Jesus Touches an Untouchable Evangelical Caucus/Devotional

“A woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak; for she was saying to herself, ‘If I only touch His garment, I will get well.’ But Jesus turning and seeing her said, ‘Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.’ At once the woman was made well” (Matthew 9:20–22).

When the godly Sir James Simpson was on his deathbed, a friend said to him, “Well, James, soon you will be able to rest on the bosom of Jesus.” But Simpson replied, “I don’t know that I can quite do that, but I do think I can take hold of His garment.”

In her shame at being ostracized from her family and being ceremonially unclean, the woman here wanted to be unnoticed. She merely desired to touch Jesus’ garment, confident that such contact was enough to receive healing. In keeping with such confidence, she received immediate healing from her defilement.

Our Lord became aware of what had happened only as He realized that divine power had gone out from Him (Luke 8:46)—a realization that happened before He humanly knew of the woman specifically. His statement, “your faith has made you well,” simply assured her and the crowd that miraculous healing had occurred. Jesus did not care that her touching Him would make Him ceremonially unclean to the Jews. The Lord was touchable even by an untouchable.

Even though the woman’s expectations were likely not fully informed by Scripture—she might have superstitiously thought Christ’s clothes had inherent healing powers—He spoke to her caringly and compassionately: “Daughter, take courage.” In spite of other factors, the woman’s faith was genuine and acceptable to the Lord. It was enough to make her well.

Part of the balance of Christian faith is realizing that we are unworthy to touch the hem of His garment, yet are welcomed into His full embrace as an adopted member of His family. How do these two seeming incongruities come together and balance out in your worship?

The perfect Word for today! Thank You Abba Father, how You coordinate these details in Your plan for us.

For God’s Healing Touch On Our Lives

Bless the Lord oh my soul and may I never forget Your gracious benefits, for You are the divine physician and are able to touch every part of our lives with Your redeeming love. Lord, we live in a fallen world and each one of us needs Your healing touch in so many ways on our lives, for none of us are exempt from the ravages of sin and none of us are immune from sickness and suffering, and so I come to You today to ask for Your healing touch in every area of our lives.

Lord, I know that sickness and suffering, pain and death is a reality in life, for in this world we will have tribulation, and yet a life that is surrendered to You is one that is able to give thanks to You in everything, knowing that You are able and willing to be with us and uphold us in every area of life, for Your grace is sufficient in all and every situation.

Lord, I believe this to be true, for Your Word is faithful and true. I also believe that You are able to heal every manner of disease and sickness and so I pray for Your healing touch in every area of my life, and in the lives of all whom I love, body and soul, as well as spirit. But Lord, I also know that You often permit sickness and suffering in an amazing way to draw us ever closer to Yourself.

Lord, I give You my life and surrender all to You, for I desire the full and total healing, the sort of healing that brings glory to You. Thank You that I am Your child and You are the great and mighty physician. Bless the Lord oh my soul, and may I never forget Your gracious benefits, for You pardon all my iniquities, heal all my diseases, have redeemed my life from the pit, and have crowned me with loving-kindness and tenderness. Thank You, Father, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/prayer/for-god-s-healing-touch-on-our-lives-1026

Note that as forgiveness was the cause of healing, and thus walking was the effect, so the Lord commanding "take up thy bed and walk," was effectively saying "be healed," since walking required healing. However, the effect is not be confused as being the cause .

Likewise, as faith is the causative means of appropriating justification, and obedience the effect, but which effect requires and manifests faith, so likewise to promise the Spirit to souls if they will repent and be baptized in the name of the crucified and risen Lord Jesus, (Acts 2:38) is effectively promising the Spirit is they will effectually believe in Him. However, once again, the effect is not be confused as being the cause.

Therefore, Peter makes it clear that being spiritually born of the Spirit (Jn. 3:2-7) is by effectual penitent, heart-purifying, regenerating, justifying faith, (Acts 10:43-47; 15:7-9; Titus 3:5) for a whole household of lost souls received forgiveness and Spirit before they were baptized, purifying their hearts by faith:

To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. (Acts 10:43-48)

And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (Acts 15:7-9)

For baptism is to be the first formal confession of the Lord Jesus, in "body language" as confession of the Lord is to in word and deed, and which is confirmatory of faith, and of salvation.

Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. (Luke 12:8-9)

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 10:9-11)

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:15-16)

In a day when even putting the ring on in marriage (which also signifies a fundamental covenant) is often treated as superfluous ritual even though simply a tradition), and baptism is likewise, while others imagine that the act itself effects regeneration*, then we need to affirm that in the NT, conversion and baptism are normally concomitant, as saving faith and confession in word and deed go together as cause an effect, with the latter confirming one as being a true believer, and thus with baptism being referred to as signifying conversion (Mark 16:15-16; Galatians 3:27)

*Which act actually could be the occasion of that heart decision, though certainly regeneration usually precedes it, as in Acts 10.

