BREAKING FREE FROM SIN

 BREAKING FREE FROM SIN - PART 3

Anchor Texts: John 8:32, Genesis 6:5, Genesis 3, Revelations 2:19-20, Galatians 5:16-26

THE CURSE OF SIN

It's been a pleasant journey with our new series. We have seen what the origin of sin is, how the ADAMIC nature makes man vulnerable. We have seen how by the sins of one man, all men became sinners.

But today, we will be considering THE CURSE OF SIN.

Sin is a curse in itself and it also leads to curses.

Galatians 3:13; we see in this scripture that Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us:for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth upon a tree". From this verse above, we see clearly that there is a Curse and this curse is a curse of the law. As any other curse, it is binding on everyone whom the curse is placed upon. How then did this curse come about?

In verse 10 of the same chapter, we see for as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of law to do them".

From the verses above, we are made to understand the legitimate power of this curse. In scriptures, we have seen over time, that Covenant is very important (Genesis 17:7, Ezekiel 37:26). We see God made a covenant with Abraham (we are still celebrating this today); He made a covenant with His son Isaac and then He had a covenant with Jacob, and so on. 

What then is a Covenant? Covenant laws are laws of agreement binding on all parties involved, but in the spiritual sense, here we refer to God and man. From scriptures, we understand that God is a covenant keeping God. It is "man" that must be careful enough to keep his own part of the covenant in order to make it of effect.

The same way there are godly covenants, there are also ungodly ones. Looking at God's word in Isaiah 49:24; "shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered". 

This is to say that though man may enter into bondage or an oppression by virtue of the devil's wicked nature but there are also ones we enter into lawfully. This brings us to this part of the curse of the law. From that verse 10, we see anyone who does not work in accordance with the law will pay for it. 

What law are we then talking about?. This is the law of Sin; the law of the flesh and the law of death.

Romans 8:2 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death".

Romans 5:13b "but sin is not imputed when there is no law".

We understand from these scriptures above, that, there is a law of sin and also of death. And it is for this cause Christ came to die for us. But we must also understand that the law in itself is not sinful.

In the beginning (Genesis 1) when God created man, He gave him laws. These laws were the instructions that man was given. One of which was that he could freely eat of any tree of the garden but not of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Many have argued that if this instruction was not in place, then Adam won't have fallen. But it is note-worthy from our earlier article, that Adam's fall was not due to the instructions but to his ADAMIC nature. If not by the tree, he still would have fallen one way or the other.

It is also important to note that the laws were not made to put man in bondage or condemn him, but through the law came sin which brought about bondage and condemnation. The instructions (laws) were meant to give life but by them came sin whose wages became death. So from here, we see it is not that the law was in itself harmful but going against it brought the harm. That's why Apostle Paul did not say in Galatians 3:10 "Cursed is everyone that doeth or obeyeth the law but those that will not continue in the law".

Furthermore, from Romans 8, we see there is something called the righteousness of the law. Romans 8:2"that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit".

Thus, we understand that there is a way by which we can by the law live a life of righteousness and be free from the curse. Even when Christ was here with us, he said he had not come to abolish the laws.

Matthew 5:17 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil".

The law had been before time when God spoke his word to man and started giving Him commandments but Christ says He came to fulfil the law. This is to tell us that the law, though it brought curses; though through it many were thrown into bondage, this law was not yet fulfilled. Christ who became the end of the law is the fulfilment of that law for us as believers who have received Him and with Faith believed. Romans 10:4 "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth". Christ ended the law that brought curse and started the righteousness which is of Faith. The righteousness which is of law was according to the works of man but now through Christ's death and resurrection, we have a law that comes by Faith.

This is why Apostle Paul could boldly say in Ephesians 2:8-16

8 - For by grace are ye saved through Faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

9 - Not of works, lest any man should boast.

11- Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

15 - Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

16 - And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

So, Christ through his death and resurrection abolished the righteousness from the law and gave unto every one who believes "the righteousness that is of Faith".

That's why the scripture says in Romans 10:9-10

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved".

John 3:15 "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life".

TO BE CONTINUED...

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