A New Covenant curse and how to stay free from it.

I used to be very concerned about curses and how they might be the source of the problems in my life. I often sought to dig up the past of my grandparents and their grandparents and their grandparents in order to break some or other curse that may have come upon me and my family because of my ancestors’ sins. During those days I focused more on the devil and what he was doing than on Jesus my victorious Savior. But it was out of ignorance. Now I walk in the truth that I am a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and it doesn’t matter what horrors are in my natural bloodline because I am now born again into a new bloodline – the bloodline of Christ. I am born of God! (1 John  5:1,4) 

So many Christians are wrongly concerned about various curses and how they could be the hidden source of problems in our lives, and it’s just ignorance – they don’t know (or aren’t believing) in the power of what Jesus did for them, and their new identity in Him! They are worried about various curses and yet they don’t seem to even consider this New Covenant double-curse which we are going to look at, today.

Galatians 1:8-9 NKJV
⁸ But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. ⁹ As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

Galatians 1:8-9 TLB
⁸ Let God’s curses fall on anyone, including myself, who preaches any other way to be saved than the one we told you about; yes, if an angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him be forever cursed. ⁹ I will say it again: if anyone preaches any other gospel than the one you welcomed, let God’s curse fall upon him.

This is pretty serious! when we preach any other gospel than the pure gospel of grace – what Jesus has done for us and freely offers us – then Paul says in verse 8 and again in verse 9 that we should be cursed or damned! Mr. Grace-Preacher himself – the apostle Paul – is so serious about not perverting the good news of grace by adding works and self-effort that he issues a harsh double-curse for anyone mixing law and grace. The Christians who are doing everything they can to avoid curses usually don’t avoid this one and yet it is more serious than anything else. 

Why is mixing law and grace so serious? This is because as soon as you mix even a little bit of law (self-effort) into the gospel, the power of the gospel is nullified or neutralised.

Romans 11:6 NKJV
⁶ And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

Grace (which is the message of the Gospel) is no longer grace and no longer good news, as soon as you mix in even a hint of works, self-effort or legalism. Salvation isn’t something that you can work towards, it is something that you receive; it is not something that you can earn or deserve through any effort, it is simply a free gift you receive when you believe. 

It’s all Jesus or nothing. You cannot take a bit of Jesus and a bit of self-effort – that will not be good enough! It’s 100%trust in Jesus and His work for you, and 100% distrust in any efforts on your part.  All we do is look to Him (the Author and Perfector of our faith – Hebrews 12:2) and believe, for by grace you are saved through faith, and it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8)