"The Healer of the Soul"

“The Healer of the Soul”

 

 

“He Himself bore our sins” in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by His wounds you have been healed.”  For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.         1 Peter 2:24, 25

 

This epistle or letter from Peter, one of the Lord’s disciples, was written to the Christians who had been scattered throughout the five Roman provinces of Asia Minor, and were either facing persecution or already experiencing the beginning of persecution at the hands of the Roman Emperor, Nero.  It was written as a source of encouragement for them to persevere in such difficult times.  And is a source of encouragement for the TRUE BELIEVERS, today.

 

He begins his letter by stating the facts of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ.  “He Himself bore OUR sins” in His body on the cross.  The ONLY ONE who knew NO sin, became sin by taking on the sins of ALL mankind.  OUR sins were placed upon Him, the ONCE FOR ALL sacrifice, given for the CLEANSING of mankind’s soul, from the sins that were causing the spiritual death of ALL mankind.

 

Jesus Christ took on this horrendous, yet soul-saving, life-giving task, in order for mankind to DIE to their sins and to LIVE for RIGHTEOUSNESS; “by His wounds you have been healed.”  This does NOT refer to a physical healing, but to a spiritual healing, the believers were like sheep who were going astray, they were falling back into their sinful ways, and becoming SIN-SICK again.  They and WE today, were/are in NEED of the HEALER of our souls. 

 

“By His wounds you have been healed.”  These wounds were a part of His suffering.  They were the result of the beating that He took in our place.  They were a part of the dehumanizing and dishonoring effects placed on Him, both physically and spiritually.  He, who knew NO sin, became sin for the SALVATION of MANKIND’S SOULS.  What anguish He must have endured.

 

Peter was exhorting the believers to persevere in their persecutions, and for those who were falling back into their sinful life-styles, he was encouraging them to return to the GOOD SHEPHERD and OVERSEER of their souls. 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are SIN-SICK and in DESPERATE need of the HEALER of the soul, the ONLY ONE who can SAVE you from a CERTAIN SPIRITUAL DEATH.  You MUST come to God, NOW, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING your sins to Him, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be HEALED from your SIN-SICKNESS, and receive ETERNAL LIFE.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!