Cursed for You!

 

 

 

“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”

Matthew 25:41

 

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.”

Galatians 3:13-14

You Are Cursed

  1. You barely made it alive into the world due to a curse of troubled childbirth and death.
    1. Your mother went through considerable anguish, fear, and pain bringing you forth.
    2. Many do not survive gestation; some die young; all others will die in a few years.
    3. Assume Creator or evolution, spontaneous life easily proves perpetual life, but no!
    4. You will die, no matter your assumption of origins, and you are dying this minute.
  2. The world around you is cursed by a law of entropy and the death of all living things.
    1. Rational, irrational, and inanimate things are all moving to disorder, decay, death.
    2. You have never found, invented, or seen anything above the curse of destruction.
    3. Nothing, from relationships to precious metals, will remain the same to be trusted.
    4. The best plans will encounter numerous difficulties and overruns to reduce utility.
    5. No flower, pet, sidewalk, roof, automobile, sweater, tree, or rock abides forever.
  3. You have a nature that cannot do what you value highest but defaults to the lowest.
    1. The more you learn consistent morality, especially the Bible, the less you comply.
    2. You make emotional and intense commitments and promises, but you violate them.
    3. Your nature includes self-awareness, guilt, and fear that judgment will find you.
    4. The recorded deaths of some vocal atheists is a frightening lesson in God’s curse.
  4. A funeral has a dead person very different from its living form … a curse screams out!
    1. A joyful, vivacious cheerleader turns into a shrunken, shriveled, wrinkled corpse.
    2. The plans, excitement, efforts, and anticipation of the person entirely disappear.
    3. Every accomplishment and acquired asset is stripped away to leave him destitute.
    4. You have been cursed to die … understand your cancer, heart failure, or health!
    5. You working in the medical field get to see decay and death up close frequently.
  5. Reasoning without scripture is pitiful and weak in comparison, so consider its curses.
    1. Spiritual death to God and righteousness is clearly revealed (Gen 2:17; Eph 2:1-3).
    2. Physical death is much sooner than Adam’s, and you cannot avoid it (Heb 9:27).
    3. Eternal death is coming when an awful curse is formally stated (Matt 25:41)!
    4. Note the blessing (Matt 25:34) or curse (Matt 25:41) and contrast (Matt 25:46).
    5. God’s revelation, perfectly consistent with all observable things, screams curse.
    6. Every good thing you now experience is further condemnation by His goodness.
    7. The world distracts with noise and diversion, but their dysfunction proves a curse.
    8. The best laid and most expensive plans by men fail and never reach perfection.

Curses in General

  1. What is a curse in general? Using God’s name or authority to judge a person or thing. 
    Curse. 1. An utterance consigning, or supposed or intended to consign, (a person or thing) to spiritual or temporal evil, the vengeance of the deity, the blasting of malignant fate, etc. It may be uttered by the deity, or by persons supposed to speak in his name, or to be listened to by him. 2. Without implication of the effect: The uttering of a malediction with invocation or adjuration of the deity; a profane oath, an imprecation. 3. An object of cursing or execration; an accursed thing or person. 4. The evil inflicted by divine (or supernatural) power in response to an imprecation, or in the way of retributive punishment. [OED].
  2. What else can a curse be? It can be disrespectful or imprecatory declaration of disgust.
    1. Satan tried to get Job to curse God this way, and so did his wife (Job 1:11; 2:5,9).
    2. It can be church censure or anathema of excommunication of members (Gal 1:8-9).
    3. Phinehas’s wife cursed Israel by naming her son Ichabod for the ark (I Sa 4:19-22).
  3. Common usage includes some senses of the word that reduce its gravity and weight.
    1. It is used lightly at times to speak of a melancholy curse or the menstrual curse.
    2. It is used indirectly at times to speak of filthy language used foolishly and wildly.
    3. It is used correctly at times for men using God’s name in vain to damn ignorantly.
  4. What do we mean by curse? God’s promise to severely punish an object of wrath!
    1. The source of the declaration or promise is the purpose or will of Almighty God.
    2. The punishment can be temporary or permanent … natural, spiritual, or eternal.
    3. The judgment is certain, because God only operates by truth; He does not change.
    4. The judgment is certain, because there is no limit to His duration, power, or wrath.
    5. His wrath is not temporary emotion like in men, but certain and sure by character.
    6. There is absolutely no escape from His curses (Num 32:23; Job 8:13-14; 11:20; 18:14; 27:8; Psalm 2:1-5; 49:6-9; Proverbs 11:21; 16:5; 20:20; Luke 16:23-26).
    7. Bible verses do not need the word curse any more than blessings need that word.
    8. We could focus on words like calamity, condemnation, damnation, destruction, guilt, hatred, judgment, ruin, torment, etc., but for this study we exalt curse.
  5. Grasp a few examples of general curses not associated directly with curses for sin.
    1. God judged Cain for killing Abel by reducing the earth’s goodness (Gen 4:11-12).
    2. God cursed the Canaanites, descendants of Ham and Canaan, for a sin (Gen 9:25).
    3. God promised Abraham and sons His blessing or curse (Ge 12:3; 27:29; Nu 24:9).
    4. The tribes of Simeon and Levi were reduced in influence for their sin (Gen 49:7).
    5. A jealous husband could put his wife under a curse for infidelity (Num 5:11-31).
    6. God ordered all abominations of pagans should be kept away (Deut 7:26; 13:17).
    7. God cursed any stuff in Jericho (Josh 6:17-18; 7:1,11-13,15; 22:20; I Chron 2:7).
    8. God by Joshua cursed any attempting to rebuild Jericho (Josh 6:26; I Kgs 16:34).
    9. Elisha cursed forty-two children in Jehovah’s name for disrespect (II Kings 2:24).
    10. Jesus cursed a fig tree for no fruit; see immediate results (Mark 11:12-14,19-22).
  6. Miscellaneous verses pertaining to curses in general (Gen 27:12-13; Judges 9:23; Judges 9:57; II Kings 9:34; Neh 10:29; 13:25; Jer 49:13; Lam 3:65; I Cor 12:3).