Note, my above comment is more specific to the similar story (as regards healing) of the palsied man in Mark 2.

And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 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. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 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. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 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? 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? 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,) (Mark 2:1-10)

To: Cronos

You assert that in Acts 10:43–47, regeneration precedes baptism because Cornelius’ household received the Spirit before being baptized, and Acts 15:7–9 says God “purified their hearts by faith.” This is a selective misreading that ignores the full biblical witness: Acts 10:47–48 explicitly states Peter “commanded them to be baptized” after the Spirit’s outpouring, showing baptism is necessary even after the Spirit’s gift. If regeneration was complete, why baptize?

Once again your outlandish statements provoke a response, as I cannot ignore this perverse reading, which you tried before, which is due to being constrained to force Scripture to conform to your Catholicism, even though it plainly contradicts it!

Here, you have the clear testimony of Scripture that regeneration preceded baptism, and that God purified there hearts by faith, and faced with this, then what do you do? You state that You invoke the act of baptism that came afterwards as meaning that this regeneration was incomplete until they were baptized! For it turns out that you actually deny that "Cornelius was regenerated before baptism—only that he received the Spirit." (Acts 10:44).

Thus meaning they had received the Holy Spirit as well as the apostles had, being "baptized with the Holy Ghost" (Acts 11:16) but according to your forced conclusion, evidently they were still unforgiven - as you attack "faith-before-baptism purification" thus Cornelius’ and household would yet be in their sins (which condition is why Peter was sent to preach words by which they would be saved - Acts 11:14) as incompletely regenerate.

Which would make souls being born of the Spirit due to believing the gospel which promised forgiveness if they believed, yet compelled RC doctrine renders then as not forgiven, not saved yet, attacking faith-before-baptism purification as if that made baptism superfluous, as if true faith does not effect obedience.

Rather than being incomplete, God sent Peter to tell Cornelius’ and household tell them "words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved, (Acts 11:14) "that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe," (Acts 15:7) thus Cornelius’ and household were told "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins," (Acts 10:43) - not mentioning baptism, and which message they immediately believed, evidenced by speaking with tongues, and magnifying God, (Acts 10:46) Evidently all before they were forgiven and saved according to Cronos!

Then answered Peter, (Acts 10:46) "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" (Acts 10:47) Receiving the Spirit is regeneration, with the “washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit" being one event, And as said before, baptism (can be the occasion for this yet it is such effectual faith that Peter states purifies the heart. (Acts 15:9)

Thus, rather than God “purified their hearts by faith” being is a selective misreading that ignores the full biblical witness, those are the words of Peter himself, who (nor James who dies in fact issue the conclusive judgment) does not even mention baptism in Acts 15, that act being subsequent to regeneration, as Acts 10:43-47 text shows!

And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (Acts 15:7-9)

At least many other RCs recognize that the regeneration of Cornelius and household forces them to classify this case of regeneration as falling under (the contentious doctrine of) "baptism of desire" even though they were not told by Peter that baptism was the means for forgiveness, nor would they be ignorant of it.

While "Catholic answers" affirms that "Baptism is the ordinary means of salvation" yet it states, "The Catholic Church recognizes that God is not “bound by his sacraments” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1257). God can administer the graces of salvation apart from the sacraments in ways known only to him (see CCC 848). - https://www.catholic.com/qa/why-did-cornelius-receive-the-holy-spirit-before-baptism

Also,

Now it is de fide that men are also saved by Baptism of desire, by virtue of the Canon 'Apostolicam De Presbytero Non Baptizato' and the Council of Trent, Session 6, Chapter 4, where it is said that no one can be saved 'without the laver of regeneration or the desire for it. - St. Alphonsus Liguori

You also resort to trying to argue that since they were baptized, then somehow this contradicts me, even though I clearly stated that salvific faith is that which effects obedience, with baptism being the initial formal confession of the Lord Jesus. In fact your

You then again invoke Acts 2:38, which, as I explained before, is promising the Spirit to a multitude if they would truly believe, as that is exactly what baptism would require of them and confess. For contrary to your false charge of antinomianism (in fact, your constant t portrayal of me as one who dissociates faith from obedience, I have expounded in the necessarily of saving faith being an obedient faith, as to believe is to obey, as cause and effect (and all we choose to do is a result of what we are believing). versus that I pits one against each other as you fallacious charge. Cause and effect go together, but not as confusing the latter for a former.

Your egregious post here itself represents your compelled wresting of Scripture, and it is the only one I am spending more time on, the rest being more reiterations of refuted parroted RC polemics. I did the same with SDA types, contenders for the title of "one true cult."

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