Thank you for sharing that. I asked several pages ago what was meant by "the attonement" in the PHIA and is the term "the attonement" used in the same way in the Bible and what groups use it in that way, but I did not see a reply. If there was one I missed it among all the pages and I am sorry that I missed it.
Here is something that I found about propitiation (which is the word that is also translated as atonement).
So, atonement in the old testament covered sins and in the new testament shows that Christ took away our sins.
I still do not quite understand what is meant by "the attonement" in PHIA or what physical healing has to do with it.
Once we are glorified with Christ, when He returns, then sin will not be a problem for us.
But until that happens, in this age, in the old creation that we are still in, it will continue to be a problem and we will not be completely free of the matter of sin.
I think you present sincere questions. I would like to address the issue of sin at this time and hopefully explain it to your satisfaction. Sin is the reason for sickness in the earth.
I think most would agree with the fact that when sin entered the world, with it came sickness, disease and physical death as well as spiritual death. In fact if spiritual death had not taken place there would be no physical death either. Sickness and disease are the fruit of sin.
I think most would agree with that statement as well. Sin brought death to the spirit man and his body. What ever impacts the inner man also impacts the outer man. The two are intricately connected and one effects the other.
Its true that our bodies have not yet fully experienced that redemption of a new and glorified body that awaits the believer when Christ returns. But can we live a life free from sickness and disease in the interim? I believe we can and I'll try to explain it from scripture but first back to the issue of sin and specifically this statement.
"But until that happens, in this age, in the old creation that we are still in, it will continue to be a problem and we will not be completely free of the matter of sin."
This would be a major barrier for accepting healing in the atonement and should be addressed. We know and understand the association between sin and sickness, I hope. No sin no sickness. If sin had not entered the world we would not be dealing with sickness and disease.
I want to examine your statement that we can't be completely be free from sin until Christ returns. The problem with that statement is that it doesn't harmonize with the Bible. For example: Ro 6:14
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Here we see that sin shall not have rule over you. So the issue is not being free from sin but that the temptation of sin is not yet removed. Or we could also say that the tempter has not yet been completely removed. But the issue of sin being removed from us by the shed blood of Christ is true. As you have stated yourself that under the NT our sins are removed from us and not just covered over temporarily.
A few more examples of us being free from sin now.
Ro 6:18 Being then made
free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Ro 6:22 But now being made
free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
And we also have this favorite of mine. I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
How many sins does He forgive and cleanse us of? All.
So, the question that comes up often then is why do so many Christians struggle with sin. I think the answer is obvious. The devil is still around and we still have to deal with the flesh and all of its desires. But if we know the truth, that we are now free from sin and that it no longer has dominion over us and do what the scriptures say, then we can walk in victory over sin rather then giving in to it.
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Ro 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do
mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Col 3:5
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
We can see from these passages that we have a lot to do with this issue of sin. God has already dealt with it on our behalf. Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened/made alive together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Our part is to believe it and walk it out. We now have the power to live a Godly life if we are saved. Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
We had no power before but now we do. There is no excuse now. Its up to us now. We either accept the truth that sin shall no longer have dominion over us and live a victorious Christian life or reject it and live a defeated life.
Our sin has been removed. Ps 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Isa 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
Thank God for these wonderful truths.
This issue of sin is foundational and extremely important to understand.
Hopefully, I have been able to remove your barrier regarding sin. Or at least, made you to consider what the scriptures say about it. Unless this is settled for you I see no hope in my presenting any thing regarding healing in the atonement that would convince you. And I say that regrettably.
But I do hope that you would seriously consider and meditate on the scriptures presented and ask the Lord to show you the truth. And with a sincere heart He will.
Peace
