-27), blindness (Matthew 12:22) grievous vexation and torments (Matthew l5: 22), lunacy (Matthew 4:24; Luke 9:38-42) and suicide (Matthew 17:15).
They gained entrance through sin, consulting with familiar spirits, palm reading, magic, witchcraft, fortune telling, not guarding the mind or refusal to resist the devil. As long as you have any of the devil’s property, he will stay around you. Renounce and destroy the works of the devil (I Peter 1:1,13; 5:8,9; Acts 19:18,19), for total emancipation from his claws.
The Bible sets forth condition precedence to enjoying the benefits and blessing of our relationship with God, i.e.
*our redemptive rights; genuine conversion (Psalms 103:2-5; Matthew 13:15; Mark 9:23; Matthew 21:21-22; Mark 11:22-24; John 14:12; James 1:6-8),
*obedience to God and His word (Exodus 15:26; 23:25,26; Proverbs 4:20-22);
*abiding in Him (Psalms 91:1-7; John 15:1-7);
*making peace with fellow men (Mark 11:22-26; James 5:14-26; Genesis 20:14);
*serving God in holiness (Exodus 23:25-26; Colossians 2:6,7; John 5:14; I John 3:21-22);
*appropriating the benefits of Calvary through prayer of faith (II Peter 1:3,4; Hebrews 6:18; I Peter 2:24; James 1:16,17: Hebrews 13:8; Matthew 8:17), etc.
From the foregoing, God heals those who are under healing covenant (Psalms 105:37; II Chronicles 30:18-20);
*by His Word (Psalms 107:20; Hebrews 4:20; Matthew 8:8);
*through His mercy (Matthew 20:30-34);
*by His Power (Matthew 28:18; Colossians 1:16-17; Luke 5:17),
*by His spirit (Acts 10:38; Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 10:18-19; Romans 8:2,11; Matthew 12:28);
*in His Name (Acts 3:6; Luke 10:17,18; Mark l6: 17,18; Proverbs 18:10; Philippians 2:9-11);
*by His Will (I John 5:14,15; John 5:30; III John 2:2).
What a sure word of prophecy, no need for private interpretation, according to your faith it shall be done unto you.
It is then left with every believer to fulfill the terms of the divine conditions in order to live in the reality of this grace; I Corinthians 6:20; 7:23; Obadiah 17).
We shall live to possess our possession. Healing and health is for today. We can lay claim boldly to this redemptive grace, not with uncertainty, but with confidence of faith and prayer to get healed and remain healthy all the days of our lives. Now we are redeemed, purchased, bought back again to be God’s peculiar possession (Acts 20:28
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