(Article inspired by Kenneth E. Hagin's book "Redeemed from Poverty, Sickness and Spiritual Death")
Galatians 3.13-14, 29
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us ("for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree") 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith…
29 And if you are Christ's, then are you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
In this book, Brother Hagin tells us what a great blessing we have received in our salvation through and in Christ Jesus. We are redeemed from the curse of the law!
What is the curse of the law?
The term law in the New Testament refers to the 5 books of Moses. When we go back to these books, or to the law, we discover that the curse - or the punishment for breaking God's commandments - is threefold. It involves poverty, sickness, and spiritual death.
The first curse God said would come upon people because of their sins is found in Genesis 2:17, where God said to Adam, "...for the day that you eat of it you shall suerly die." The curse of spiritual death would come upon them if they disobeyed God. The death we are talking about here was exclusion from the Garden of Eden and intimate fellowship with God. In Ephesians chapter 2, verse 1 says, "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Verses 8 and 9 tell us, “For by grace are you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves;, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast". This means that anyone who accepts God’s free gift of grace is now brought back to spiritual life and intimacy with God.
Secondly, according to Deuteronomy 28: 15-17,38-40, the curse of poverty would also come upon the children of God if they disobeyed. Since the Word of God says that we have all sinned and have no part in the glory of God, the curse should actually befall us all. But Galatians 3:13 says that Christ came under the curse for us. He became our substitute. The curse came upon Him instead of us. He took it upon Himself on the cross for us so that we can go free!
Finally, Numerous diseases are also listed in Deuteronomy chapter 28 as a result of violating God's laws and commandments. Sickness and affliction are not God's will for his people. He wishes no curse on his children because of disobedience. Rather, He wants to bless them with health. In Acts 10:38 it says, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him (NKJV).”
Healing was included in God's great plan of salvation. Sin caused the curse to come upon us, but Christ bore the punishment for us. Matthew 8:17 quotes from the book of Isaiah and says it this way, "that it shall be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet saying: He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses." Praise God that we have been redeemed from the curse of the law, and we have been given new life in Jesus our King!