Dear friends:

Many people do not fully understand all that Jesus did for us at Calvary and all that is in the atonement.  Praise His holy name!  How can one not shout when they understand the below?  The atonement is summarized in Isaiah 53:4-5 (also see "benefits" listed in Psalm 103:2-12).

"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows:... he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:4-5, KJV).

The words "griefs" "sorrows," "peace," and "healed" are the least understood.  The below is from the Strong's Enhanced Lexicon:

Griefs is the Hebrew word cholie, which literally means "sickness."

Sorrows is the Hebrew word makob, which means "pains" (physical and mental).

Peace is from the Hebrew shalom.  It not only means peace, but also completeness, welfare, safety, soundness (in body), health, prosperity, quiet, tranquillity, and contentment (Strong's).  That is all in the atonement.  Is there any doubt from the whole of God's Word that He wants His people to have shalom and all that it means?  Jesus paid for it with His own blood.  (Surely, God did not make a mistake by putting "health" and "prosperity" in there but maybe should have first checked with modern critics to get their approval.  On second thought, forget it.  They would have never agreed and would have responded with a scathing post on the Internet and email to their list.)

The above translation of cholie and makob is confirmed in the New Testament by Matthew 8:16-17 quoting that same verse from Isaiah:  "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses."

Healed in Isaiah 53:5 above is from the Hebrew word rapha, which clearly means physical healing and is the same word used in Exodus 15:26: "I am the LORD that healeth (rapha) thee," referring to the physical diseases of Egypt.

How does one appropriate all those blessings, which are not automatic?  Like all of God's promises, the Bible reveals that the method is "by faith" from a forgiving heart. "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses (Mark 11:24-26).

Forgive, believe, and receive.

Someone might say, "Well, I don't believe that."  Okay, then you can't have it!  Faith is the gateway to the eternal and the invisible world of the Spirit, which operates on the principles given in the Word.

[NOTE: Isn't it interesting that the word "borne" in Isaiah 53:4 is the Hebrew word nasa, which means to "lift, or lift up."  I bet they didn't know that when they formed the space agency NASA!]

Jim