Devotional # 5: No Condemnation
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. – (Romans 8:1-2 NIV).
About a year after my diagnosis, I was invited to a Christmas Party by friends. I was excited to go because I had become so socially isolated during my initial chemo and radiation that I rarely got such invitations from friends. At this party I met a couple that I had not met before. The man in the couple wanted to pray for me. I never turn down prayer, so I consented. Unfortunately, the prayer was more damaging than helpful. The man claimed that God was telling him that I was not experiencing healing because there was sin in my life. While I knew this was not true, the fact that someone would make this claim was just shocking. I now understand this is more common than an average person would think.
A similar scene struck me when I watched the movie “Miracles from Heaven,” in which a young girl who had been undergoing years of treatment for a painful and life threatening digestive condition known as Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction. There is a scene in that movie which appalls many people. In this scene, members of the girl’s church approach her mother and tell her that they believe that God is punishing the daughter for sin.
Of course, this is mindboggling to those of us who are close to God because we know that God does not operate this way. In fact, if we know Christ, we are free from the law of sin and death. While it is true that the “wages of sin is death,” scripture tells us there is “NO condemnation” for those of us who have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior. God’s love for us, regardless of our acceptance of Him, is also abounding. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8 NIV.
We must be clear that the origin of sickness and pain is with Satan and not God. Human bodies were not intended to deteriorate. Satan’s temptation of Adam and Eve to commit the original sin allowed disease and turmoil to enter our world. Undoubtedly, there are physical consequences to some sin. Examples may include self-inflected physical damage caused by substance abuse, or physical damaged caused by another’s sin, such as a violent assault. Make no mistake about it, Christ does not punish His followers with illness. Satan, however, may use violence or sin to cause pain. Scripture tells us that the devil seeks to cause death, while Christ offers not just life, but an abundant life. As Christ tell us, “The thief (meaning Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10 NASB.
That God allows diseases, pandemics, and even natural disasters does not mean He is the cause or that it is His desire. Simply put, bad thing happen because we live in a fallen world. Christ’s demonstrated this in His consistent physical healing during His ministry on Earth. In fact, when Jesus was unable to perform other miracles in Nazareth because of the people’s unbelief, he still healed the sick. See Mark 6:1-5 NIV. The Gospels are full of story after story of Christ’s healing, from leaper (Matthew 8:1-4 NIV) to the bleeding woman (Luke 8:43-48 NIV) to the blind beggar (John 9:1-12 NIV).
If you have accepted Christ as your Savior, you sin is covered by His blood. If it were not, His atoning work on the cross would be diminished. “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 NIV.
If anyone suggests that God is using illness or physical disabilities to correct or punish you for sin, remind yourself that when you accepted Christ you became a new creation and that Christ has already paid the price for every sin you have committed or will commit in the future.
We must also be exceptionally careful in claiming to speak for God. Everything must be weighed against scripture and formed in a way that edifies those in pain rather than serving the Devil’s purpose of causing more destruction. Again, it is typically best to express sorrow and offer prayers for healing than say anything else.
For Additional Study & Discussion
1. Do you believe Christ’s sacrifice on the cross covers our sin once and for all? Why or why not?
2. Read the story of Christ healing the blind beggar in John 9:1-12. How does/did Christ use this tell us and His disciples about the relationship between sin and sickness?
3. How should we respond to people who believe that God punishes His people with sickness for their sins?