Naaman dipped in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God, and his flesh was restored. What can we learn about forgiveness of sin from Naaman's cure from leprosy? Are we saved by God's grace? Should we follow human wisdom or God's plan of salvation? Must we obey commands to be saved? Does salvation by grace eliminate the need for obedience? How important is dipping in water (baptism)?
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Introduction:
The purpose of this lesson is to study the story of Naaman the leper.
From his story we can learn several important lessons about being cured from sin.
A brief summary of the story – 2 Kings 5:9-13
Naaman was a captain over the army of Syria, a country north of Israel. He had an important, influential position. But he had leprosy and could not find a cure. An Israelite servant girl suggested to his wife that the prophet in Israel could cure Naaman. Naaman went to Elishah and was told to dip 7 times in Jordan. At first, he refused, but finally he obeyed and was cured.
Consider some important lessons for us:
The Problem
In many ways leprosy is like our problem of sin.
It Is Horrible.
Leprosy has horrible effects on the body.
Leprosy consists of brownish-red sores, sometimes white areas, on the face, arms, and/or legs. These gradually eat away the flesh. Growths may cause fingers and toes to fall off.
Lepers are social outcasts living in colonies usually as beggars (Naaman was an exception).
Imagine being afflicted by such a disease, and consider how much you would desire a cure.
Sin likewise has horrible effects on our souls.
Sooner or later all people have a worse problem: sin (Romans 3:23). We can see the effects of leprosy, but if we could see as God does, we would see that sin disfigures our souls like leprosy.
Sin causes all pain, suffering, and physical death – Genesis 3:16-19.
Adam and Eve’s sin resulted in pain, hardship, and death. Not every illness results from some specific sin the person committed, but suffering is here because sin is here.
Sin alienates people.
All hatred, bitterness, murder, lying, stealing, war, violence, child abuse, and family bitterness – all mistreatment between people results from sin.
Consider Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, and Joseph and his brothers (Genesis 4,27,37).
Sin separates people from God
Isaiah 59:1,2 – Sins and iniquities separate us from God. Guilt, fear, sorrow, and worry about the day of judgment all result from sin.
It Is Deadly.
Like cancer, leprosy gradually eats away the body till it reaches a vital organ.
Then one dies a slow, painful, sure form of death.
Sin is also deadly.
Romans 6:23 – The wages of sin is death.
Revelation 21:8 – All sinners will have their part in the lake of fire, the second death. Sin separates us from God in this life. If not solved, it will separate us from God eternally.
Horrible as leprosy is, it can disfigure a person only in this life. But sin disfigures our spirits in this life and then leads to eternal death. Our problem is even worse than Naaman’s.
Relatively few people ever suffer from leprosy. But everyone sooner or later suffers the consequences of sin. We can all identify with Naaman.
Grace
Leprosy was cured only by the grace of God.
2 Kings 5:7 – The king of Israel said only God could cure leprosy.
Verse 13 – He would have attempted some difficult task to achieve the cure but could not.
Leprosy was cured only by the grace of God: unmerited favor.
Likewise sin can be cured only by the grace of God.
Ephesians 2:8,9 – We are saved by grace through faith, not of ourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works lest any man should boast.
2 Timothy 1:9 – God saved us, not because of our works but because of His grace.
By human strength alone, we could not be saved, just as human ability could not cure Naaman. All can easily see in both cases that healing can occur only by the grace of God.
Many assume grace means there is nothing for us to do to receive the cure. It is true that we cannot earn salvation by human ability. We need God’s power. But we will see that Naaman had to do something to be healed, and we must do something to be forgiven.
(Titus 3:5; Romans 11:5,6; Mark 2:1-12)
Authority
Naaman learned, if you cannot solve a problem yourself, then do not follow your own thinking. You must follow the instructions of one who knows the cure. Note what he learned:
Human Wisdom Is Unacceptable.
Human wisdom could not cure Naaman’s leprosy – verses 10,11.
When Elishah said to wash in Jordan, Naaman was angry and said, “Indeed, I said to myself” (“Behold, I thought” – KJV). This is human wisdom.
