The Salvation Series - 6: The Salvation of the Body – Health
Praise God for another wonderful day to share with you as we continue our series on salvation! I began discussing the salvation of the body in our previous topic, but today I want us to take it a step further as we address the area of physical health in salvation.
Scientists say there are countless viruses and pathogens in existence—estimated by some researchers to number in the high powers (10^31 or more)—and new diseases are discovered regularly. No matter how many diseases exist, one thing is certain: they did not exist at the beginning of time. There were no diseases when God created man. Illness entered only after sin was introduced into the human experience. From that point, new afflictions began to emerge over time—from ancient plagues to modern conditions like AIDS, H1N1, and Ebola. Medical science continues to search for cures, and while human discovery helps, God provided the ultimate answer from the start.
A disease is a disorder of the body system caused by the introduction of a harmful agent or the malfunction of an organ. For instance, most infectious illnesses occur when bacteria or viruses invade the body.
Diseases possess two major characteristics: to steal and to destroy. This reflects the very nature of the thief mentioned in Scripture (John 10:10). Diseases do not only rob a person of time and physical strength—they also consume financial resources. A sick person cannot function at full capacity, and their savings are often drained by medical bills.
The Bible tells us of a woman who suffered greatly. The Scripture says, “And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse...” (Mark 5:25–26).
Therefore, we must view disease not as a natural inevitability, but as an enemy and a thief.
Yet, we do not lose hope! God provided an absolute cure for disease through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. What would be the point of saving a person's spirit while leaving their body to suffer? The salvation of Christ is a complete package that addresses every area of human existence. Jesus served as both the payment and the antidote for man’s fallen nature, including physical health. The Scripture says, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24).
To resolve any problem permanently, we must address its root cause. Scripturally, the root cause of disease is sin. Sin introduced imperfection and spiritual death to mankind. The human spirit was created to be the life-force of the body—preserving, renewing, and sustaining it. Once the spirit became alienated from God through sin, the physical body lost its divine vitality and began operating on borrowed time.
Consider the early generations of humanity: figures like Adam and Methuselah lived for over 900 years in physical bodies! Today, humanity struggles to reach 100 years. While God later set a general boundary for human longevity in a fallen world (Genesis 6:3), the accumulation of disease has made long life even more challenging to achieve naturally.
To understand how the spirit protects the body, notice what happened in the Garden of Eden: immediately after man sinned and experienced spiritual death, the glory that clothed him vanished. Man realized he was naked and exposed (Genesis 3). The glory generated by a vibrant, spirit-connected life had served as his primary covering and protection.
The physical body is inherently fragile—formed from the dust of the earth, to which it returns upon death (Genesis 3:19). The Bible notes that it was only when God breathed into man that he became a living soul (Genesis 2:7). That breath was the human spirit, created in God’s image to give life to the physical frame.
Where God's presence dwells, life is sustained. Consider the manna given to the Israelites in the wilderness: if kept overnight, it normally bred worms and rotted (Exodus 16:20). Yet, a portion of that same manna placed inside the Ark of the Covenant—in the direct presence of God—remained fresh for generations (Exodus 16:33).
This is why every human needs the Spirit of God restored through being born again. The Spirit brings the very life of God back into our inner being. The Scripture says, “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” ( Romans 8:10–11).
Under the Old Covenant, before the Holy Spirit indwelt believers, God gave practical health instructions—guidelines on diet, sanitation, and hygiene (Deuteronomy 14). Many infectious outbreaks throughout history have stemmed from eating unsafe animals or poor sanitation, showing the wisdom of basic physical precautions. Taking practical steps—such as eating a balanced diet, practicing personal hygiene (like regular handwashing), keeping a clean environment, and exercising—remains vital for protecting the body. Prevention is always better than cure.
In Christianity, we can view health through two dimensions:
1. Healing: Receiving a cure or restoration after falling ill (often correcting a past mistake, bad habit, or exposure).
2. Divine Health: Living continuously in freedom from sickness by walking in divine life and practicing wisdom.
While healing is a wonderful act of mercy, living in divine health is the higher path to life.
Medical science is valuable, but human medicine does not cure every ailment. This is one reason Jesus came: He did not only preach eternal life; He demonstrated divine health. As He ministered, He cast out evil spirits and healed the sick, yet He never contracted an illness—even when crowds pressed against Him to touch Him. The Scripture says, “For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.” (Mark 3:10).
Jesus demonstrated a spiritual realm of walk that shields a believer from being governed solely by earthly limits. When religious leaders questioned why His disciples did not follow ceremonial handwashing traditions before eating (Mark 7:3–4), Jesus clarified a vital principle, saying, “There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.” (Mark 7:15).
He later reiterated this spiritual authority to His followers, saying, “...They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:18).
Jesus was distinguishing between a carnal mindset and a spiritually renewed mind. A carnal mind is bound entirely by natural laws, whereas a spiritual mind is anchored in God's Word. As long as a believer remains spiritually immature, they remain largely subject to earthly patterns (Galatians 4:1–3).
Jesus was not discouraging cleanliness or hygiene. Rather, He was teaching that believers are not helplessly trapped by natural exposure when their faith is active. Eating with unwashed hands carries natural risk, and good hygiene is always recommended. But if you accidentally eat with unwashed hands or face exposure, fear and anxiety will cause you more harm than the physical event itself; and bad hygiene only defiles the body but not the spirit – it is sin that defiles the spirit, and inherently defiles the whole being. That was Jesus teaching in Mark 7.
Practical wisdom alone cannot guarantee divine health. The surest way to walk in continuous physical vitality is to follow Jesus by walking in step with the Holy Spirit. Allowing the Word of God to guide your life activates the power of your recreated spirit to quicken your mortal body. The Scripture says, “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.” (Romans 8:13).
Many sicknesses faced today are aggravated by spiritual forces that exploit human mistakes, stress, or sin. When Jesus healed a man who had been bedridden for 38 years (John 5), He told him, “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” (John 5:14).
Addressing sin and walking in alignment with God is fundamental to living in wholeness. At the same time, we must not abuse God's grace by living recklessly, eating improperly, or neglecting basic health, expecting miracles to cover intentional negligence. Miracles and healing are God’s merciful way of restoring what lack of wisdom or disobedience damaged; divine health is sustaining wholeness with both wisdom and faith.
If you are born again, you can walk in divine health by faith and obedience to the Holy Spirit. If you currently need healing in your body, receive it today as you stand on God's Word.
I often use 1 Peter 2:24 as my "spiritual prescription." Whenever I feel symptoms—or even when I feel perfectly healthy—I meditate on and declare this truth over my life:
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” — 1 Peter 2:24
I encourage you to memorize and speak this verse over yourself daily like spiritual vitamins.
Let us pray together in faith:
Prayer for Healing:
Oh Lord, You said that by the stripes of Jesus we were healed. I therefore claim my healing right now from any sickness, pain, or disease in my body, because my body is Your temple. I receive my wholeness today in Jesus' name, Amen.
If you prayed this prayer in faith, stand firm in belief and expect to see the physical manifestation of your healing! Keep thanking God for your healing, confessing 1 Peter 2:24 and walking in wisdom to maintain your health. Have a blessed day!
Today’s Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2, Hebrews 11
Prayer for Salvation:
Dear Lord, I believe Jesus died and rose again for me. Forgive me of all my sins and come into my life. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. Wash me with your precious blood. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Congrats! If you said this prayer in faith, your status has changed—you are now a child of God!