Healing and Redemption in Christian Perspective
Healing and redemption are central themes in Christian thought, often understood as intertwined aspects of God's restorative work. Redemption, at its core, signifies the purchase back of something lost through the payment of a ransom [3]. This concept is frequently applied to Christ's work, where he is identified as the "Redeemer" who delivers humanity from evil by paying a ransom [5]. The Greek term apolutrosis, translated as redemption, consistently carries the idea of a price paid [3]. Paul writes in Romans 3:24 that believers are "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" [1]. This redemption is not merely a moral reformation but a work of the Holy Spirit that brings the entire person under new gracious principles, a process known as sanctification [6].
The concept of healing in the Bible encompasses both physical restoration and spiritual renewal. Sickness is sometimes presented as a consequence of sin or as a divine judgment, though God also promises and exhibits mercy and power in healing [4]. For instance, James 5:15 states that "the prayer of faith will heal him who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven" [2]. This passage directly links physical healing with the forgiveness of sins.
Theological interpretations often connect healing with redemption. John Gill, commenting on Jeremiah 33:6, suggests that God's promise to "bring it health and cure" refers to the healing of spiritual maladies, specifically the diseases of sin, through the blood of the Messiah [9]. This healing is understood as the application of pardoning grace and mercy, which brings comfort to "wounded consciences" [7]. Similarly, Gill interprets Jeremiah 17:14, "Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed," as an acknowledgment that only God can grant forgiveness for sins, which are likened to diseases [10].
The work of Christ is seen as foundational to both healing and redemption. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary on Colossians 1:22 emphasizes that Christ's reconciling sufferings occurred "in the body of his flesh" and "through His death," enabling him to atone for humanity's fallen state [8]. This redemptive act provides the basis for spiritual healing, as God can "heal the most desperate sinfulness" [12]. The redemption of Zion, according to Gill on Isaiah 1:27, is a spiritual deliverance from the captivity of sin, Satan, and the law, and it is plenteous and eternal [13]. This redemption is the source of other blessings like justification, pardon, and conversion [13]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary also notes that affliction is often described as disease, and relief is described as healing [14]. The knowledge of Christ, particularly "the power of his resurrection," assures believers of their justification and raises them up spiritually [11].
Sources
- Romans “being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; -- Romans 3:24”
- James “and the prayer of faith will heal him who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. -- James 5:15”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Redemption — The purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is apolutrosis, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, i.e., redemption by a lutron (see Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are instances in the LXX. Version of the Old Testament of the use of lutron in man's relation to man (Lev. 19:20; 25:51; Ex. 21:30; Num. 35:31, 32; Isa. 45:13; Prov. 6:35), and in the same sense of man's relation to God (Num. 3:49; 18:15). There are many passages in the New Tes”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sickness — Sent by God -- De 28:59-61; 32:39; 2Sa 12:15; Ac 12:23. The devil sometimes permitted to inflict -- Job 2:6,7; Lu 9:39; 13:16. Often brought on by intemperance -- Ho 7:5. Often sent as a punishment of sin -- Le 26:14-16; 2Ch 21:12-15; 1Co 11:30. One of God's four sore judgments on a guilty land -- Eze 14:19-21. God Promises to heal. -- Ex 23:25; 2Ki 20:5. Heals. -- De 32:39; Ps 103:3; Isa 38:5,9. Exhibits his mercy in healing. -- Php 2:27. Exhibits his power in healing. -- Lu 5:17. Exhibits his love in healing. -- Isa 38:17. Often manifests saving grace to”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Redeemer — Heb. goel; i.e., one charged with the duty of restoring the rights of another and avenging his wrongs (Lev. 25:48, 49; Num. 5:8; Ruth 4:1; Job 19:25; Ps. 19:14; 78:35, etc.). This title is peculiarly applied to Christ. He redeems us from all evil by the payment of a ransom (q.v.). (See [524]REDEMPTION.)”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sanctification — Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor. 6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1 Cor. 6:1”
- Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 19:22: And the Lord shall smite Egypt,.... By one afflictive providence or another, which shall awaken them to a sense of sin and duty; or smite their consciences with convictions of sin, through the ministry of the word by his spirits: he shall smite and heal it; or "smiting and healing" (f); as he smites he shall heal, by an application of pardoning grace and mercy, by sprinkling the blood of Christ on their wounded consciences, and by pouring in the oil and wine of divine love into the wounds made by sin: and they shall return, even to the Lord: by faith and repentan”
- Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 1:22: In the body of his flesh--the element in which His reconciling sufferings had place. Compare Col 1:24, "afflictions of Christ in my flesh" (Pe1 2:24). Angels who have not a "body of flesh" are not in any way our reconciling mediators, as your false teachers assert, but He, the Lord of angels, who has taken our flesh, that in it He might atone for our fallen manhood. through death--rather as Greek, "through His death" (which could only take place in a body like ours, of flesh, Heb 2:14). This implies He took on Him our true and entire manhood. Fle”
- Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 33:6: Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them,.... That is, the church of God, the members of it, typified by Jerusalem; and it is to be understood of the healing of their spiritual maladies, the diseases of sin, through the blood of the Messiah, who should arise with healing in his wings; that is, with remission of sin, which is often meant by healing in Scripture: Christ is the physician; his blood the balm in Gilead, which being applied to those that are diseased with sin, to sin sick souls, it makes an effectual cure of them; so that they shall n”
- Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 17:14: Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed,.... These are the words of the prophet, sensible of his own sins and backslidings, and of the part which he himself had in these corrupt and declining times; and being conscious of his own impotency to cure himself; and being fully satisfied of the power of the Lord to heal him; and being well assured, if he was healed by him, he should be thoroughly and effectually healed; therefore he applies unto him. Sins are diseases; healing them is the forgiveness of them; God only can grant this: or this may have respect to the consol”
- Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 3:10: That I may know him--experimentally. The aim of the "righteousness" just mentioned. This verse resumes, and more fully explains, "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ" (Phi 3:8). To know HIM is more than merely to know a doctrine about Him. Believers are brought not only to redemption, but to the Redeemer Himself. the power of his resurrection--assuring believers of their justification (Rom 4:25; Co1 15:17), and raising them up spiritually with Him, by virtue of their identification with Him in this, as in all the acts of His redeeming work”
- Hosea (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hosea 14:4: God's gracious reply to their self-condemning prayer. backsliding--apostasy: not merely occasional backslidings. God can heal the most desperate sinfulness [CALVIN]. freely--with a gratuitous, unmerited, and abundant love (Eze 16:60-63). So as to the spiritual Israel (Joh 15:16; Rom 3:24; Rom 5:8; Jo1 4:10).”
- Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 1:27: Zion shall be redeemed with judgment,.... The blessing of redemption by Christ is the source and foundation of the other blessings of grace, before mentioned, the little remnant are favoured with, as justification, pardon of sin, and conversion, Isa 1:18, Isa 1:25 it is of a spiritual nature; the redemption of the soul is a deliverance from the captivity of sin, Satan, and the law, and is plenteous and eternal; the objects of redeeming grace are "Zion" and her converts; not the world, but the church is redeemed by Christ; for by Zion is meant, not a place, but peopl”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 30:2: healed me--Affliction is often described as disease (Psa 6:2; Psa 41:4; Psa 107:20), and so relief by healing.”