There are plenty of Christians with rock solid faith who have asked for healing and it has never materialized. Epaphroditus was undoubtedly a man of great faith, but he almost died -- he was seriously sick. God had mercy on him and on Paul in that he finally recovered. But there was no guarantee for Epaphroditus. Now if healing was guaranteed in the Atonement, Epaphroditus should have been the last person to get sick. He was an outstanding servant of the Lord.
Physical healing is NOT guaranteed to Christians, neither is freedom from afflictions, trials, tribulations, testings, poverty, and martyrdom. So those who claim that if you have enough faith you will be healed are fooling others. And of course the faith healers are simply charalatans becoming prosperous on the backs of gullible Christians. Having said that, God does heal as He pleases, and ultimately all healing which occurs comes from God. Even the use of medical science is ultimately in God's hands for healing. Doctors and surgeons can only take a small part of the credit.
Also, having said that, while the Lord Jesus Christ was on earth He healed absolutely everyone who came to Him or DID NOT come to Him, even those who may not have believed on Him as Messiah. or had faith in His healing powers, or even requested healing. We can take the examples of the man who was blind from birth and totally recovered his sight without requesting any healing. Then we have the cripple at the pool of Bethesda who never expected Jesus to heal him and received the shock of his life when he was totally healed. Why was the Lord doing His signs, wonders and miracles (including His healing miracles)? Because that was a part of the ministry of Messiah on earth, and to incontrovertibly establish that He was indeed the Son of God and the Messiah of Israel.
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know... (Acts 2:22).
But to His disciples He said "In the world ye SHALL have TRIBULATION" (John 16:33) and one of the most troublesome things are sickness and disease. So let's not fool ourselves or others. Some may be healed. Others may be brought "nigh unto death".
Physical healing is NOT guaranteed to Christians, neither is freedom from afflictions, trials, tribulations, testings, poverty, and martyrdom. So those who claim that if you have enough faith you will be healed are fooling others. And of course the faith healers are simply charalatans becoming prosperous on the backs of gullible Christians. Having said that, God does heal as He pleases, and ultimately all healing which occurs comes from God. Even the use of medical science is ultimately in God's hands for healing. Doctors and surgeons can only take a small part of the credit.
Also, having said that, while the Lord Jesus Christ was on earth He healed absolutely everyone who came to Him or DID NOT come to Him, even those who may not have believed on Him as Messiah. or had faith in His healing powers, or even requested healing. We can take the examples of the man who was blind from birth and totally recovered his sight without requesting any healing. Then we have the cripple at the pool of Bethesda who never expected Jesus to heal him and received the shock of his life when he was totally healed. Why was the Lord doing His signs, wonders and miracles (including His healing miracles)? Because that was a part of the ministry of Messiah on earth, and to incontrovertibly establish that He was indeed the Son of God and the Messiah of Israel.
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know... (Acts 2:22).
But to His disciples He said "In the world ye SHALL have TRIBULATION" (John 16:33) and one of the most troublesome things are sickness and disease. So let's not fool ourselves or others. Some may be healed. Others may be brought "nigh unto death".
[h=1]G2347[/h]θλίψις
thlipsis
thlip'-sis
From G2346; pressure (literally or figuratively): - afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.
Total KJV occurrences: 45
affliction:
[h=1]G2347[/h]θλίψις
thlipsis
thlip'-sis
From G2346; pressure (literally or figuratively): - afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.
Total KJV occurrences: 45