If God provided healing in the atonement the same way He provided forgiveness, then the practical process for receiving healing should look similar to the practical process for receiving forgiveness. And it does. The problem is that most Christians know the steps for receiving forgiveness by heart but have never been taught the steps for receiving healing — even though both are in the same atonement, purchased by the same Christ.

Last time we established what sin is — any deviation from the character of God — and where it leads. Now we get to the practical question everyone eventually asks: How do you actually get free from sin and sickness? What are the specific steps?

The first step to getting free from sin and sickness is recognizing that you're a sinner who stands guilty before God and deserving of eternal punishment. You experience sickness because of sin — not necessarily your own personal sin, but always because of the Fall and because we live in a broken, corrupted world.

Here's the good news: Christ died to save you from your sins and sicknesses and to deliver you from all the works of the devil. Once you understand that, you can go to God in faith — trusting in what Christ accomplished on the cross and coming in Jesus' name — just like you'd go to your earthly father to receive something he'd already promised and provided for you.

If you don't believe you're a fallen creature, you naturally won't see any need for redemption from the Fall. So a true understanding of both the Fall and redemption is essential before you can receive any deliverance. In Lesson Nine, Points IV, VII, and VIII, we made the doctrine of the fall of man clear. In Lesson Twenty-three, we defined sin and showed the awful guilt that hangs over every person.

If you're not convinced by now that you're a sinner who needs to be saved, something is seriously wrong. The thing to do is lay aside all rebellion and unbelief toward God and His Word. Acknowledge your guilt and be genuinely sorry for your sin 2 Corinthians 7:9-11. You must do this before you can be saved.

In order to see God, you must be saved from sin Matthew 1:21Hebrews 12:14. You must be born-again and become a new creature John 3:1-82 Corinthians 5:17. You must be made alive from death in trespasses and sins to a new life Ephesians 2:1-10Colossians 2:13.

You must cooperate with God to be cleansed from all sin Isaiah 1:16-18John 1:12Ephesians 4:20-25Ephesians 5:13-14Colossians 3:9-17. You must confess all sin, repent of being a sinner, and turn from Satan to God — from darkness to light — from sin to a life of holiness in order to be born-again 1 John 1:9Luke 13:1-5Acts 26:18.

You must have faith in Christ and in the atonement Romans 3:24-25. You must identify yourself with Christ in His death, burial, resurrection, and new life Romans 6:1-13. These are "musts" for everyone who wants to be saved. There are many other things you'll need to do after you've been saved, but before that happens, don't worry about those duties yet.

There are only two things necessary for you to be saved from all sin — just two. Of course, this assumes you already recognize that you're a sinner and that Christ died to save you. With that understood, here's what must be done: