Are Curses in Effect Today?
July 10th, 2007 by Sean
by Ann Cutler
Need Input. I am currently writing on Curses. In Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.
However, Jesus Christ freed us from having to do observance of Mosaic Law in our own lives. This didn’t negate curses. Jesus Christ was our substitute and was our remedy for curses however, there are still curses today that can be placed on people without their knowing, and people can bring upon themselves curses as well by the things they say.
There can also be curses on property, soveniers, money, and personal possessions and we can take on curses from accursed things.
We have been taught justification for our sins. That God sees them no more. Just as if I never sinned. But if this is true then why do we still suffer consequences many times for sin in our lives today.
I am not sure where to post this on your blog. I would however, like your input and others.
-Ann Cutler
2 quick points:
1. God no longer applies the sins of the fathers onto the children though he used to as mentioned in the Ten Commandments. However, in Ezekiel 18 God specifically goes through 3 generations to make the point that no longer will people be able to use the proverb in the land “the fathers have eaten sour grapes but the children’s teeth are set on edge.” In other words, children were saying, “well since my dad was wicked, I have no hope, might as well live wicked” or “well since my dad was righteous, I need not be righteous because his blessing will fall to me.”
2. If there are curses occuring today then who is the one enforcing them, oneself? God? Satan? Then there is the question of the anti-curse wherein someone utters a blessing. In such cases is God bound to ensure the blessing regardless of the person’s behavior?
What I am saying is there is much superstition in reference to blessings and curses, yet there are biblical passages that affirm them. The question is what is genuine and what is counterfeit?
Hi Sean,
You wrote: 1. God no longer applies the sins of the fathers onto the children though he used to as mentioned in the Ten Commandments.
I wonder if what you are saying here is true. Have you ever seen the way things like alcoholism are prevalent in certain families?
God bless you
According to the Strongs Concordance the Word Curse is the Word Anathema. Which means in the New Testament to pronounce sentence upon. A curse then is to lay upon some one or something. And every curse has attached to it a devil spirit that enforces it. I find it interesting in research that in Malachi 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. And then in 2Cr 9:6 But this [I say], He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Isn’t reaping sparingly then a curse as well? We live in the age of Grace and we are not saved by works yet why would we reap the consequences of our actions uless this too was a curse. From the research I have done thus far many have curses upon them. Jesus Christ was our remedy for curses. He was our way out. But we must go to God in prayer and ask for him to break suspected curses. Just like we have to go to the bank to get out money that is ours we have to go to God in prayer and break the curses in our lives. In other words curses are not automatically broken upon getting born again. And it is possible to place curses on our own selves as well through personal word curses.
Anyone want to jump in here. If you have additional understanding please add your enlightenment.
I base my assertion on two observations.
1. the text of Ezekiel 18
2. the absence of post-exilic texts to the contrary
Regarding multi-generational dysfunctions, there is no question that this occurss regularly and can work both ways (good parent->good kids or bad parents->bad kids). This is not the enforcement of God, but the parents.
Hi,
an additional observation: We can read in the OT about “good” kings of Israel and Judah and their sons being “evil”, and we can read also about “evil” kings, and yet their son turned out to be a “good” king” (”good” and “evil” here in regards to whether or not they were God-fearing or idolators).
It seems like the sins of the fathers did not always have their effects or consequences on the son … sons were “accepted” by God even though their fathers had been some of the worst idolators.
Cheers,
Wolfgang
Sean wrote: 1. the text of Ezekiel 18
The text of Ezekiel 18 has nothing to with the 10 commandments or the law, it has to do with a proverb that the people of the day were using. In fact Ezekiel uses the law of Moses to contradict this proverb:
Eze. 18:20 “The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.”
Ezekiel is actually referring to the law of Moses here:
Deut: 24:16 “Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall sons be put to death for their fathers; everyone shall be put to death for his own sin.
Ezekiel is not contradicting anything in the Law, but rather he uses the law to contradict a proverb that was popular in his day.
wolfgang wrote: an additional observation: We can read in the OT about “good” kings of Israel and Judah and their sons being “evil”, and we can read also about “evil” kings, and yet their son turned out to be a “good” king” (”good” and “evil” here in regards to whether or not they were God-fearing or idolators).
This is why I think the law in the ten commandments of the sins of the father being put upon the 3rd and 4th generations, needs to be understood in a general sense. Similar to the blessings and curses of Deuteronomy 28. Deuteronomy 28 doesn’t mean that if you obey God then nothing bad will happen you and only good will happen to you. Look at Job. The blessings and curses I think need to be understood in a general sense rather than a direct cause a effect manner.
God bless you
The Law of Deuteronomy 24.16 speaks regarding substitionary punishment. No son would or father would be put to death because of the other’s crime. This is not speaking about the issue of curses which is enforced by God in Ezekiel 18 rather than man.
