Galatians 3:13-14 Let Christ become Cursed for You, That You might Receive the Spirit

Galatians 3:13-14 Christ 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”—in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

God’s holy standard stands against mankind in our sinfulness and condemns us. As God judges the world (both now and at the Final Judgment), the Law acts as His governing agent. It helps me to think of the Law as a personal being corresponding with God as He judges. Such a correspondence might go something like this:

The Law: “This one has failed to meet Your standard, O God.”

God: “How so?”

The Law: “He/She has lied, disobeyed their parents, whom you put as authorities over them, stolen countless times, desired things that you have not seen fit to give them more than they have desired you, failed to take the Sabbath rest, hated others whom you have created in your image, failed to love and serve you above their self and other created things…”

God: “You have spoken truthfully, Law which I have ordained. This one stands condemned. This one is cursed, owing an infinite debt for these wrongs.”

Because we do not meet the holy standard, we are accursed in condemnation under its authority over us (See Galatians 3:10 posted on January 11, 2005). Yet for all who trust Christ alone by faith, Christ has become the curse. When He died upon the cross, a death that the Law proclaims to be an accursed death, cross took our place. Christ become our substitution. Christ was counted as sinful in our place (though He was still in Himself sinless). So rather than the Law condemning us (those who trust in Christ), its sights are set upon Christ. The focus of the condemning eye of the Law is taken off of us and placed wholly upon Christ.[1] The Law thus condemns Christ to face the wrath of God and to be our propitiation (our wrath bearer). In doing this, Christ became the one who is cursed in our place: “[The Father] made [Christ] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in [Christ]” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Why did Christ become a curse for us? So that in Christ being lifted up as a curse upon the tree, He will draw all men unto Himself so that they will all partake of the promises of Abraham (John 12:32). Thus in Christ, the Gentiles receive the blessing of Abraham. Thus by faith we can receive the Holy Spirit, the promise of God to be with us forever. In becoming a curse, the Lion of Judah is slain as a helpless lamb. In being slain in this way, the Lamb is highly exalted, receiving the name above all names (Philippians 2:9-11), receiving His rightful claim of heritage (Hebrews 1:2), His rightful seat of power (Hebrews 1:3), and His rightful authority (Matthew 28:18):

Worthy are You [the Lamb] to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth. (Revelation 5:9-10).

I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven, One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14).

Let Christ be the curse of the Law that is rightfully yours. He is exalted by your doing so, and you receive the Spirit.

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[1] I have an illustration here, but I did not want to place it in the main body of the text. If you have seen the Lord of the Rings: the Return of the King, think to when the final fight is occurring and the eye of Sauron is upon the battle at the gates of Mordor between Aragorn and the orcs. Then Frodo, in the cave with Samwise puts the ring upon his finger and becomes invisible. All of a sudden the eye or Sauron streaks from the battle to Mount Doom, where the ring is. He is no longer concerned about the battle, for his attention has been fully captured by another. This is what I have in mind when I say that “the focus of the condemning eye of the Law is taken off of us and placed wholly upon Christ.”