Since my entrance into Christianity and the Church forty years ago, I have often heard preachers use the term ‘curse’ or the phrase ‘under a curse’. Some even spoke as if it were their personal prerogative to decide who would or would not receive a curse. It always began with a curse for not paying tithe, but then advanced to being under a curse for disagreeing with anything the pastor taught. This is called manipulation.
My early training and church associations adhered to this teaching. I was acquainted with one pastor who constantly presented the LORD as a judgmental and angry God just waiting for someone to err, so He could impose a curse. Even with my limited knowledge of Scriptures at the time, this was inconsistent with my understanding of God and how Scripture presents Him. I admit it’s been an internal struggle and process of unlearning my early teaching in order to relearn correct biblical teaching. But I thank the LORD, I have come to know Him as my loving heavenly Father and my Savior who desires to bless and not to curse.
Anytime I struggle with theological issues, I begin searching the Word for truth. The end of this struggle came from studying Galatians. When Paul was in Galatia, he had preached the Gospel—a Gospel of salvation by faith in Christ. Afterward, other teachers came to the church and taught that a person must also keep the Old Testament Laws in order to receive and to maintain their salvation. Paul was apparently livid when he heard this report. I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel . . . (Gal 1:6). In verse 8 & 9, he says in the strongest possible words the consequences of preaching a salvation that is not received and maintained by faith in Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! Such false teaching will bring a divine curse. However, for those living by faith, in His grace alone, it is impossible for them to come under a curse again.
Paul uses some interesting language in 3v13. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” Paul’s quotation from Deuteronomy 21:23–“Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”–suggests that Jesus passed under the law’s curse because He was crucified by hanging on a tree (the cross). Thus, having violated the law in one part–through no fault of his own–he became guilty of all of it and bore the punishment of God’s wrath for every violation of the law by every person.
For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse (3:10). In other words, for those not living by faith in His grace are under a curse. Now here is the good news. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (3:13). This is a graphic picture in the original language of the NT. It literally reads, We were under (hupo) a curse; Christ became a curse ‘for us’ or ‘over (huper) us.’ Therefore, like a shield, the curse fell on him instead of on us and thus forever sheltering Christians from the curse of the Law. Don’t miss the implications of these two little words under and over. We were under and He came over.
Since understanding this freedom in Christ, I have encountered numerous Christians who struggle with this same issue and live in fear of coming under some kind of ‘curse.’ If this is you, accept the freedom of salvation by grace. Then if anyone, even an angel, preaches something differ trying to place you under a curse, it is them who is accursed. You are shielded by Christ.
Sustaining Word for the Week:
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery (Gal 5:1). Be free – NOT manipulated.