Naaman could not cure his leprosy, yet his first impulse was to follow his own wisdom.
Likewise, many people seek to cure sin by human wisdom.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 – Human wisdom rejects salvation through Christ as foolishness. As a result, men do not know God.
Proverbs 14:12 – There is a way that seems right to man, but the end is death.
Jeremiah 10:23 – It is not in man who walks to direct his steps.
As long as Naaman followed human wisdom, he remained a leper. And as long as people follow human wisdom, they remain in sin. Only when we realize that human ideas cannot save will we submit to God’s way and be cured.
(Matthew 15:9; Proverbs 3:5,6; Romans 10:1-3)
Human Pride and Prejudice Are Unacceptable.
Naaman would have pursued a cure that suited his exalted position.
He wanted to be cured by an impressive ceremony – verse 11.
He wanted the prophet to personally appear and wave his hands to call on God. This was the kind of elaborate ritual that heathen prophets performed (1 Kings 18:26,28).
Or he would have attempted some difficult task to achieve the cure – verse 13.
Heathen myths are filled with legends of men who cross seas, climb mountains, or fight monsters to please the gods. A military captain like Naaman could brag about achieving a cure.
Instead, Elishah just sent a messenger who said to go wash in a river. This insulted the pride and preconceived ideas of this mighty military leader.
So people today follow their pride and preconceived ideas in religion.
Some are not satisfied with a simple meeting place.
They want elaborate cathedrals with beautiful paintings and statues. This gives them pride in their human accomplishments. “Look at the beautiful building we have built.”
But God stresses how we worship, not where we worship.
Some are not satisfied with simple New Testament worship.
They want great ceremony and ritual with instrumental music, choirs, flowing robes, incense, famous personalities, and silver-tongued orators. Some seek emotional excitement.
Some are not satisfied with independent local churches under qualified elders.
They want impressive centralized organizations. They want a Pope or central headquarters, universities and hospitals, centralized institutions to do mission work or care for needy people. They can point with pride to “the great works we are doing.”
Some are not satisfied with gospel preaching to save the lost and edify disciples.
They want to attract people by recreation and entertainment: sports, camps, parties, meals.
These make people feel good about what they have accomplished, just like Naaman wanted.
Matthew 16:24 – But God requires that, to please Him, we must deny self.
A drowning man does not argue that the rope or boat send to save him is not fancy enough. When we realize that only God’s power will save us, then we accept His help on His terms. We seek a result that pleases Him instead of one that pleases us.
Luke 16:15 – That which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
Human Substitutes Are Unacceptable.
Naaman wanted to substitute for God’s plan – verse 12.
He thought the rivers in his home country were “better” rivers than the Jordan.
He solved his problem only when he acted “according to the saying of the man of God” (verse 14). He followed the proper authority.
Many today want to replace what God said with something different.
* God says baptism is a burial in water – Romans 6:4. Men want sprinkling and pouring.
* God says those to baptize those who first hear and believe the gospel, repent, and confess Christ – Mark 16:15,16; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9,10. Instead, men want to baptize babies.
* God says the church should take up collections on the first day of the week to obtain funds – 1 Corinthians 16:1,2. Men want rummages, bingo, raffles, and bake sales.
* God says to “sing” in worship – Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16. Men want instruments.
* God says to have the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week – Acts 20:7. Men want it monthly, annually, or daily.
Galatians 1:8,9 – Preaching a different gospel causes us to be accursed (2 John 9). Men change God’s plan only when they think their ideas are better than God’s. When we realize that we cannot be saved following our own way, then we follow God’s way instead of ours.
When Naaman heard God’s will, he was angry and went away in a rage. And he remained a leper! He solved his problem only when he obeyed “the saying of the man of God” (verse 14).
Some people today become angry when they hear God’s will regarding some of the above matters. And they remain separated from God. Like Naaman, they solve their sin only when they act according to the sayings of the men of God recorded in the Bible.
Obedience and Washing
Naaman’s example shows us the following principles:
Obedience Is Essential.
To be healed, Naaman was required to do what God commanded – verses 10,14.
