forgiven

"Thy Sins Be Forgiven Thee"
By Joseph Prescia

Why would Jesus Christ say to someone just before healing them, "Thy sins be forgiven thee?" The person must have needed to hear that. To tell someone that your sins are forgiven very possibly indicates sin consciousness, and condemnation. If this is what is holding a person back from getting healed, then this needs to be eliminated so that healing can take place.

Mark 2:1-12 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. 3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. (KJV)

This man obviously had faith to be healed. Jesus did not have to tell him to do any certain thing to be healed, nor did Jesus touch the man but simply said, "Thy sins be forgiven thee" and "Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house." The man apparently needed to be told, "Thy sins be forgiven thee," in order to receive healing. Jesus saw their faith yet he addressed sin consciousness to the one sick. (This record also appears is in Matthew 9:2-8 and Luke 5:17-26).

Luke 7:36-50 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (KJV)

This record says that the more a person forgives someone the more they love them. This is especially true when it comes to dealing with our children. It’s much easier to forgive your own children, to tolerate more from those whom you love so much more, than from someone outside of your family that you may love less. The more we love the more we can overlook and forgive. Love covers a multitude of sins (I Peter 4:8).

This woman was so thankful for the grace of God in her life that she reciprocated by doing something very tender and loving for Jesus. When a person sees the grace of God in their life they want to do things for God out of a giving heart.

In the Old Testament they had to bring offerings for their sins. Today we have the blessing of sins forgiven because someone accomplished righteousness for us.

Romans 4:1-8 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (KJV)

This is a quote from David in Psalm 32:1-2. All of our sins are forgiven. We are blessed with this spiritual reality. In the Old Testament it took the shedding of blood to cover sins. Today, in the New Testament, one sacrifice accomplished the cleansing of sin for all by Christ’s blood.

Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (KJV)

1 John 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. (KJV)

Sin was the result of disobedience to God. Obedience is the standard God set. We are here to have fellowship with God, to obey Him at His Word. All of our sins are forgiven. We can walk with Him because of that.

In the book of James we have a record that sounds like we have to pray to God before we can get healed.
Even though the book of James is addressed "to the twelve tribes" (rather than the Church of the Body of Christ today) they were also born again of God’s spirit. They had the authority and ability of God in Christ in them just like we have. What was it that they prayed about in order to get healed? In reading the context it looks like there was something keeping them from receiving healing.

James 5:14-15 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick... (KJV)

We understand that a person can be held back from receiving healing deliverance by something like condemnation, unworthiness, etc. Once that is removed they receive the healing. That's apparently the case in the healing of the man with the palsy. Jesus told him, "thy sins be forgiven thee" (Mat 9:2-8, Mark 2:1-12 and Luke 5:17-26) then the man got healed. The James record appears to make the same case when we read the context.

James 5:12-20 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. 13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms (One may sing psalms to stay cheered up and to not fall into condemnation). 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. 19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. (KJV)

Condemnation is mentioned here as well as sins, confessing faults, forgiveness, and righteousness. Righteousness, being a walk without consciousness of sin and condemnation, is how "Elias" walked, a man "subject to like passions as we are." The key in this section appears to be a walk without condemnation, without sin consciousness, going to God, praying to God regarding these things, then a person will be healed. Verse 16 says to confess faults, pray, then healing results. A claim to righteousness avails much or as the NIV says, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." Why? Because that person who walks in righteousness, rather than condemnation, walks with power. That person knows who they are in Christ. They are convinced that sins are forgiven.

Just to say that one "agrees" with the Word of God that sins are forgiven does not mean that they "believe" that their sins are forgiven. One must honestly look at their heart and consider if sin consciousness or condemning oneself for making certain mistakes is what is holding them back from getting healed. If it is, then removing the cause, the blockage, will get you the desired results. "Thy sins are forgiven thee," right now and you are healed right now!

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