Galatians 3:13
13Christ has 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”),
Truth to Learn
When we believe that the blood of Jesus pays for all our sins we become God’s purchased possession and we are taken out of the marketplace and placed into His family, forever.
Behind the Words
A few verses back Paul said:
Galatians 3:10 10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”
Since verse ten he has shown us that the law is not of faith and that anyone trying to obtain righteousness by the Law must satisfy all the Law, which we sinful humans can’t do. So, if we can’t satisfy the entire Law we are under God’s curse and can’t obtain righteousness ourselves. But now Paul gives us the blessed truth that Christ redeemed us from that curse. But what does it mean that Christ has “redeemed” us?
The word translated “redeemed” is the Greek word, “exagoradzo” which is made up of “ek” meaning “out of” and “agoradzo” which means “to buy.” So this word can be translated as “to buy out of.” But what does that really mean? It means that we have been bought and have been taken out of the marketplace. The beauty of this notion is that we can never be put back in the market place and sold to anyone else. We now belong to God. We are His possession, eternally! And, we have been given the righteousness of Christ (in God’s record book he has marked us as righteous, just like Jesus Christ).
Meaning Explained
How did Christ buy us and take us out of the market place? He did it by taking our curse on himself. As sinners, we had broken God’s law and were under His curse. When Jesus hung on the Cross He had all of our sins thrust upon Him. Remember when Jesus was hanging on the cross there was darkness for three hours? That was representative of God the Father having turned away from God the Son while He bore our sins and became a curse for us. But Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Law and was, therefore, righteous in God the Father’s eyes. So, just as Jesus humbled Himself before the Father and took on our curse as He hung on the cross, when we submit to God the Father and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior our curse is paid for and removed from us. And, in place of the curse we deserve, we receive the righteousness of Christ which we don’t deserve.
That’s grace, pure and simple!
So What?
Have your sins been paid for? If so, then you are purchased goods. You now have a new owner and He expects you to behave like a child of the King. So, live like a son or daughter of a Holy God, not because you want to gain something, but because you want to give something.
In God’s service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2007 Will Krause. All rights reserved.