Miracle Healing in Christianity

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Miracle Healing in Christianity

Christianity, the Abrahamic monotheistic religion, is the world’s largest religion. It has 2.38 billion followers.

Christianity is based on the life of Jesus of Nazareth. It is a religion of forgiveness, prayer, and miracles. Christians are one-third of the global population.

Christianity began as a persecuted religion. As the Roman Empire grew, the persecution ended. The persecution was replaced by state sponsorship. Some people left everything and followed Jesus.

During the apostolic era, the church grew rapidly. Almost half a million new converts joined every generation for three centuries. Evangelists continued to preach the gospel in large services.

Healings became commonplace. After the apostolic era, some churches ceased practicing biblical healings. Nevertheless, some saints still prayed for the sick and believed that they would receive healing.

Eventually, the practice of healings became a sacrament. It was used for spiritual preparation for heaven. In the twelfth century, anointing with oil was called extreme unction. This was limited to those who were in danger of death.

Several people were healed, including the epileptic boy. Others were freed from demons. Those in the Global South typically came to faith through deliverance.

During the nineteenth century, the Word of Faith movement took hold. Many Protestants reported “new birth” experiences of forgiveness from sin. They also reported a second blessing, in which the infilling of the Holy Spirit brought freedom from pollution of sin.

Many Protestants and Catholics also believed that sickness was demonic. While orthodox officials never challenged the validity of healings, church leaders questioned the legitimacy of seeking healing.