What Is the Curse of the Law?
Christ has redeemed
us from the curse of the law. Therefore we don't have to keep the law - Christ
kept it for us." Or so goes a familiar but erroneous - argument!
This false argument takes the form of many Sunday sermons that, unfortunately,
lead many professing Christians away from the truth (Jeremiah 50:6).
Let's examine the key Bible passage around which the whole question revolves,
and see just what Paul meant.
Authority of Bible
What the Bible doesn't say
The main verse in controversy is Galatians 3:13: "Christ has redeemed us
from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us."
First, let's notice what this verse does not say:
1) It does not say that if you keep the law you will be under some terrible
curse. Just the opposite is true. Satan himself knows that those who keep God's
spiritual law will be richly blessed, and that breaking the law brings a curse
upon mankind. Thus the arch deceiver of this world (Revelation 12:9) inspires
deceived ministers (II Corinthians 11:13-15) to preach the diabolical lie that
keeping God's law brings a curse.
2) This verse does not say we don't have to keep God's spiritual law. The same
Paul who wrote Galatians also wrote, "The law is holy, and the commandment holy
and just and good" (Romans 7:12). Paul also said that it is not the hearers of
the law who are just before God, but the doers of the law who shall be justified
(Romans 2:13).
What, then, is the curse of the law?
The penalty for disobedience
Simply stated, the curse of the law is the death penalty for disobedience:
Romans 6:23 clearly states, "For the wages of sin is death." And James 1:15
says, "Sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." And what is sin? Sin is
the transgression, or disobeying, of God's law (I John 3:4)! Now back to
Galatians 3:13. Christ became a curse for us in that He accepted the curse of
disobedient mankind upon His shoulders.
In Old Testament times, sinners were put to death and sometimes hung on a tree
in full view of the people as a testimony that sin brings the death penalty
(Deuteronomy 21:22-23). By allowing sinful mankind to crucify Him, the sinless
Jesus Christ has redeemed us from the curse (death penalty) of the law. As the
latter part of Galatians 3:13 states, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree."
Keeping God's law brings great blessings, and Satan does not want mankind to be
blessed. That is why he has deceived mankind into thinking that God's law, being
a curse, was done away.
Stop and think for a moment: What curse befalls mankind for obeying the Ninth
Commandment, the one against bearing false witness (Exodus 20:16)? A person who
does not lie will have a clear conscience. He will not have to fear being caught
in a web of lies and being punished or humiliated in front of others. He will
actually be a blessing to other people because they will be able to trust in his
word. What about an individual who never steals (verse 15)? Here is a person who
pays his taxes honestly and becomes, in a sense, a blessing to the government
because he willingly submits to its laws. His clear conscience enables him to be
at peace with himself because he is fair and just in all of his dealings.
Those who obey the commandment that states "You shall not commit adultery"
(verse 14) reap many benefits. A couple's marriage will be preserved and they
will grow closer together in mutual trust, love and admiration. The attraction
that first characterized their relationship will deepen as the years pass. The
romantic experience will be richly rewarding so unlike the false so-called love
relationships of so many today. The children born to a couple who believe and
obey this Seventh Commandment will be blessed with a stability and happiness
that is rare in the 20th century.
Blessings produced
Keeping all of God's law brings to man the richest of blessings. Speaking of
God's commandments, David said: "More to be desired are they than gold ... and
in keeping them there is great reward" (Psalm 19:10-11)
God said of His people, "Oh! that they had such a heart in them that they would
fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be we with them and
with their children forever!" (Deuteronomy 5:29).
Keeping God's laws bring spiritual blessings, as well. When we show our
willingness to obey God, He blesses us with more understanding of His plan: " a
good understanding have all those who do His commandments (Psalm 111:10).
Ultimately, for those who accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as payment for
their sins and continue in an obedient attitude, God will give them eternal,
life. It is not that law keeping earns salvation; on the contrary: eternal life
is a gift from God (Romans 6:23). But God will not save one who is in rebellion
against His commandments (Matthew 19:17).
No, God's law has not been done away. God's spiritual law summarized by the Ten
Commandments, is as permanent as God Himself. Those commandments, with all God's
other law reflect God's very character. A major part of our becoming more like
God is our willingness keep and live by His holy, righteous, perfect law!