| "Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven | | | | also spiritual and physical healing for us? Maybe |
| you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'?" - Luke 5:23 | | | | this is why the Apostle Paul said that once we are |
| NKJV | | | | "born again" we would become a "new creature". |
| Luke reminds us that the power of Christ was | | | | If Sozo is truly wholeness or complete salvation |
| ample for total healing of the person in need. In | | | | as we see from the above verses, then why do |
| fact, we see Jesus taking on a holistic (whole | | | | so few people experience the total salvation |
| body) approach throughout the gospels as he | | | | experience in mind, body, and soul? I believe there |
| touched and healed the individuals at their point of | | | | are many reasons, yet for this article we will look |
| need. | | | | at one reason that is holding back many moves |
| Take up your bed and walk was much more than | | | | of God today, and that is expectancy. |
| just a physical healing, it was also forgiveness of | | | | First, I believe that people are not taught properly |
| sins, and can you only imagine the mental | | | | what to expect from a touch of Christ. We, |
| freedom and healing that the paralytic | | | | especially in America, are taught that first comes |
| experienced when his flesh was healed from the | | | | spiritual healing (salvation), then possibly mental |
| touch of Christ? | | | | and physical healing at a later time. It is very |
| A close study of the New Testament reveals to | | | | interesting to see however, that in crusades and |
| us that the same word used in the Greek text | | | | missions outside of the United States you see |
| for healing, salvation, and deliverance, is actually | | | | many more physical healings than here in America. |
| the same word. Sozo is the wonderful Greek | | | | Why is that? I believe it is because the distinctions |
| word used throughout the original texts of the | | | | between "types of healings" are not taught to |
| New Testament. | | | | those in these areas. Sozo for the spirit (salvation) |
| It is the Greek word that Matthew used when he | | | | and Sozo for the body and mind (healing) are not |
| wrote, "And she shall bring forth a son, and you | | | | separated in the preaching of the gospel of Jesus |
| shall call his name Jesus: for He shall Sozo (save) | | | | Christ. The message of salvation is taught as |
| his people from their sins. Matthew also writes, | | | | Jesus Saves & Jesus Heals! This type of |
| "For the son of man is come to Sozo (save) that | | | | expectancy builds a person's faith to the level |
| which was lost." But what makes Sozo really | | | | where they can receive all that God has for them. |
| special is that it is the same word that Mark used | | | | How can we see the total holistic approach of |
| when he quotes a man that that came to Jesus | | | | Sozo apply to the body of Christ today? Would |
| and said, "My little daughter is at the point of | | | | you like to see God heal the body and mind when |
| death, please come and lay your hands on her | | | | the person is reborn? Of course we would. |
| that she may be Sozo (healed)". Also where | | | | We must first start at the very word of God, |
| Matthew writes about the woman who touched | | | | the Bible. The Bible tells us that healing, salvation, |
| the hem of Jesus' garment who thought to | | | | and deliverance are all the same Greek word. |
| herself, "If I may but touch his garment, I shall be | | | | Sozo! Thank God for his power and complete |
| made Sozo (made whole)". | | | | provision, Now, what should you do? Pray for |
| This adds a whole new dimension to what many | | | | revelation on this matter and let the Holy Spirit |
| of us consider Salvation. Could this suggest that | | | | open your spiritual eyes to see this truth, and |
| salvation is more than simply a forgiveness of sin | | | | increase our faith to begin expecting to see |
| and the receiving of eternal life? Could salvation | | | | holistic healing take place with every salvation |
| truly be more than just our reservation in | | | | experience. |
| Heaven? Could it be possible to salvation (Sozo) is | | | | |