“The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, ‘The person who does these things will live by them.’ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” [2]
Our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ hung on a pole. He was taken down and not left to hang on the pole overnight. The point here is that He took the curse we well deserved and gave us the blessing of Abraham, namely friendship with God, that we did not deserve. As a result of Christ’s work on the cross, we know that one day we will be accursed no more.
“I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us, for the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope.” [3]
“Here is the second point of consolation. Paul holds up as an example to us the condition of the whole creation. He exhorts us to endure patiently, as the creature does, all the violence and injustice we suffer from the devil and the world, and to comfort ourselves with the hope of future redemption. Remarkable doctrine this, unlike anything elsewhere found in the Scriptures, that heaven and earth, sun, moon and stars, leaf and blade, every living thing, waits with sighing and groaning for the revelation of our glory.” [4]
“The Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing unto you, because the Lord your God loved you.” [5] How much greater is the joy of reunion with God after being separated from Him. The prophet Isaiah wrote in chapter 59 verse 2 of his book, “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” When you have the Savior from sin Jesus Christ, the middle wall of separation (sin) between God and you is gone. It is glorious! And God gives you His Holy Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing your redemption. [6] The Holy Spirit assures you that you belong to God and that you have an inheritance in Him. Christ broke the curses of sin from you to restore you to God. He did this because He LOVES you and WANTS you to live with Him forever in heaven someday.
Therefore, “Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” [7]
Hallelujah! Amen!
Lift up your head because your redemption is drawing near. [8]
[1] Deuteronomy 21:22-23
[2] Galatians 3:12-14
[3] Romans 8:18-20
[4] Luther’s Epistle Sermons, p. 313
[5] Deuteronomy 23:5
[6] Ephesians 1:14
[7] Philippians 3:20-21
[8] Luke 21:28
