Day 16: From curse to blessing

So far, we have looked at two specific aspects of the divinely ordained exchange that was accomplished through the death of Jesus on the cross.

First, Jesus was punished that we might be forgiven, that we might have peace.

Second, Jesus was made sin for us that we might have His righteousness. The exchange there is between sin and righteousness.

Now we are going to look at another aspect of the exchange: from curse to blessing. Jesus was made a curse that we might receive the blessing. This is very clearly unfolded in Galatians, Chapter 3. First of all, in verse 10, Paul says:

“All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” (NIV)

In other words, if you're relying on keeping the law to make you righteous, then you have to keep the entire law all the time, but if you fail in any point at any time, then you come under the curse which is due to those who break the law. Then he goes on in verses 13 and 14:

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’ [That's a quotation from the Law, from the Book of Deuteronomy]. He [Christ] redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” (NIV)

That's a very clear statement. All the curses of the broken law came upon Jesus that all the blessings of obeying the law might be made available to us.