God Cursed Satan

  1. Start with God’s curse of the serpent possessed and used by Satan (Gen 3:14).
  2. He is reserved … by God’s curse … to eternal torment (Matt 8:29; Jude 1:6).
  3. Part of God’s curse of Satan is preparation of hell (Matt 25:41; Isaiah 14:15).
  4. The devil was originally condemned and cursed for the sin of pride (I Tim 3:6).

God Cursed Man

  1. God gave us everything in Eden, but we wickedly rebelled against His gifts.
    1. The promise of death for eating the fruit contained a curse for sin (Ge 2:17).
    2. God followed this event up with clear curses for all involved (Gen 3:14,17).
    3. The curse of the ground has been eased by Noah’s sacrifice (Ge 5:29; 8:21).
    4. See here the sacrifice offered to mitigate or reduce God’s curse in a figure.
  2. God hates sin and sinners and has cursed them to judgment (Ps 5:4-6; 11:4-6).
  3. God may lift His curse from some and leave it attached to others (Isaiah 65:20).
  4. The creation is cursed and groaning in travail under its burden (Rom 8:20-23).

God Cursed Israel

  1. There are several curses in the book of Malachi before the New Testament.
    1. God cursed any worshipper of His that brought less than the best (Mal 1:14).
    2. God cursed Israel’s priests and their blessings and families for sin (Mal 2:2).
    3. God cursed Israel for not giving tithes and offerings as ordained (Mal 3:9).
    4. God cursed Israel when John’s ministry did not bear enough fruit (Mal 4:6).
  2. God did not let Balaam curse Israel (Num 22:6,11,12,17; 23:7,8,11,13,25,27; 24:10; Deuteronomy 23:4-5; Joshua 24:9; Nehemiah 13:2).
  3. God delivered Josiah from curses on Israel for sin (II Kgs 22:19; II Chr 34:24).
  4. Miscellaneous verses of curses on Israel (Is 8:21; 24:6; 43:28; 65:15; Jer 24:9; 25:18; 26:6; 29:18; 29:22; 42:18; 44:8,12,22; Dan 9:11; Zech 8:13; Heb 6:8).

God’s Covenant with Curse

  1. God deals by if … then conditions on earth (Deut 11:26-29; 30:19; Jer 11:3).
  2. God’s covenant offered blessing or cursing (Deut 28:1-14,15-68; Joshua 8:34).
  3. There was absolutely no way to avoid God’s curses (Deut 29:19-28; Prov 26:2).
  4. Moses’ words to Israel told them to think about it in captivity (Deut 30:1,7,19).
  5. Part of God’s sober worship was to recite blessings and curses (Deut 27:11-26).
  6. God did not allow keeping, touching any of Canaan’s cursed junk (Deut 13:17).

God Cursed Others

  1. God clearly cursed Egypt repeatedly by His words through Moses (Ex 11:4-8).
  2. A city in Canaan was cursed for not helping Israel against Sisera (Judges 5:23).
  3. God cursed the Edomites (Esau) with severe and violent vengeance (Is 34:1-8).
  4. God cursed Judas Iscariot for what he did to God’s Son Jesus Christ (Ps 109:7).

