Delivered from Death's Curse

If it is neither by abrogation nor relaxation that we are freed from the demands of the law, how has this deliverance been effected? By the mystery of vicarious obedience and suffering. This is the Gospel of the grace of God. This is what was a scandal to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks; but to those that are called, the power of God and the wisdom of God (1Co 1:23-24). The Scriptures teach us that the Son of God—the brightness of the Father’s glory and the express image of His person, who thought it not robbery to be equal with God—became flesh and subjected Himself to the very law to which we were bound; that He perfectly obeyed that law and suffered its penalty, and thus, by satisfying its demands, delivered us from its bondage and introduced us into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. It is thus that the doctrine of redemption is presented in the Scriptures. “God,” says the apostle, “sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law” (Gal 4:4-5). Being made under the law, we know that He obeyed it perfectly, brought in everlasting righteousness, and is therefore declared to be “the Lord our righteousness” (Jer 23:6), since, by His obedience, many are constituted righteous (Rom 5:19). He, therefore, is said to be made righteousness unto us (1Co 1:30). And those who are in Him are said to be righteous before God, not having their own righteousness, but that which is through the faith of Christ (Phi 3:9). 

That we are redeemed from the curse of the law by Christ’s enduring that curse in our place is taught in every variety of form from the beginning to the end of the Bible. There was the more need that this point should be clearly and variously presented, because it is the one on which an enlightened conscience immediately fastens. 

The desert of death begets the fear of death. And this fear of death cannot be allayed until it is seen how, in consistency with divine justice, we are freed from the righteous penalty of the law. How this is done, the Scriptures teach in the most explicit manner. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us” (Gal 3:13). Paul has just said, “As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse.” But all men are naturally under the law, and therefore all are under the curse. How are we redeemed from it? By Christ’s being made a curse for us. Such is the simple and sufficient answer to this most important of all questions.