Why Do Faithful Believers Still Get Sick?
1) Direct Answer
Faithful believers still get sick because we are living in mortal bodies in a fallen world. Sickness is an enemy and often an oppression of the devil, but God sometimes permits it as a test, a chastening, or a platform for His glory. Healing is in the atonement and we are commanded to pray and believe, yet the full redemption of the body is future at the resurrection; until then, even the righteous may face infirmity.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Our bodies are not yet redeemed: “We… groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23). “The outward man perisheth; yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).
- Sickness is an oppression of Satan: Jesus “healed all that were oppressed of the devil” (Acts 10:38). The woman was “bound by Satan” (Luke 13:16). Job was smitten by Satan though he was upright (Job 2:7).
- Not all sickness is because of personal sin: The man born blind—“that the works of God should be made manifest” (John 9:3).
- God provides healing now: “By His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5; fulfilled in Matthew 8:16-17). “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders… the prayer of faith shall save the sick” (James 5:14-16).
- Yet choice servants still faced infirmities: Timothy’s “often infirmities” (1 Timothy 5:23). Trophimus left sick (2 Timothy 4:20). Epaphroditus was sick nigh unto death, but God had mercy (Philippians 2:27). Paul’s “thorn” remained so that God’s grace would be magnified (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).
- Final, perfect health is at the change: “This mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53-54).
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- New birth changes your soul; the Holy Spirit dwells in you. But the body remains mortal until the resurrection. That’s why a Spirit-filled believer can still get sick.
- Healing is provided by the cross. We stand on the promise, pray, lay on hands, anoint with oil, and believe. Sometimes God heals instantly, sometimes progressively, and sometimes He reserves the perfection of it for the resurrection.
- Sickness is not always a sign of unbelief. If it were, why were Timothy, Trophimus, and Epaphroditus sick, and why did Paul carry a thorn? The Bible says God used those circumstances for humility, mercy, and testimony.
- God may allow sickness for chastening (Hebrews 12:6-11) or for His works to be revealed (John 9:3). But we never glorify sickness—we resist it as an enemy and trust God for deliverance.
- Even those who were healed eventually died; that shows present healing is real but temporary, while the eternal cure is the body change.
4) Reinforcing Statement
Now notice, the same Lord who forgives your sins is your Healer. Stand on His Word, call for prayer, keep confessing His promise, and rest in His wisdom. You see, we fight the good fight now, and we will have the final victory when this mortal puts on immortality.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
It is I, be not afraid
59-0811 §16
And I believe that healing is a finished work that's been completed for two thousand years. When Jesus died at Calvary, He saved you from sin and healed your sickness. And every blessing, redemptive blessing is yours by faith in that finished work, see. It's yours if you can believe it. As one said some time ago, "I don't believe in divine healing. I don't care what you say." I said, "Certainly not. It wasn't given to unbelievers; it was given to believers. He that believeth..." There is a question mark. If you're...
Why?
59-0813 §38
...s saved, then they'll raise up from the dead just the same as He did. No wonder we can say, "Death, where is your sting; and grave, where is your victory." If it healed the sick in that day, the same inoculation will do for you today. If it was an antidote to sin, an antidote to sickness, it's the same thing today. Then brother, sister, upon those basis, let me ask you this final question---is this: Why is there so much confusion among us? Why is there so much sin in our midst? What's the matter? Is it because ther...
Abraham
60-0803 §4
...long ago, and she got a prayer cloth, and on the ... it's a little piece of ribbon. I used to send a handkerchief. But when they got too many, I couldn't do that; so I just get hundreds of yards of ribbon, set down praying over it, send it to the sick and afflicted. And this little German woman, she got the instructions, and they interpreted to it her what it was in Germany, how that first call your pastor. And if your pastor can't come, some good Christian out of the neighborhood, or some member of your family. Co...
Will I find faith when I return?
51-0508 §83
Now, notice. But these men are called of God to pray for the sick just as much as anybody is called (See?), much as anybody. Now, as they lay their hands on the sick, I want you to watch now, as our little Brother Cain here, and these others, lay their hands on the sick, and these pastors. Watch what happens to the sick. If they'll believe and pass off this platform, they'll get well. The cripples will lay down their canes here. The cots that the ushers pack up, leave your cot laying here. Push it over to the place...
Look away to Jesus
63-1229E §116
...ng perfectly healthy and well; sit there and criticize, and a day or two after that, be found totally blind, or stricken with a cancer, paralyzed (see), because they were unbelievers. I'm not responsible for them, only for the believers. Many of them went in the institutions many years ago, and still there. Some went to their grave. Just because of being arrogant, unbelieving. There's no place for an unbeliever now. It's a place for believers. Have faith in God!