B. Faith (1 Corinthians 12:9)

1. This is not saving faith, which is possessed by all believers (Eph 2:8-9).
2. It is a special gift of supernatural faith (1 Cor 13:2).
3. It is not tied directly to general scriptural promises but is situation  specific.
4. It is not based on natural knowledge about a situation.It is the conviction that God will act in power and mercy in a special way in specific instances.
5. It appears to be linked, though not necessarily exclusively, to healings and miracles which follow in the next verse.
6. The Bible contains many examples eg. Dan 3:19ff; 6:19ff; 1 Kings 17:1ff; Mark 4:35ff; Acts 9:36ff.
7. Since faith comes from hearing the message about Jesus (Romans 10:17), it must be that as the Spirit applies the truth of the gospel to the heart of a Christian (Romans 10:10) that the word of faith is released.
8. We actually share in the faith of Jesus (Heb 12:2).  A faith that believed that God could transform the impossible situation of crucifixion and death into the glory of the resurrection and new creation.
9. As the Spirit imparts the life of Christ faith believes that the most impossible situation can be transformed for the glory of God.

C. Gifts of healings (1 Corinthians 12:9)

1. Supernatural healing from physical or other maladies.
2. The meaning of the double plural in the Greek is uncertain.  It may indicate repeated occurrences of the gift or different gifts of healings.  Some people may function in relation to certain disorders, or show healing gifts at certain times.
3. Biblical examples include: Num 21:6ff; 2 Kings 5:14; 20:5ff; Luke 6:6ff; John 5:1ff; Acts 3:1ff; 28:7-9.
4. Sickness is part of the judgement of God on a fallen world (Gen 2:17; 3:13 ff; Rom 8:20ff).
5. This may be specific as well as general (Lev 26:16; Num 12:10ff; Deut 7:15; 28:15ff; Ps 106:15; Jer 16:4).
6. God may use the devil as his instrument in effecting his wrath over sinful people through the affliction of illness (Job 1:6-12; Mark 9:14-27; Luke 13:16; Acts 10:38; 1 John 3:8).
7. In covenant, God promises to heal (Exodus 15:26), and there are references to this in the Old Testament (Gen 20:17; Exod 23:25; Num 12:13-15; 2 Sam 24:25; 1 Kings 17:17-23; 2 Kings 4:18-35; 5:1-14; 13:20-21; 20:1-5; Psalm 32:3ff; 103:1-3).
8. These are always in the context of faith, repentance and obedience.  (For a fuller discussion on this see Appendix 2 below).
9. The preaching of Jesus brings in a new element, the in-breaking of the kingdom (lordship) of God into history (Mark 1:5;  Matt 12:28).
10. Jesus demonstrates the reality of the kingdom of God by the frequency and nature of His miracles.  Time and again, he healed every sufferer who came to him (Matthew 4:23-24; 8:16; 9:35; 12:15; 14:14; 19:2; 21:14; Mark 1:34; 3:10;Luke 4:40; 5:5; 6:18, 19.)
11. The death and resurrection of Jesus means that the final victory of God’s kingdom over all evil powers, including illness, is achieved.  Sin has been borne (Rom 7:4; Eph 2:16; Heb 10:10; 1 Pet 2:24; 3:18; 4:1), its penalty has been exacted (Rom 3:21 26; 5:6 etc), the curse of the law has been removed (Gal 3:13).  The fullness of judgement is past (Mark 15:34 = Psalm 22:1 cf. vv. 3,5,6 and Job 25:6).
12. This means that Satan’s power is nullified (Col 2:13-15; Heb 2:14-15; 1 John 3:8) and peace is made between God and his whole creation  (Rom 5:10; 2 Cor 5; Col 1:19-20).
13. The ministry of the apostles, and the church, in healing the sick is a sign of the reality of the resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the kingdom of God.
14. Healing in Jesus’ name testifies to the reality of Jesus’ own resurrection power and to the authenticity of the claim that eternal life is available in Him (Acts 3:1-11; 5:12-16; 6:8; 8:5-8; 9:36; 14:8-10; 14:19-20; 16:16-18; 19:11-12; 28:3-5; 28:8,9; Phil 2:25-30).
15. Since ALL believers share in the risen life of Jesus we should expect miracles and healings in/through the church as expressions of the life of Christ communicated in the Spirit.(Acts 1:1; 1 Cor 12:14; Gal 3:5; Heb 2:3-4; James 5:13-16).
16. Nevertheless, God may at times have reasons for not healing the sick. (See Appendix 1 below.)

D. Working of miracles (1 Corinthians 12:10)

1. This is literally the “workings of powers.”
2. These draw attention to the supernatural power of God. (Matt 11:20,21,23; 13:58; 24:24; Mark 6:1,5; Luke 10:13; Acts 2:22; 2 Cor 12:12; Heb 2:4).
3. They refer to miraculous powers other than healings; such as deliverances and nature miracles.
4. As with healings, miracles point to the in-breaking of the new creation/kingdom of God in the resurrection of Christ.
5. Most of the theology associated with healing (discussed above) can be applied directly to the miraculous.

