The SAVED Test
Many cases of confusion and questioning about healing can be resolved using The SAVED Test. Since healing is part of salvation, simply substitute SAVED (in the sense of being able to go to heaven instead of hell) for HEALED in someone’s question or argument, and the matter almost resolves itself. Whatever answer would apply to the SAVED question, you can then apply back to the HEALED question and you then have your answer. Here are some examples:
“If God wants everyone healed, why doesn’t He heal everyone?”
now becomes
“If God wants everyone saved, why doesn’t He save everyone?”
You should be able to answer that second question easily. God has clearly PROVIDED for everyone’s salvation in light of 1 John 2:2 and many other Scriptures, but not everyone receives it. So the answer to the first question is that God has PROVIDED for everyone’s healing, but not everyone receives it.
“Someone asked for healing, but God told him NO.”
now becomes
“Someone asked for salvation, but God told him NO.”
You would know that the second statement can’t be right, because Jesus said that whoever came to Him He would by no means cast out (John 6:37). So the first statement can’t be right, either, no matter who says it or how often you hear it. (See Objection: Sometimes God Says, “Yes,” Sometimes He Says, “No,” and Sometimes He says, “Wait” When You Ask for Healing.)
“God won’t heal you until it is His predetermined time to do so.”
now becomes
“God won’t save you until it is His predetermined time to do so.”
You would know that the second statement can’t be right, because 2 Corinthians 6:2 tells you that NOW is the accepted time; NOW is the day of salvation. Therefore, the first statement is wrong also – NOW is the day of healing.
“You should ask God to heal you IF IT BE HIS WILL”
now becomes
“You should ask God to save you IF IT BE HIS WILL”
You know that the second statement must be false because 1 Timothy 2:3-4 and 2 Peter 3:9 say that God wants everyone to be saved. Likewise, God wants everyone to be HEALED, so you don’t have to question His will in that matter either.
“Just go up to the altar, and if God wants to heal you, He will, and if He doesn’t, He won’t. His will be done.”
now becomes
“Just go up to the altar, and if God wants to save you, He will, and if He doesn’t, He won’t. His will be done.”
I hope no one would ever give the second version’s “altar call from hell” because we KNOW God’s will concerning people’s salvation. God wouldn’t have sent Jesus to bear the sins of the entire world if He didn’t want the entire world to be saved. Likewise, God wouldn’t have put all “our” sicknesses and “our” pains on Jesus if He didn’t want the entire world to be healed.
“Not everyone got healed at the miracle service, so it must not be God’s will to heal all.”
now becomes
“Not everyone got saved at the evangelistic service, so it must not be God’s will to save all.”
You can see the folly of getting doctrine from experience plainly enough in the second version; we would never question God’s will to save ALL just because some people did not receive salvation that night. Likewise, we would never question God’s will to heal ALL just because some people did not receive healing that night. We ALWAYS get our doctrine from the Word of God, NEVER from experience.
“Because God is sovereign, He has the right to make exceptions in certain cases and withhold healing.”
now becomes
“Because God is sovereign, He has the right to make exceptions in certain cases and withhold salvation.”
We’ve already established based on John 6:37 that salvation will never be withheld from anyone who wants it. Therefore, healing will never be withheld from anyone who wants it.
“Being healed might not be the best thing for you at this time, and God knows that.”
now becomes
“Being saved might not be the best thing for you at this time, and God knows that.”
God commands everyone to be saved, so it is never the best thing for you at this time to remain a hell-bound slave of sin. Likewise, healing is oppression of the devil (Acts 10:38), so it is never the best thing for you at this time to remain in bondage to sickness, which is the devil’s invention.
“Sickness is just a cross we must bear.”
now becomes
“Being lost is just a cross we must bear.”
Why would Jesus, who died for you so that you could have abundant life, want you to bear a cross of perdition? Obviously, He wouldn’t. Nor would He want you to bear a cross of sickness. (Other things wrong with this that that are explained elsewhere.)
“We need to get everyone in the church praying around the clock until God decides to grant this person healing.”
now becomes
“We need to get everyone in the church praying around the clock until God decides to grant this person salvation.”
Can you see how silly this is when you apply it to the new birth? The sinner needs to hear the Word and act on it to be saved. The sick person needs to hear the Word and act on it to be healed. God is not making individual decisions about things He said are for everyone in His Word! God made His decisions long before you or the sick person were ever born, and they are always YES and AMEN!
“If divine healing really works, we should go empty out the local nursing home.”
now becomes
“If the new birth really works, we should go empty out the local strip club.”
There is more to it than whether or not something works. It depends whether the people who hear the good news receive it or not, and that is their choice – we can’t override anyone’s free will and force him to believe anything.
“Sometimes God wants you to get very sick so that you can witness to your hospital roommate.”
now becomes
“Sometimes God wants you to sin very badly so that you can witness to your prison cellmate.”
This same kind of logic will probably serve you well if you hear other similar arguments against divine healing.