God said to go, wash 7 times in Jordan. Naaman was healed when he obeyed, not before.
Obedience is also essential for us to be forgiven of sin.
1 Peter 1:22 – We purify our souls in obeying the truth.
Romans 6:17,18 – Obey from the heart the doctrine delivered and be made free from sin.
Hebrews 5:9 – Jesus is author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.
Did washing mean Naaman earned a cure? Was it any less a gift of God’s grace because he obeyed? No! But would he have been healed if he had not obeyed? No!
He was healed by the grace of God, but obedience was required to benefit from God’s power. The same is true of us.
Dipping (Baptism) Is Essential.
Note especially the role of dipping in water. Naaman had to dip in water to be cured of leprosy, and we must be dipped in water to be forgiven of sins.
Jesus says we must hear the gospel, believe, repent, confess Him, and be baptized.
Mark 16:15,16 – Men must be taught that he who believes and is baptized shall be saved.
Acts 2:38 – Repent and be baptized for remission of sins.
Acts 22:16 – Be baptized and wash away your sins.
(Romans 10:9,10; 6:3,4)
Naaman was cured by God’s grace, but he had to wash to be cured. Does dipping mean he earned a cure? Was his cure any less a gift by grace because he washed? No.
We are saved from sin by God’s grace. Is salvation any less a gift of God because we dip? No! But would we be healed if we do not dip? No! Just so long as we have not obeyed the Lord in baptism, just that long we remain in sin. We are healed when we dip, not before.
Some folks claim obedience, especially baptism, is not necessary.
“As long as you believe, it does not matter whether or not you are baptized.”
If Naaman had simply believed that God could heal him but had refused to dip, would he have been healed? No. Saving faith in God’s word is always obedient faith.
(Galatians 5:6; James 2:14-26; Hebrews chapter 11)
“I can’t see how dipping in water can have anything to do with forgiving sin.”
And Naaman could not see how dipping in the Jordan would cleanse his leprosy. But as long as he refused, he remained a leper. He was healed when he obeyed, not before.
Elishah said, “Go and wash and you will be clean.” Jesus says, “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved.” Dipping is as essential for us to be forgiven as it was for Naaman to be healed. As long as people do not do it, they remain in sin. We are forgiven when we obey, not before.
Conclusion
So what cleansed / cleanses?
What was required for Naaman to be cleansed of leprosy?
Was he cleansed by grace? Yes. Without God’s grace he would have remained a leper.
Was he cleansed by obedience? Yes. He was not saved by obedience without God’s grace, but had he not obeyed he would have remained a leper.
Was he cleansed by commands (law)? Yes. He was not saved by commands without God’s grace. But he was commanded to dip and had he not obeyed he would have remained a leper.
Was he cleansed by dipping in water? Yes. He was not saved by dipping without God’s grace, but had he not dipped he would have remained a leper.
What is required for us to be cleansed of sin?
Are we cleansed by grace? Yes. Without God’s grace we would remain in sin.
Are we cleansed by obedience? Yes. We are not saved by obedience without God’s grace, but if we do not obey we remain in sin.
Are we cleansed by commands (law)? Yes. We are not saved by commands without God’s grace. But we are commanded to dip, and if we do not obey we remain in sin.
Are we cleansed by dipping in water? Yes. We are not saved by dipping without God’s grace, but if we do not dip we remain in sin.
The only reason dipping healed Naaman was that God said to do it that way. God has the power to heal based on any conditions He chooses – and He chose dipping. Likewise, the only reason baptism is essential to forgiveness is that God said to do it that way. He has the power to forgive based on any conditions He chooses – and He chose baptism!
Naaman had the power to choose whether or not to obey God’s command. To be healed, he had to submit to the authority of God’s word and obey the command to dip in water. Only then was he healed.
Each accountable person today has the power to choose whether or not to obey God’s command. To be forgiven of sin, we must submit to the authority of God’s word and obey the commands to believe in Jesus, repent, confess Jesus, and be baptized in water. Only then are we cleansed of our sins.
Have you obeyed completely? Are you willing to do so, today?
(c) Copyright David E. Pratte, 2024; gospelway.com
