Healing through the Blood of Jesus Christ Doctrine
The doctrine of healing through the blood of Jesus Christ primarily refers to the spiritual healing of sin and the restoration of a right relationship with God, rather than exclusively physical healing. This understanding is rooted in the New Testament's emphasis on Christ's atoning sacrifice [3].
The concept of "blood" in this context signifies the sacrificial death of Jesus. The Old Testament established that "without shedding of blood there is no remission" of sins [3]. This principle is fulfilled in the New Covenant through Christ's sacrifice. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 3:24 that believers are "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" [1]. This justification, or being declared righteous, is made possible through Christ's blood [3]. Similarly, Galatians 2:16 states that "a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ" [2].
The spiritual healing offered through Christ's blood encompasses several aspects:
- Pardon and Forgiveness of Sins: The blood of Christ is presented as the sole efficacious means for the pardon of sins [3]. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, explains that the healing of "spiritual maladies, the diseases of sin," occurs "through the blood of the Messiah" [6]. He further notes that God cleanses believers from all iniquity "by the blood of Christ, which cleanses from all sin" [9]. The prophets, according to Acts 10:43, bear witness that "through his name, whosoever believeth in him, shall receive the remission of sins" [7]. This remission is a gift of God's grace, received through faith, and is made possible "through the effusion of his blood, and the virtue of his sacrifice" [7].
- Cleansing from Sin: Beyond mere pardon, the blood of Jesus is understood to cleanse believers from the defilement of sin. John Gill interprets Jeremiah 33:8 as referring to cleansing from iniquity "by the blood of Christ, which cleanses from all sin" [9]. This cleansing is often seen in allusion to the purifications under the Old Testament law [9].
- Justification: The act of being justified, or declared righteous in God's sight, is directly linked to Christ's blood. Romans 3:25 states that God presented Christ "as a propitiation through faith in His blood" [3]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist/Wesleyan commentator, notes that the doctrine of faith in Christ "established the very claims and demands of that law, by showing that all was accomplished in the passion and death of Christ, for, without shedding of blood, the law would allow of no remission" [5].
- Reconciliation with God: Through the shedding of his blood, Christ reconciles humanity to God, bridging the gap created by sin. This is the ultimate spiritual healing, restoring fellowship and peace with the Creator [3].
While the primary focus of "healing through the blood of Jesus" is spiritual, some traditions also acknowledge a connection to physical healing, though often as a secondary or derivative benefit. For instance, John Gill, in his commentary on Psalms 107:17, notes that Christ, "the essential Word," went about "healing all manner of diseases among the people" and is also "the physician of souls who came with healing in his wings" [4]. He also references instances where people sought physical healing by touching Christ's garment, believing they would be "perfectly whole" [8]. However, even in these instances, the ultimate efficacy is tied to Christ's divine power and redemptive work, of which his blood is the central symbol.
The emphasis across traditions remains on the blood of Christ as the means by which God provides forgiveness, cleansing, and justification, thereby healing the spiritual brokenness caused by sin [3, 6, 9].
Sources
- Romans “being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; -- Romans 3:24”
- Galatians “yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law. -- Galatians 2:16”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Pardon — Promised -- Isa 1:18; Jer 31:34; Heb 8:12; Jer 50:20. None without shedding of blood -- Le 17:11; Heb 9:22. Legal sacrifices, ineffectual for -- Heb 10:4. Outward purifications, ineffectual for -- Job 9:30,31; Jer 2:22. The blood of Christ, alone, is efficacious for -- Zec 13:1; 1Jo 1:7. Is granted By God alone. -- Da 9:9; Mr 2:7. By Christ. -- Mr 2:5; Lu 7:48. Through Christ. -- Lu 1:69,77; Ac 5:31; 13:38. Through the blood of Christ. -- Mt 26:28; Ro 3:25; Col 1:14. For the name's sake of Christ. -- 1Jo 2:12. According to the riches of grace. -- Eph 1:7. On”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 107:17: He sent his word, and healed them,.... It was his will and pleasure they should be healed, and accordingly they were; he issued his orders for the removal of the affliction, and it was done; diseases are his servants, which come and go at his command; so Christ, in the days of his flesh, healed by speaking a word, Mat 8:3. This is true of Christ the essential Word, who was sent in the fulness of time, and was made flesh and dwelt among men, and went about healing all manner of diseases among the people; and who is also the physician of souls who came with healing in”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 3:31: Do we then make void the law through faith? - 1. By law here we may understand the whole of the Mosaic law, in its rites and ceremonies; of which Jesus Christ was the subject and the end. All that law had respect to him; and the doctrine of faith in Christ Jesus, which the Christian religion proclaimed, established the very claims and demands of that law, by showing that all was accomplished in the passion and death of Christ, for, without shedding of blood, the law would allow of no remission; and Jesus was that Lamb of God which was slain from the foundation of t”
- 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”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 10:43: To him give all the prophets witness,.... As David, Psa 32:1 Dan 9:9 that through his name, whosoever believeth in him, shall receive the remission of sins; the meaning is, that whoever believes in Christ with a right and true faith, with the heart, he shall receive, not as what his faith procures or deserves, but as a gift of God's grace, the free and full forgiveness of his sins, through Christ; through the effusion of his blood, and the virtue of his sacrifice. Christ was set forth in the purposes of God, in the types, figures, and sacrifices of the law, and in the”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 14:35: And besought him that they might touch the hem of his garment,.... As the woman with the bloody issue did; Mat 9:20. This they desired, partly to show the strength of their faith in him, that they doubted not of a cure, could they be admitted so near his person; and partly, to signify the sense of their unworthiness, to be in another way taken notice of by him, either by speaking to them, or putting his hands on them: and as many as touched, were made perfectly whole. Christ condescended to this their request, and perfectly cured all such of their diseases, of wha”
- Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 33:8: And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me,.... Even by the blood of Christ, which cleanses from all sin, of heart, lip, and life, in allusion to the purifications under the law, Jo1 1:7; see Eze 36:25; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me; for Christ's sake, and through his stoning sacrifice, and upon the foot of full satisfaction made by him. A heap of words is here used, to express the fulness of pardoning grace through the blood of Christ, which”