Why the Doctrine of the Laying on of Hands?

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Is the “laying on of hands” merely a quaint custom of the early New Testament church? Or, is it an important Biblical doctrine or teaching that perhaps most people today know very little about?  What does Almighty God teach us through the application of this rather unusual doctrine – the Biblical doctrine of the laying on of hands?
UCG Sermon

“Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘Your money perish with you because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money’” (Acts 8:18-20).

What an amazing scriptural passage!! What is this all about? Is the “laying on of hands” merely a quaint custom of the early New Testament church? Or, is it an important Biblical doctrine or teaching that perhaps most people today know very little about?

Notice the answer to that question, as explained in the Book of Hebrews, chapter 6, and verses 1 and 2:

“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”

What does Almighty God teach us through the application of this rather unusual doctrine – the Biblical doctrine of the laying on of hands?

John Cafourek

John Cafourek (1945-2017) served in the ministry of Jesus Christ with his wife, Sandy, for 46 years.

John was born in South Dakota. He attended Ambassador College in Pasadena, California, from 1965 to 1969, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He received a Master’s Degree in psychological counseling from Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in 1978. John pastored churches in Nebraska, North Dakota, Missouri, Mississippi, Washington, and Oregon.

He directed speech clubs for men, gave seminars on abuse and addictions, and traveled as an international speaker in Canada, England, New Zealand, Jamaica, Australia, and other areas. He also directed a United Church of God preteen camp for children ages 6 to 12 and served at the church’s teen camp.