There are many people who are teaching certain things which are contrary to Scripture. Anything taught, which is contrary to Scripture is classified as false teaching. The Bible did warn us about false teachers and their teachings. There are false prophets and there are false teachers too – Jesus warned us severally and the apostles did too, (1 Timothy 4:1; Romans 16:17-18; Titus 1:10-11). Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets“, (Matthew 7:15). Peter also advised us that, “There were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies“, (2 Peter 2:1).

One of such false teachings which I hear often from some believers is that if you truly have Jesus in you you will not fall sick. People who teach such things do not have a single Bible verse to support their claim other than to ask if Jesus ever fell sick? Some go on to suggest that if you fall sick or some calamity befalls you, it is because of your sins. Is this really the case always?

By the way, what is sickness? Sickness is being ill or affected by a disease. If you have an infection, it is means you are sick. If you have a headache, it means you are sick. In other words, when you are physically unwell, you are sick.

It is true that some people do fall sick because of their sins. Paul told us that people who eat the Lord’s Supper unworthily do not only fall sick but sometimes they even die as a result, (1 Corinthians 1:11-13). In fact, the Book of James says,

“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 5:14-15).

Jesus said the same thing when he met a man he had healed earlier and warned him to sin no more, else something worse would befall him. He said to him, “sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee“, (John 5:14).

These Scriptures are written to us Christians, i.e. believers. And you notice in James 5:15 the use of the conditional clause, “if”. i.e. “if he has committed sins”, which suggests that some sicknesses are as a result of sin.  But does that mean that those who fall sick because of their sins don’t have Jesus in their lives? Was it said anywhere in Scripture that once you become a Born Again Christian, you will never sin this life? I don’t think so, (1 John 1:9). We are encouraged to live a godly and a holy life, but we do know that we are in a fallen world, so we do fall sometimes.

Finally, do you remember the story of the man who was born blind from birth and the disciples asked Jesus if the man sinned or it was his parents? Jesus said to them, “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him“, (John 9:3). Do you also remember the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12? Why would the Holy Spirit give the gift of healing to people in the church if Christians are immune from sicknesses, (1 Corinthians 12:9)?  And the Apostles healed many people, (Acts 5:12-16).

So, you can see that it is not true that Christians are immune from sicknesses. Avoid false teachings, because that is how some become false teachers. And as I have shown you, there is nowhere in Scripture where our Lord Jesus Christ or the Apostles told us that once we become children of God we will not fall sick. But, if you are sick, I encourage you to check yourself very well and be sure it is not because of sin and if it is because of sin, repent and ask for forgiveness and the good LORD will be faithful to you.

Have a wonderful and a blessed day!