REDEEMED FROM THE CURSE.
By T. E. Bowen
CHRIST hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.” Gal. 3:13. Some gather from this scripture that the law is a curse, something from which we have been redeemed by Christ. But the text does not say that. God’s holy law never has been, and never will be, a curse. Our earth knew nothing of a curse until Adam transgressed these divine precepts in Eden. That the law was in Eden, and that Adam was familiar with its requirements, is made very plain by a few scriptures. In Rom. 5:12 we read, “By one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Adam sinned. But how was it known that he had transgressed? “For where no law is, there is no transgression.” Rom. 4:15. It is plain, therefore, that the law was present to condemn Adam for disobedience. Disobedience is always sin, and God’s law is deep enough, broad enough, and high enough to touch every thought or action possible to come into the experience of any created intelligence, either in heaven or in earth. “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law.” But sin did not originate in Eden. “God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.” 2 Peter 2:4. Angels sinned. They therefore transgressed God’s holy law in heaven; for had there been no law, there would have been no transgression even in heaven itself. This scripture reveals the terrible grandeur of the law of Jehovah. Rather than set it aside in heaven, the angels “who kept not their first estate” (a state of obedience and happiness), after they had been given opportunity to repent, and chose not to do so, were cast out of heaven, reserved unto destruction. If in heaven God so maintains the authority of His holy law as to cast out disobedient angels, let us not suppose that transgressors among men will never feel its chains resting upon them if they continue in disobedience. The wages of disobedience is death, and that death is eternal. This certainly is a sad picture,—the world hopelessly lost in transgression. Death has passed upon all men; for all have sinned. This scene, however, is changed into a grand picture of love, sufficient to inspire every soul with praise, in the blessed fact and truth that Christ has redeemed us from this cursed state of sin. He changes not a tittle of the law, but Himself bears the stroke of sin, that the justification unto life might be upon all them that believe. Reader, can you believe? Have you come where you know you have been redeemed from the curse of transgression? If not, delay not to heed His gracious invitation: “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden [with sin], and I will give you rest [forgiveness]. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Jesus will lead you from the curse of disobedience of the law, into the blessing of keeping His Father’s commandments holy. T. E. BOWEN.