Paul tells us in Galatians 3:13 that, “Messiah hath redeemed us from the curse of the law.“
What does this mean?
If you look on the Internet for answers, a selection of what you might find is listed below: (without editing)
1. “The curse to which Paul refers is nothing less than exposure to the unmitigated wrath of God Almighty.”
www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/the-curse-of-the-law
2. “The ‘Curse of the Law’ was death, which was needed to be paid for sin.”
https://biblethingsinbibleways.wordpress.com/2014/04/26/is-gods-law-a-curse/
3. “Christians are not under the law”
“To be under the law means that a person is under the power of the law to judge and condemn anyone who breaks the law….” “Since Christians have died with him, they are no longer under the law because he who has died is freed from the law.”
https://carm.org/are-christians-under-the-law
4. “We’re free from the law!”
https://www.4-14.org.uk/wer-free-from-the-law
5. “The judgment due to us for our sin is removed when we believe in Christ.”
http://letusreason.org/wf47.htm
The above citations give you a variety of opinions about what people consider the curse to be. The purpose of this article is not to analyze these other perspectives. Let us consider, instead, what the Bible tells us.
We are all physically dying because the wages of sin is death. (1 John 3: 4) This is an experience that all people have in common. Therefore, Messiah did not redeem us from death. So death is not the curse that Paul is referring to in Galatians 3:13.
So, what is the curse?
Let us look to Deuteronomy 29:20 for the biblical answer:
“Yahweh will not spare him, but then the anger of Yahweh and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and Yahweh shall blot out his name from under heaven.”
This verse indicates that the penalty for someone dying in sin, according to the law, is to have his or her name blotted out of the book of life. Now, this is a clear statement from the Bible. This is not taught by Christian writers that I have read. The curse then is having your name removed from the book of life.
How did Messiah redeem us from this curse? He became sin! Paul confirms this in second Corinthians 5:21: “For he hath made him [to be was added, it is not in the Greek] sin for us.”
The prophet, Isaiah, also confirms this in the book of Isaiah 53:6:
“Yahweh hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” All of the sins of mankind were placed on Messiah. This is why John can tell us, “the blood of Yahshua Messiah his son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1: 7)
Not one human being, except for Messiah, died in sin. We all die, but only Messiah died in sin. Death was not the curse. The curse was having your name blotted out for dying in sin.
Paul informs us that Messiah was, “made under the law”. (Galatians 4: 14) He therefore had to die according to the law. In death, his blood absorbed all sin, our sin. Messiah did not sin. (1 Peter 2:22) Therefore, he took on the curse of the law because of our sin. This freed each of us from suffering this same curse. Only Messiah had his name blotted out from the book of life.
Why is it important for us to know that the curse he suffered was the blotting out of his name? Because we need to know precisely what, “name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4: 12) It is the name by which we must be baptized. (Acts 2: 38) Simon Magus learned how precise the process of baptism was. (Acts 8: 18) Yahweh is not the author of confusion. (1 Corinthians 14: 33) You must follow the exact instructions given for baptism for it to be valid. This includes using the correct name.
Is the name for baptism Yahshua? No, that name was blotted out. The Messiah had the human name Yahshua when he died on the tree. It was that name which was blotted out. Any human name he had was blotted out. Whatever human name you choose to call him, Jesus, Yeshua, or Yahushua does not make a difference. It is gone, blotted out by the law.
In death he lost his human name. When resurrected, did he have a name? Paul reveals that he did have a name in the resurrection. He tells us this in Hebrews 1: 4: “ he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Yes, we must know that name. Peter’s declaration about baptism came after the resurrection of Messiah, so that is the name we need. When Peter spoke to us in the book of Acts, the human name of Messiah was already blotted out. He had to have meant the inherited name.
Now Paul tells us that the inherited name is more excellent. What name was considered excellent? The answer is found in Psalm 148:13: “Let them praise the name of Yahweh: for his name alone is excellent;” We are told the name of Yahweh alone is excellent. The only name that the Messiah could inherit is Yahweh.
Now, perhaps you see why it is important to know what the curse of the law really is. If you do not know what the true curse is then you cannot understand that Messiah needed to inherit a new name. Without that knowledge you will seek baptism in the wrong or human name of the Messiah. You must get it right. You must be baptized in the name of life, YAHWEHSHUA. The name of Yahshua identifies the blood poured out after death, which absorbed all sin. Yahshua is the name of death.
Salvation in the name of Yahweh is not only revealed in the New Testament. The prophet Joel knew this when he wrote in Joel 2:32: “whosoever shall call on the name of Yahweh shall be delivered.” Paul confirms this when he quoted Joel in Romans 10:13: “for whosoever shall call on the name of Yahweh shall be saved.” The King James translation does not give you the truth. The English says LORD, while in Hebrew the name is Yahweh.
Messiah warned us in Luke 11:52 that the key of knowledge has been removed. The King James translation did not quote the Hebrew words correctly in that verse from Joel. They used LORD instead of the name of Yahweh. The Greek translation of Romans 10:13 perpetuated that error by using Lord.
Messiah gave us this important insight in John 8:32: “and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” It is truth that gives us life, not a lie. The human name, Yahshua, is not the name by which we are to be baptized. That would be a lie. The inherited name of YAHWEHSHUA is that true name for baptism. We can only be saved by this name. We are saved by the truth!
There is much more to the truth than this short article reveals. I urge you to read the other articles on this website. Before you do, pray to Yahweh for truth. Only he can reveal it to you. (John 6: 44)
I encourage you to read critically. Don’t just accept what is written. Look up the Bible references. Send us your questions. But most of all, pray for truth to Yahweh. We are dedicated to help you find the truth. You have no obligation to us. This is a matter that is between you and Yahweh. We are his servants and seek only to do his will.
Remember Matthew 7:7-8: “ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; And to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
This is a promise from the Messiah. He does not lie and will not mislead you. Give him a chance. Ask the Father for truth and pray fervently. Yes, get down on your knees and cry out to the Father for his truth. This is what I had to do. Be persistent and don’t give up! May Yahweh bless your efforts.
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