The blessing of Abraham, which we have today through Jesus (Galatians 3), includes the baptism of the Spirit and healing. Healing, long and strong life, the Spirit, and miracles are part of the ancient promise of God. Neither the law that came later nor the atonement of Jesus cancels it. Jesus’ resurrection makes it accessible to the whole world. Jesus also carried our curses on the cross, so the blessing of Abraham is ours now.

The blessings and curses of the law teach us about the blessing of Abraham. They do not erase it. The blessings of the law are nothing less than the blessing of Abraham put on a works-and-merit track instead of grace and promise. Abraham’s blessing came first, based on grace. In Christ the curses are gone and that blessing is already active for the believer.

Always remember: the promises are not suggestions. They are your new identity and God’s command. God is telling you this is how He created and defined you in Christ. Agree with Him that what He says is true. Obey God by walking in the definition He has revealed in His word—the blessing of Abraham and the substitution and life of Jesus.

The focus here is mostly healing and strong life. Same logic applies to any miracle.

“And Yahweh said to Abram, ‘Go out from your land and from your relatives, and from the house of your father, to the land that I will show you. And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great. And you will be a blessing.’” Genesis 12:1–2 LEB

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15 NIV

“This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them! I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you.” Genesis 17 NLT

The sicknesses of the law included things like skin problems, arthritis, cancers, and even being feeble in old age.

“And said, If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and will do that which is right in his sight, and will give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon you, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that heals you.” Exodus 15:26

“And you shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless your bread, and your water; and He will take sickness away from the midst of you.” Exodus 23:25

“O LORD my God, I cried unto you, and you have healed me.” Psalm 30:2

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19

Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Psalm 91:5–7 NLT

This “satisfying long life” is the life and favor promised to Abraham. If we follow in his steps of faith, we have the same blessing. Moses, Joshua, and Caleb had faith like Abraham, so they walked in the same strong life, even in old age. God did not promise forgiveness to Abraham; rather, God promised favor, fame, blessings, prosperity, and health. Abraham believed God would do all these good things He promised. God then declared Abraham righteous in His sight. We too are righteous in God’s sight when we believe God will do all the good things He promised for us, including healing, satisfying long life, miracles, and prosperity. If we do not have this type of faith, we are not children of Abraham.

With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation. Psalm 91:16

“He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” Psalm 107:20

“He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

The Bible shows that health is not rewarded for right eating; rather, health and long, strong life is rewarded for righteousness. In Jesus we are already the righteousness of God. God Himself has already declared us righteous in His sight. George Müller said it was verses like these in Proverbs, and confessing them continually, that led him to live a long life with vigor. The same faith he used to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars for the orphans is the same faith he said he used to bring strong life to his body. Faith.

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear Yahweh and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.” Proverbs 3:7-8 LSB

My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them deviate from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them and healing to all his flesh. Proverbs 4:20-22 LSB

Isaiah 53:4-5 uses the word “nasa.” It means to carry or lift up. It is the Levitical word for substitutionary atonement as taught on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). The escape goat had the sins transferred from the people to it and the goat carried them away, and in exchange the people carry purity. Isaiah 53 uses this for “sickness” and “disease” (Matthew 8:17). Healing is a substitutionary exchange with Jesus. He bore our sickness so that we do not. Matthew 8:17 shows this healing is for this present life, and not the next one. Healing can only happen now, because in the next life we will have a new body that does not require healing. It is now or never. Jesus carried our sickness; we carry His health and life. Remind Him of this. He likes to hear you confess your faith in His finished work.

Absolutely, our sicknesses He Himself carried—substitution—and our diseases He carried. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our peace fell upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5, modified from the LSB

“In order that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah would be fulfilled, who said, ‘He himself took away our sicknesses, and carried away our diseases.’” Matthew 8:17 LEB

“Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.” Isaiah 58:8 NLT

For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds, says the Lord, because they called you an outcast saying, “This is Zion; no one seeks her.” Jeremiah 30:17 NKJV

Everyone who came to Jesus was healed. Every last one of them.

