KFLCC Kingdom Economics

Provision for All Blessings is Found in the Atonement

Years ago, Dr. Miller and I were preparing to tape the television series on the meal that heals. Dr. Miller indicated that most churches emphasize only one aspect of the atonement. They believe that Christ’s sufferings were for one purpose only, and that is the forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness of sins is the foundation of Christianity, and the primary emphasis of any believer or church should be to preach a redemptive covenant through the cross of Jesus Christ. The Full Gospel message however, acknowledges a two-fold atonement, consisting of redemption of the spirit (forgiveness of sins) and physical healing which was also provided by the beating Christ took on His back, prior to the crucifixion (Isa 53:5; 1 Pet. 2:24). Most Full Gospel (Pentecostal and Charismatic) churches acknowledge that Jesus has the power today to heal the sick through the prayer of faith and the call for elders to pray for the sick based on James 5:14. Yet, few Christians understand the third dimension of atonement—that emotional healing is also provided through the sufferings of Christ! The same churches that will preach salvation on Sunday morning and anoint the sick with oil on Sunday night, often send their members to a professional counselor or a psychologist to handle their emotional problems. I believe in Christian counseling when necessary, especially when somebody has dealt with long term and severe problems. Yet, we read where Christ carried “ oppression , rejection and grief” in His own body (Isa. 53:3). In Isaiah chapter 53, we read that Christ carried our sins to release us from our own sins, bore sickness to bring healing, and carried the emotional pains caused by oppression, rejection and grief so through His new covenant we would be made whole or complete through Him (1 Thess. 5:23). Counseling may discover the root of the addictions and problems, but the power of Christ is needed for a complete deliverance from the addiction or the emotional bondage. As we discussed the various dimensions of the atonement, I was taken aback when Doc said, “Did you know that all of our material blessing were also a part of Christ’s atoning work?” That comment seized my attention. How could the sufferings of Christ and His death and resurrection be connected to our personal blessings, especially provision for our material needs? When I have made this statement in the past, some Christians look at me as if I have fallen off a cliff. Some think it sounds heretical. I believe this is because they do not understand the full and complete work of Christ, and they have a secular and worldly view of prosperity and blessing. In their mind, blessing alludes only to earthly and material prosperity; or as they interpret it, “You mean

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