"Healing is not guaranteed in the atonement, so I shouldn't presume upon God's will."
How it sounds in your head: My pastor said 'physical healing isn't always God's will; spiritual healing is what's guaranteed.' The theology books explain that 'by His stripes we are healed' is metaphorical for sin-healing. Maybe I'm being presumptuous expecting physical healing. Maybe the real victory is accepting this.
"Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you WERE healed."
-- 1 Peter 2:24Theology draining Isaiah 53 of its physical healing promise to explain away why Christians stay sick, making the cross incomplete.
Respected Bible teachers have taught her that healing was for the early church or that it's symbolic. She's seen godly people die sick, missionaries with cancer, pastors with chronic illness—if THEY didn't get healed, maybe it really isn't guaranteed. The 'if it be Your will' safety clause feels humble, not faithless.
Jesus went about Galilee 'healing ALL kinds of sickness and ALL kinds of disease among the people. Then they brought to Him ALL who were sick... with various diseases and torments... and He healed them.' Not some. Not the specially chosen. ALL. No exceptions, no conditions, no 'if it's My will' disclaimers. Healing was automatic, immediate, universal—the same yesterday, today, forever.
I REFUSE the lie that physical healing is not in the atonement. IT IS WRITTEN in 1 Peter 2:24 that by His stripes I WAS healed—past tense, finished work. Isaiah 53 says He CARRIED my sicknesses, BORE my pains, not just my sins. Matthew 8:17 applies this to PHYSICAL healing. The same cross that purchased my forgiveness purchased my healing. IT IS WRITTEN that Jesus healed ALL who came—not some, not the elect, but ALL. I am not presuming; I am receiving what Calvary already paid for. The BARAK covenant blessing includes health—it says 'the LORD will take away from you ALL sickness' (Deut 7:15). This is my inheritance. I take it.
Your Father is not holding back healing as some optional add-on to salvation. While theologians are arguing whether Isaiah 53 'really means' physical healing, He's pointing to Matthew 8:17 where His own Spirit interpreted it for us—'He took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.' The cross was complete. Your healing was included. Will you receive it?