“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law,
having become a curse for us..” Galatians 3:13
A person feels cursed when everything seems to be going wrong; it seems like no matter how hard he or she tries, nothing goes right. Well, for the Christian, we aren’t cursed, we are blessed! We aren’t bound; we are free! Our hands aren’t tied; our hands are free to receive.
Galatians 3:13 is a New Testament scripture that refers to an Old Testament principle. In Deuteronomy 28, God tells His people that if they want to have a good, blessed life, they need to obey His laws. If they disobey Him, then they will be cursed. Most of the curses can be categorized under poverty, sickness, or spiritual death.
Many Jews did their best to live according to the Law, but no one could keep the Law perfectly. It was impossible to live holy with the sin nature. So why would God give His people a Law that was impossible to keep? The purpose of the Law was to show people the holiness of God, our inability to be holy on our own, and our need for a Savior. That message still applies today. By grace we are saved through faith, not because of our performance. Amen!
The Law also taught us that there was judgment for sin, a punishment that was due. Jesus freed us from the curse of the Law by paying the penalty for sin. He didn’t just carry sin; He became sin (See II Corinthians 5:21). In the Old Testament, if someone was raised up from the earth, they were considered cursed, despised, and rejected. The worth of a person had weight. Matters of importance were considered heavy or light. To be lifted up from the earth symbolized someone who was judged and dishonored. John 3:14 says, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up (see Numbers 21:5-9).” Jesus said in John 12:32-33 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself. This He said, signifying by what death He would die.” Jesus was crucified, taking judgment, and becoming a curse. Jesus was tortured and crucified so we could be free from the ransom that was holding us a prisoner. We were kept far from God until Jesus removed the sin barrier. Now we can know God and experience His life!
When we surrender our lives to Him, there is no longer any punishment or condemnation from sin. We are free from the curse and free to receive. We are free to receive healing, provision, and eternal life and all that goes along with salvation. Praise God!
Application: If you are experiencing poverty, sickness, or spiritual death; then come to Jesus! You can be free to receive salvation benefits!