"Redeemed From The Curse"

Galatians 3:13-16

13) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

14)  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

15)  Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

16)   Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

I

am asked many times if I believe in “The Curse.” Much information has been passed around concerning this and one aspect of the information involves “generational curses.” We would like to believe in this concept for the sake of “convenience,” for if one is, indeed, “cursed” down through the generations of his ancestors, he would be relieved from the responsibility of his own condition. What we need to remember is that no matter the “fault” for our situation, we are the ones who must still “go through.”

The “curse” about which we speak and that which we are under is (simply) the curse of sin. Everything else that we feel we are “cursed” with is simply a reflection of what we choose to believe from others. If we feel that anything happening to us is just what we must “suffer,” we will have a tendency to look at the situation as someone else’s “fault”—and fail to receive instruction from the Lord. All that He allows, He allows that we might be “taught” something.

As has been revealed to us, “the motive of the ministry” is to bring us to spiritual understanding, rather than to “confirm” any misconceptions or “foolishness” under which we have a tendency to operate. This means, then, that sometimes, our “feelings” have to be “hurt” by the Lord so that we will really understand Who He is—and who we are not. What do we mean by this? It means that we sometimes must be dealt with harshly that we might never be deceived into a false sense of security.

While we are quick to acknowledge another’s “fault” for our “challenges,” we are slow to want to accept any responsibility toward God. What other explanation could there be for redeemed creation wanting to believe that “all” of God is ours—and we have no prohibitions concerning sin?

While modern Man can convince himself of many things, it is a mistake for anyone to believe that only Israel remains under the Law. Why can we make this assertion? Because the Law was established to govern flesh and as long as we live in it, we are “subject” to the Law. Living under the Law also subjects one to attempting to do all that he does by “works.” The problem with this is that it is impossible to “do” all that one must do in order to be saved.

Perhaps the Church is largely responsible for “misconceptions” that have contributed to Man’s difficulties being saved. You see, in that Man has not really ever understood what the Lord has wanted from those who would be saved, he taught what he understood to be salvation. What is only now really being grasped is that “being saved” is a condition—rather than what one does or does not do. It reflects a manner of living as opposed to what one says.

There is absolutely no way that Jesus could have ever “redeemed (us) from the curse” if He had “become sin” for us. Only a spotless sacrifice was accepted as an offering for sin. Any teaching to the contrary is indicative of improper teaching and a lack of understanding.

Getting Man “redeemed from the curse” is difficult. One of the greatest impediments is the fact that too many preachers preach under the assumption that people are already saved. The responsibility to preach to impart salvation or to help those already saved is rarely embraced. What has become accepted as “preaching” is far from the purpose of preaching. Preaching has become largely a “show,” with the preacher becoming an “entertainer,” asking his congregation to do everything from “stomping” on the devil’s head to running around the church. Decidedly, salvation is not a “production” orchestrated to attract the “entertainment-hungry.”

The people of God are dying for lack of the truth (of the Word) and integrity (of their preachers). Despite the fact that the opposite is the example largely presented, one cannot live life in the flesh after salvation. It is not possible to involve oneself in the flesh and still be saved.

The devil banks on the fact that all that he has to do is to present certain “situations” to us and then we will revert to the flesh. All too often, he is correct.

We have a responsibility. No matter what one must do to stay in the Spirit, do it! If you need to sing, sing! If you need to pray, pray! If you need to cry, cry! Just don’t give in to defeat—and when one gives in to the flesh, he is already defeated.

There is too much given up by the saint of God when he gives in to the flesh. You see, until we are “born again,” we are forced to live life as human beings operating in the human spirit. “Trapped” in this state, we are “limited” as to what we can accomplish, what we can understand, what we can do. On the contrary, there are no limitations in the Spirit. One can accomplish whatever he is able to believe God for.

The price of our being “redeemed from the flesh” was the death of Jesus. Wherever there is redemption, death is required. For the right to initial salvation, Jesus had to give all that He had. For us to realize that salvation for ourselves, we must give all that we are, meaning that the human spirit must be given to God that we might become submitted to and led by the Holy Spirit.