Chapter 1: The Origin of Sickness

Sickness is not part of God’s original design or His will. In His perfect creation, there was no sickness, disease, or death. Romans 5:11-12 explains how sin entered the world through Adam, bringing death and its manifestations, including sickness. Sin introduced thorns, storms, violence, and decay into a creation that was once flawless. Isaiah 11:6-8 illustrates the restored paradise, where harmony replaces hostility in nature, and death is no more.

God’s plan never included sickness or death. These entered the world as a consequence of sin, and the Bible repeatedly emphasizes their connection. Sin is serious; it brought devastation to humanity and creation. Today, society often diminishes the gravity of sin, reframing it as personal struggles rather than transgressions against God. However, Romans 6:23 reminds us, “The wages of sin is death,” highlighting the cost of disobedience. While forgiveness is available through grace, sin’s consequences are still evident. True repentance involves change, not merely regret.

Blaming God for sickness, wars, and suffering is misguided. God is good, and His creation was perfect before sin distorted it. The brokenness of the world results from humanity’s choices, not God’s will. However, even in this fallen state, God provides opportunities for blessing, healing, and restoration. Believers are called to align with God’s will, choosing faith and obedience amidst a broken world.

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Chapter 2: Sickness and Sin’s Consequences

Sickness is a direct result of sin and its effects on the world. Romans 5:12 explains that death entered through sin, spreading to all because all have sinned. Sickness, poverty, and suffering are varying degrees of death—a byproduct of sin’s presence. To claim sickness is God’s will implies that sin, its origin, is also His will, which contradicts His nature.

The Bible highlights sin and sickness. John Alexander Dowie aptly described sickness as “the foul offspring of its father Satan and its mother sin.” This connection underscores the incompatibility of sickness with God’s perfect will. If sin had never entered the world, sickness and death would not exist. Through Christ’s sacrifice, the power of sin has been broken, offering both forgiveness and healing.

James 5:14-15 reinforces this dual provision, where the prayer of faith brings healing and forgiveness. Jesus demonstrated this by healing physical ailments alongside forgiving sins, showing that both stem from the same redemptive work. Believers have the right to claim healing, just as they claim forgiveness, because both are grounded in Christ’s sacrifice. To diminish the significance of healing is to underestimate the full scope of redemption.

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Chapter 3: God’s Cure for Sin and Sickness

Christ’s work on the cross provides the ultimate cure for both sin and its consequences, including sickness. Sin brought death, but Jesus’ sacrifice reversed its power. If sin is forgiven, then the effects of sin, such as sickness, can also be healed. This is the foundation of God’s will for healing. James 5:14-15 encapsulates this truth, linking forgiveness and healing in the same prayer.

Jesus exemplified this principle in His ministry. When He healed a paralyzed man, He declared both forgiveness and healing, asking, “Which is easier to say?” The two acts are inseparable because they stem from the same source: Jesus’ atonement. This underscores the comprehensive nature of redemption, which restores wholeness to both spirit and body.

Believers often struggle to fully embrace this truth, doubting God’s will for healing while readily accepting His will for forgiveness. However, the same faith that secures forgiveness should inspire confidence in healing. God’s will has always been life, health, and wholeness, as evidenced in His original creation and His promises for restoration.

God does not desire sickness or suffering for His people. He is a good God who offers protection, healing, and prosperity even in a fallen world. By aligning with His will, believers can experience His blessings and manifest His kingdom on earth, just as it is in heaven. Through faith, obedience, and reliance on Christ’s work, we can live in the fullness of His redemptive plan.