December 30, 2023
“And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” Matthew 8:2,3 KJV, emphasis added.
This is one of many healing miracles in scripture, and it’s a story we’re familiar with. It shows the compassion of our Savior and His love for humanity, especially for those who are suffering. I never get tired of reading stories like this. They always bless me and remind me how great our God is.
Leprosy in the Bible symbolizes death and sin. It serves as a metaphor for sin. Leprosy is a disease that begins invisibly inside and gradually becomes visible on the outside. This mirrors how sin functions: it begins in the heart and eventually shows itself through sinful actions for everyone to see. In biblical times, leprosy was a form of living death, with no cure. Among all the healings performed by Jesus, curing the leper was a powerful declaration of His purpose to save us from sin itself, not just its effects.
Healing from the scourge of leprosy was life-changing for this man. As a leper, he was an outcast from society. He probably had to beg for his daily bread. His only companions were other lepers like himself. Everyone knew there was no cure for leprosy. What hope did a leper have? Jesus was this man’s only hope, and the leper was not disappointed when he sought healing from Jesus. Praise God.
How is it that we Christians can believe this story about physical healing but not the story about a savior who came to save us from our sins and not in our sins? “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name, JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21, emphasis added.
How many “Christians” call out to Jesus to save them from their sins rather than in their sins? Can anyone genuinely believe that Jesus would willingly heal us physically but be unwilling to heal us spiritually and from our sins? Isn’t that absurd? Very few of us would openly express such unbelief, even though most of us hold that unbelief inwardly. We seem to think that Jesus is either unwilling or unable to deliver us from the habit and practice of sinning. Many pastors and ordinary Christians suggest that Jesus does not want us to be free from the “leprosy of sin.” They have no problem believing that Jesus saves us from the consequences of sin (hell), but are hesitant to believe in Jesus for healing from a sinful lifestyle. Is there any sin too difficult for God to save us from?
Some Christians even suggest that if Jesus did heal us from sinning, then we might become proud, and that is not what Jesus wants. Therefore, He lets us remain in sin so we stay humble. Hard to believe, but there are “Christians” who teach this stuff. Seriously, can’t Jesus heal us from the sin of pride as well as any other type of sin? Many “Christians” seem to think that Jesus wants us to remain in the leprosy of sin.
Why do many of us go to Jesus Christ for financial healing, relational healing, and physical healing, but rarely go to Him to be healed from sinning? His primary purpose in coming to earth, as our Savior, was to save us from our sins, wasn’t it? Is that not precisely what Matthew 1:21 proclaims? Is Jesus too weak to save us from the leprosy of sin? Is Jesus limited to physical healing only?
May I suggest to you the following reasons that explain why most evangelical Christians rarely believe God for healing from a lifestyle of sin:
- We have been told repeatedly that we will, even as children of God, sin in thought, word, and deed daily. Christians know that if that is true, then God must make allowances for our sinful conduct. Christians also know that it would be unjust of God to send us to hell for sinning if, even with the grace of God, we are not able to stop habitual sinning. No wonder “Christians” love being told that they will sin in thought, word, and deed every day.
- We have also been taught that even though we continue to sin daily, we are nonetheless going to heaven because we are eternally secure. A money-back guarantee is a strong incentive to purchase the lie that Jesus came to save us “in” our sins, not from our sins.
- Most importantly, many CINOs (Christians in name only) prefer not being saved from their sins. They like many of these sins and do not want to give them up. They want a savior that saves them “in” sin, not “from” sin. It seems they want to pick the sins they will give up and those that they will keep. Is that too blunt?
Our pastors have misled us about the meaning of salvation and what it means to be born again and become a child of God. Many believe and teach that repentance from sin is not necessary for salvation. We have been lied to about the power of Christ. We’ve been told that Christ can’t save us from the power of sin and that our sinful nature is much stronger than Christ’s atonement and God’s grace. If that were true — which it is not — we would be safe in our sins.
I am pretty sure the leper in this story was told by all his family, friends, and spiritual leaders that he would never be healed and should expect to live out his days in that condition. That sounds very similar to what Christians today are told by theologians and pastors, who convince them that the leprosy of sin will be with them until they die. Jesus proved that was a lie, and He healed this man from leprosy. Likewise, Jesus came to save us from the leprosy of sin. You and I do not need to spend our days in the bondage of sin. In Christ, there is victory. For those with eyes to see, the evidence is all around us.
How big is your God? My God is able and willing to save to the uttermost. Believe Him. The Lord is willing to heal sinners from the leprosy of sin, but are we willing to be saved from sin? If we are not willing, what does that say about us?