Three generations are enumerated to make the point that God will not hold the father’s sins as a curse over the son who lives righteously (and vice versa). This directly contradicts the old way God had dealt with his people:
God is saying in Ezekiel 18 that he DOES NOT “visit the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation” anymore.
Chapter and Verse?
Sean wrote: This directly contradicts the old way God had dealt with his people:… God is saying in Ezekiel 18 that he DOES NOT “visit the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation” anymore.
Ezekiel says: “As I live,” declares the Lord GOD, “you are surely not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore.” He does not say: “I will deal with you differently” or “I have changed my law.” The whole context of this passage is a popular proverb, not the 10 commandments.
Sean wrote: 2. the absence of post-exilic texts to the contrary
Malachi 4:4 “Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel.
Deuteronomy 5:2 “The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb…. 9 ‘You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,
Karl,
I think you are misunderstanding what I am saying. I am not saying that Ezekiel 18 overturns observance of the Mosaic Law. The commands still stood that God would not stand for idolatry (Deut 5.2; Ex 20.5), the difference was that God would no longer “visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and grand children.” I’m not suggesting that the people of Israel ceased following the law. However, it is abundantly clear in Ezekiel 18 that God carefully goes through 3 generations to make the point that he will not punish/reward children on the basis of their fathers.
As far as I see this there is no contradiction between Ezekiel and Exodus on this point. God can judge each person on their own merits and can with hold consequences for their sins, The fathers sins can be visited on their children if he wants this to be. He can have mercy on whom ever he wishes. We can assume GOd is just and that is all. He will show lovingkindness to those who love him and keep his commandments. The sins of the father will have a effect on his children, this is not hard to understand. Why he says not to use this proverb in Isreal anymore is unclear maybe their understanding was unclear, maybe they were not allowing the mercy of God to be taught.
Sean wrote: The commands still stood that God would not stand for idolatry (Deut 5.2; Ex 20.5), the difference was that God would no longer “visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and grand children.” I’m not suggesting that the people of Israel ceased following the law.
This phrase: “for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,” is part of the 10 commandments and part of the covenant that God made with Israel at Horeb. You can’t cut out a part of that covenant and then say that Israel still had to follow the law.
Sean wrote: the difference was that God would no longer “visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and grand children.
Actually it says: 20 “The person who sins will die. The son will not BEAR THE PUNISHMENT for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father BEAR THE PUNISHMENT for the son’s iniquity;
This is the teaching of the law itself: Deut: 24:16 “Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall sons be put to death for their fathers; everyone shall be put to death for his own sin.” Ezekiel does not say that God will no longer “visit” the iniquity of the fathers to the third and fourth generations. The whole context of Ezekiel has to do with a popular proverb in his day. It says nothing with reference to the law, except to use the law to contradict the proverb.
Well said Patty
Casting out devil spirits is something that Jesus and the apostles did and something that ,as far as I see, we could do. There is no reason I see currently that would make me think differently. There may be great need that is being over looked. This negative spiritual influence may perhaps be in someones life due to the sins of the father or the mother and may be there because of the individuals own causes.If a person becomes wise to all of this they can become free from it. Truly repenting and accepting the message that Jesus taught may not instanteously eliminate these negative spirits and spritual influences, but persistence in the pursuit of holiness and a drive to do the will of God will lead a person out of it. God will provide this freedom . The key is persistence because of a great desire to love God and a great desire to do what he says to do. We are not “saved” by works but our faith is revealed by our works. How much faith do you have? Enough to trust God, enough to obey the teachings of Jesus the Messiah, enough to persist though things in your life may be difficult, enough to believe that the truth shall set you free free from “curses” or anything that doesnt glorify God. Maybe we might need help from someone to seee the truth and help from God through Jesus who made it possible to be free from the reign of sin being made the payment for sin. Is it necessary for us to identify curses as curses or is it only necessary for us to recognize our condition and accept that we conform to the will of God?
Ann wrote:
“There can also be curses on property, soveniers, money, and personal possessions and we can take on curses from accursed things.”
How do you know this?
Ann also wrote:
“We have been taught justification for our sins. That God sees them no more. Just as if I never sinned. But if this is true then why do we still suffer consequences many times for sin in our lives today.”
We deal with consequences to sin in a variety of ways - (1) we deal with the sins we have committed and do committ still. If I had pre-marital sex and got a disease or pregnant, even if I become a Christian months later, I will be living with the result of the sins that I committed. (2) Also, we are living in the world that is clearly realizing the effects of the sin of Adam and Eve. We are living in the age ruled by the devil and as a result evil, violent, and hurtful people remain around us - they inflict some of the pain we deal with.
On a somewhat different note, I find it hard to believe that one can hear the gospel, repent and believe it and still have demons. Am I neglecting a Biblical precedent for this? I agree with Patty that there is sanctification that will continue after conversion, but that is something different I believe than have demon occupation even after the gospel has been heard and responded to.