You Are Cursed

  1. You are cursed for certain death in four distinct stages by relationship to Adam.
    1. First, you are cursed legally by his representation in Eden (Romans 5:12-19).
    2. Second, you are cursed in nature by spiritual death toward God (Eph 2:1-3).
    3. Third, you are cursed to die physically as punishment (Gen 5:5; Heb 9:27).
    4. Fourth, there is the second death, eternal death, coming fast (Rev 20:11-15).
  2. If that was not enough, God sent His law through Moses to further curse you.
    1. As if Adam were not enough, the Law further condemns you (Rom 5:20-21).
    2. This curse applies equally to Jews (in writing) and Gentiles (by conscience).
    3. You are under the curse of that law for even one violation of it (Gal 3:10).
    4. All the severe and vengeful curses you can read from Moses are justly yours.
  3. Miscellaneous curses also apply for your sins (Job 24:18; Ps 37:22; 119:21; Pr 3:33; 20:20; 26:2; 27:14; 28:27; Jer 17:5; 48:10; Ezek 18:4,20; Mal 1:14; Rom 13:2; 14:23; I Cor 11:29; 16:22; I Tim 5:12; II Pet 2:14).

Jesus Took Our Curse … He Became a Curse for Us to Buy Us out from it!

  1. Paul wrote Gentiles to declare the gospel with no uncertain sound (Gal 3:13).
    1. Christ = the Messiah of Isaiah and Gentiles, Jesus of Nazareth our Saviour.
    2. Redemption = to buy back from the claims of another, in this case, Jehovah.
    3. Without Jesus you have no hope; He will zealously condemn God’s cursed.
    4. Jews and Gentiles are cursed by Moses’ moral law without hope (Gal 3:10).
    5. It was delivered to the Jews in writing; it was written in Gentile consciences.
    6. Fully under Adam’s curse, the Law added a curse (Ro 5:12-19 cp 5:20-21).
    7. The Law was not intended to save, only condemn (Gal 3:21; Rom 3:9,19).
    8. God made Jesus the last Adam for gifts, to end Adam’s curse (Ro 5:12-19).
    9. Jesus perfectly kept the righteousness of Moses’ Law far beyond its words.
    10. God applied the curse for our sins to Him without sin (II Co 5:17; Heb 7:26).
    11. Capital punishment was the most severe judgment for violating Moses’ Law.
    12. God chose His death by a tree for another curse (Deut 21:22-23; I Pet 2:24).
  2. For a few more thoughts, consider other verses and facets without curse listed.
    1. Consider Jesus’ redemption of you from God’s curses any way you benefit.
    2. Jesus condemned or cursed the curse that was against us (Rom 8:3; Eph 4:8).
    3. God cursed the curse of childbirth by bringing Jesus through it (I Tim 2:15).
    4. God cursed the curse of death by bringing life to you by death of His Son.
    5. God cursed the curse of hanging on a tree by making a wood cross for Him.
    6. God cursed the curse of sweat by Jesus sweating like great drops of blood.
    7. God cursed the curse of thorns by Jesus wearing a cruel crown of thorns.
    8. God cursed the curse of forsaking you by forsaking Jesus (Matt 7:23; 25:41).
    9. God had cursed us to a bruising (eternal death), but Jesus took it (Is 53:10).
    10. God had cursed us to torment, but Jesus our Lord was tormented instead ().
    11. The speeding bullet of God’s perfect wrath was stopped by Jesus for you.
    12. Jesus took away the curse (negative); He also made you righteous (positive).
    13. For more unsearchable riches.
  3. Jesus took our curse, which brought the blessing of Abraham on us (Gal 3:14).
    1. The promises God made to Abraham, His friend, are our promises (Ga 3:16).
    2. By true relation to Christ by faith and baptism, all are ours (Gal 3:26-29).
  4. The Holy Spirit chose redemption for Galatians 3:13, but we could add others.
    1. For Christ’s blood redemption.
    2. For Jesus Christ’s ransom of us.
    3. For Christ’s justification. 
    4. For Christ’s propitiation.
    5. For facets of salvation.

A Curse-Free Universe

  1. Jesus returns to glorify bodies cursed with death (Ro 8:28-39; I Cor 15:51-57).
  2. He will lift the curse on earth’s inanimate and irrational creatures (Ro 8:17-25).
  3. The Bible promises there will be no more curse (Rev 22:3 cp Rev 21:1,4-5).
  4. Things we know with faults, decay, rust, and death will melt (II Peter 3:10-14).
  5. An inheritance will be revealed … incorruptible, undefiled, unfading (I Pet 1:4).
  6. For more.

Choose Blessing or Cursing

  1. God made the choice of blessing or cursing in eternity, but you must lay hold of one.
  2. Belief on Jesus is the baby first step of showing salvation from the curse (John 3:18).
  3. If you do not believe and get baptized (baby first steps), you are cursed (Mark 16:16).
  4. If you do not do the good deeds and works of the Bible, you are cursed (Jn 5:28-29).

For Further Study:

  1. Enjoy the song, What Endless Wisdom.
  2. Sermon, Whole Creation Groaneth.
  3. Sermon outline, Facets of Salvation.
  4. Sermon outline, Unsearchable Riches of Christ.
  5. Unconditional Salvation.