p. 67 | The Gift of Healing by B. F. Robbins

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 26, 1864

The Gift of Healing.

By B. F. Robbins

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he have committed sins they shall be forgiven him.—James v, 14, 15.

This promise in its reading has no limitation as to time or age, but is as much a promise for us in these last days, as for believers in the apostolic age. It in fact stands connected with predictions which are being fulfilled at the present time. I am aware that it is contended that this promise, with the promises of spiritual gifts as a confirmation of the gospel were confined to the apostles’ days, and that we are not to expect them. But where is the inspired declaration of their limitation? But why have they ceased? I answer from a want of confidence among professed believers in them. This is evident from the almost universal unbelief manifest. Who in their own case, or in the case of their suffering friends, have sufficient faith in the promise to comply with its simple conditions?

My object in this, is to show that all the promises of the gospel are as much for us as for the first Christians. See Matt. xxviii, 19, 20. “Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Mark xvi, 15–18. And these signs shall follow them that believe. In my name they shall cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Now from the literal reading of the commission given the disciples we may learn:

1. That the commission to preach the gospel extended to all the world. “Go ye into all the world;” “Go ye therefore and teach all nations.”

2. The conditions to be complied with in order to become disciples. Believing, baptism, obedience to all things commanded.

3. The certainty of the promises made to believers. “These signs shall follow them that believe &c. “They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.”

4. The extent or duration of these promises is realization among believers. “Lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world.” See Luke xxiv, 47–49. “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And behold I send the promise of my Father upon you but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high.”

The promise of the Father alluded to by Jesus, is the promise contained in the prophecy of Joel ii, 28, 29. “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions And also upon the servants and the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.

When did the promise begin its fulfillment? At the Pentecost. Where is its limitation? Let us see. Peter says: Acts ii, 38, 39. “Repent and be baptized every one of you for the remission of sins in the name of Jesus Christ, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you and your children, and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Here we inquire, What promise? The promise of the Father in the prophecy of Joel. To whom was it promised? To the repenting, believing, baptized and obedient, new made disciples, on the day of Pentecost. Was it confined or limited to them? “To them and their children, and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Here we see the promise has no limitation, but embraces all the called of God in all ages.

But again, see John xiv, 12–14. “Verily verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do, shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do because I go to my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” Here the promises are unequivocal and expressed in language not to be misunderstood: “They are not yea and nay, but yea and amen, a divine shall. In their realization, God is glorified in his Son; a sufficient pledge of their fulfillment. They are conditional upon our faith, or confidence in God, and obedience to his requirements. Nor are they limited in their nature or extent. “Whatsoever ye ask in my name.”

I come now to notice more particularly the promise at the head of this article. This promise is as extensive as the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man.

Who contends that the duty of mutual confession and prayer for each other was limited to the apostolic age? None. Who will not admit that it is our privilege even now to pray when afflicted, or to sing when happy? All admit it. If the privileges of praying in affliction, and singing when happy, are unlimited, then why not also the promise, “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick,” &c.? Suppose we analyze the promise. “Is any sick among you?” Among whom? The Israel of God; for such the apostle addresses in this epistle. Such as are living in these last days, (verse 3) when oppressors are heaping treasure together, “when the coming of the Lord draweth nigh; and the Judge standeth before the door.” The promise is for us as much as for the first Christians. Again “Is any sick among you? what are we to do? “Send for the elders of the church.” The fact of sending for them implies faith in the promise. Let the elders pray over them anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. Here are the conditions to be complied with in order to render the promise available.

Now in conclusion let me ask, Is not God true to his promises? Yes. In complying with the conditions of the promises are they not available to the humble trusting believer? Assuredly so. Then may the promise “Is any sick among you,” &c., be available even in this age? God says it shall, and who can doubt the promise of the truthful God? B. F. ROBBINS,—in Voice of the West.