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Matthew 4:23

News about Him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to Him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon-possessed or epileptic or paralyzed—He healed them all. Matthew 4:24 NLT

When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.” Matthew 8:5–7 NIV

Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up and went home! Matthew 9:6–7 NLT

Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them. Matthew 15:30

Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed Him. Matthew 20:34 NIV

And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. Mark 3:1–5

A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind Him through the crowd and touched His robe. For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch His robe, I will be healed.” Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition. Mark 5:25–29 NLT

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. Mark 10:49–52 NIV

When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. Luke 4:40

And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all. Luke 6:19

A funeral procession was coming out as He approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. When the Lord saw her, His heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” He said. Then He walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” He said, “I tell you, get up.” Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother. Luke 7:12–15 NLT

Jesus is healing her based on the promise to Abraham. Jesus thinks this ancient promise of God makes it necessary for her to be healed. Not Jesus’ ministry, not signs to confirm His ministry, not a foretaste of gospel things to come, but on God’s old promise, it is necessary. It is necessary for God to do what He promised, no matter how ancient the promise is. Through Jesus, we are part of Abraham’s blessing today. Our healings are therefore necessary, because God is a God of truth and faithfulness.

When he saw her, Jesus called her to him and said, “Woman, you are set free from your sickness.” He placed his hands on her and she straightened up at once and praised God. “Isn’t it necessary that this woman, a daughter of Abraham, bound by Satan for eighteen long years, be set free from her bondage on the Sabbath day?” Luke 13:12-16 CEB

Because Abraham’s blessing is in full force for us today, passages like Isaiah 51 can be applied to us today. They are part of your inheritance. Yes, look to Abraham, because he belongs to you by right and necessity.

“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many. The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.” Isaiah 51:1-3 NLT

“…how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Acts 10:38

Again, Abraham’s blessing is important. The children Jesus is referring to are Abraham’s children. He says healing is like daily bread. That is how common healing is for Abraham’s children. Jesus says if a son asks for bread a good father will give him bread for bread, or healing for healing. Even though it was not her time, by faith she took some bread anyway, and Jesus approved of it. Faith always gives you direct access to God and always gives you bread when you ask for bread.

The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. Matthew 15:25-28

Jesus was the greatest and most extreme faith teacher who ever lived. Faith for everything and anything, which therefore includes healing and strong life. Jesus, the most God-centered man who ever lived, said things like, “nothing will be impossible for you.” With faith a tree will plant itself in the dead sea and it will “obey you.” Jesus puts you in the driver’s seat, not “the will of God.” Jesus puts you in control of your health and miracles, and not some nebulous “will of God.” If you have faith, you will get what you ask for. If you do not have faith, you will not get what you ask for. It is this extreme faith teacher, it is this Jesus, whom we will all face one day for judgment. If you appeal to the will of God on judgment day, Jesus will reply by appealing to your faith or unbelief.

“Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” John 14:12-14 NIV

“But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! This brings great glory to my Father.” John 15:7-8 NLT

Jesus said, “You unbelieving perverts! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well. Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?” “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:17-20 NLT

He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” Luke 17:6

The first mention of this binding and loosing is in Matthew 16, when Peter confesses Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus responds that on this confession the church will march forward, and the gates of hell cannot stop its advancement. It is on this foundation Jesus says what you unlock and lock, bind or loose on earth will be so in heaven. If you have the same confession Peter did, that Jesus is the Son of God, this authority belongs to you.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” Matthew 18:18-19 NIV

We are righteous already in Christ; thus, we pray as righteous people in God’s sight. The promise is not that you might, but that God will heal you, just as absolutely as God will forgive you. Think about that. James connects the absolute surety of forgiveness and faith to healing and faith.

“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:15-16

Unless noted, the Scripture is from the KJV—I did modernize “thee” to “you”—or the NKJV. I did supplement some words in a few verses with the footnote option provided by the translation. Parentheses are by the author.

Also, I want to give thanks to Vincent Cheung, and his essay The Edge of Glory, for helping me understand the importance of God’s promise to Abraham.