E.  The Spiritual Climate of the New Testament

1. A discussion of these gifts reminds us of the expected spiritual climate of the New Testament.
2. That is, under the new covenant formed with humanity in Jesus the supernatural power of God was anticipated as a regular, even if unpredictable, part of the life of the church.
3. It is normal for Christians to expect God to heal today (see Appendix 3) and to do the miraculous (Gal 3:5) for the realm of the Spirit is the realm in which these sort of events take place.

F.  Questions for Application

1.  Should we expect the gift of faith to be manifested in the life of ALL Christians or just especially mature believers?
2. Should it operate in the life of every congregation?  (See Mark 2:5; James 5:13).
3.  Do you, or the group you are a part of, pray for the sick in a New Testament manner. (Laying on of hands, anointing with oil, confession of sin, use of the name of Jesus etc.)
4. Given the prominence of healing, and the miraculous, in the ministry of Jesus and the early church can the church today afford to marginalise these gifts?
5. How important are power gifts to the advancement of Christian mission, in Australia and overseas?

Appendix One: Why God Does Not Always Heal

1. God is sovereign: there is a mystery on the human side concerning all of God’s working (Isaiah 55:8-9).  There may be no apparent reason (to us) as to why a person is not healed.  At this point unconditional trust in God’s revealed character must be encouraged (1 John 3:11; 1 Peter 1:21).
2. Death:  this may be God’s best way to relieve suffering.
3. Doctors: it may be the desire of the Lord to heal through the common grace he dispenses by medical services.
4. Unbelief:  this can be a major hindrance to healing.  This is not to be confused with a lack of faith.  Unbelief is a will commitment that such-and-such will not happen, it is a positive rejection of God’s compassion and mercy (Mark 6:1-6).
5. Unrepentance: sin can be a cause of sickness, either psychosomatic, behavioural or as divine judgement (1 Cor 11:30-32; Rev 2:22-23).  If such is the case and there is a refusal to repent, God cannot be expected to heal.
6. Our highest good:  the highest good of man is not physical wholeness but perfect conformity to the moral likeness of Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:29; 1 John 3:2).  The Scriptures consider that to suffer with and for Jesus is a gift (Acts 14:32; Romans 8:17; Phil. 1:29; 2:10; Col. 1:24; 1 Peter 5:13).  This privilege cannot be restricted to persecution, and there are no doubt many cases where God is best able to work the character of Jesus in us through the circumstances and pain of illness (cf. Rom 5:3-4; 12:2; 2 Cor 4:16). This is not to say that suffering is ever in itself a good thing, but that God is able to work good through evil, as the example of the cross perfectly illustrates (cf. Rom. 8:28).  In the case of Paul God expressly allowed him to remain afflicted so that he would be humble (2 Cor 12:1-10).  The apostle came to treat this as an occasion not for resentment but for thankfulness  (2 Cor. 12:10).

Appendix 2: Healing and Faith

1. Some Christians claim that where is offered for the sick in the name of Jesus and no healing results this must be due to a lack of faith in the recipient.
2. Such a position leads easily to spiritual triumphalism or disappointment.
3. This position overlooks that faith itself is a gift of God and not human work (Eph 2:8-9; Phil 1:29; Heb 12:2; 2 Pet 1:1), there are many healings with no mention of faith (Num 12:13-15; 2 Kings 5:1-14; 13:20-21; Matt 8:14-15; 28-34; 17:14-18 etc), the faith of others may be involved (Mark 2:15; 7:24ff; Matt 8:5ff; James 5:15), absence of faith, or doubt, is not the same as unbelief (Matt 13:58; Mark 9:24), godly persons are afflicted (2 Kings 13:14ff; Prov 8:27; 2 Cor 12:1-10; Gal 4:13; 1 Tim 5:23; 2 Tim 4:20; Phil 2:25-30).

Appendix 3: Why God Heals Today

1. To bring himself glory as God – revelation of goodness, love, mercy, power etc. (Mark 2:12; Luke 13:11; Acts 4:21).
2. To establish the truth of the resurrection of Jesus, and so his claims to be the Son of God (Mark 2:1-11; Jn 10:36-38; Acts 3:15-16).
3. To authorise the gospel message (Acts 4:19-20, 33; 5:12; 8:6-7).
4. To draw people within the sound of the gospel so they might be convinced of the coming of the kingdom and turn to God in faith (John 6:2; Acts 5:12-14; 9:32-35; 19:11-20).
5. To comfort, console (Luke 11:11-17; Acts 20:7-12).
6. To inspire courage and faith in God’s people (Luke 11:11-17).
7. To release and equip people for service and ministry (Mark 1:29-31; Phil 2:25-30).