From Curse to Blessing: Christ's Redemptive Power
Summary
Today, we gathered as a church family to celebrate God’s faithfulness and the ways He is at work among us. We rejoiced in the service and sacrifice of many, especially those who made the Easter extravaganza possible, and we honored two authors from our congregation whose new books point us to Jesus and His redeeming power. We prayed blessings over these works, recognizing that God uses the stories and gifts of His people to bring hope and healing to others.
Turning to Scripture, we explored the profound theme of the curse and its reversal. We began in Genesis, where the original blessing of Eden was lost through disobedience, resulting in a curse that touched every aspect of creation: the spiritual realm, the animal world, humanity, and even the ground itself. This curse is not merely a set of punishments, but the tragic loss of God’s presence and the goodness that flows from Him. The pain, frustration, and exile that followed are the deep wounds of a world separated from its Creator.
Yet, even in the midst of judgment, God gave a promise: the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent’s head, though He Himself would be wounded. This foreshadowed the coming of Christ, who would bear the curse on our behalf. We traced this thread through Deuteronomy, where being hung on a tree (xulon) was a sign of being under God’s curse, and through Isaiah’s prophecy of the suffering servant who would be pierced for our transgressions.
In the New Testament, the apostles recognized that Jesus’ crucifixion was not just a Roman execution, but the fulfillment of these ancient prophecies. By being hung on the xulon, Jesus became the cursed one so that we might become curse-free. His sacrifice inaugurated the “already and not yet” of God’s kingdom: the curse is broken, and eternal life—the life of the age to come—has begun for those who trust in Him, even as we await its full realization in the new Eden, where there will be no more curse.
As we came to the Lord’s Table, we remembered that communion is both a foretaste of the wedding banquet of the Lamb and a present means of grace. Here, we receive not only the promise of future glory but also the healing, provision, and restoration that Jesus offers now. We are invited to bring our needs, our confessions, and our hopes to Him, trusting that the Lamb who was slain has made us free.
Key Takeaways
- The curse is the absence of God’s presence and blessing, not just a list of punishments. It touches every part of creation—spiritual, physical, relational, and environmental. Recognizing the depth of the curse helps us understand the magnitude of what Christ has accomplished for us. [43:16]
- God’s promise to crush the serpent’s head through the offspring of the woman reveals that victory over evil would come through suffering. The Messiah would be wounded in the process, showing us that redemption is costly and that God’s power is made perfect in apparent weakness. [51:42]
- The image of being hung on a tree (xulon) as a sign of curse is fulfilled in Jesus’ crucifixion. He did not simply die; He became the cursed one in our place, absorbing the full weight of our exile and separation from God so that we could be restored to blessing. [58:27]
- The “already and not yet” of God’s kingdom means that while the curse is ultimately broken, we still live in a world marked by its effects. Yet, through the Holy Spirit, we can experience the life of the age to come even now—healing, hope, and restoration are available as foretastes of what is to come. [01:00:04]
- Communion is more than a ritual; it is a present encounter with the risen Christ. As we partake, we receive both a reminder of the future banquet and a real experience of God’s grace today. We are invited to bring our needs and brokenness, trusting that the Lamb who bore the curse meets us with healing and freedom. [01:04:35]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Ticket Announcement and Community Update
[02:30] - Celebrating the Easter Extravaganza
[04:10] - Honoring Service and Sacrifice
[06:00] - Introduction to Worship: God the Mountain-Mover
[08:00] - Blessing and Praise
[10:00] - Introducing Our Authors: Robert and Jess
[20:07] - Robert’s Book: Recapturing Godly Masculinity
[25:00] - Jess’s Story: From Trauma to Testimony
[33:36] - Eden 2.0: The Curse and Its Consequences
[36:19] - Revelation 22: No More Curse
[43:16] - The Spread of the Curse in Creation
[51:42] - Exile and the Pattern of Disobedience
[55:21] - Clues to the Curse’s Reversal
[58:27] - Jesus, the Cursed One on the Xulon
[01:00:04] - The Already and Not Yet of the Kingdom
[01:04:35] - Communion: A Foretaste of Freedom
[01:11:50] - Open Invitation to Receive Grace
[01:13:34] - Closing Prayer and Communion Invitation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Curse and Its Reversal
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### Bible Reading
- Genesis 3:14-24 (The curse after the fall)
- Deuteronomy 21:22-23 (Cursed is anyone hung on a tree)
- Revelation 22:1-5 (No more curse in the new creation)
- Galatians 3:13-14 (Christ redeemed us from the curse by becoming a curse for us)
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### Observation Questions
1. In Genesis 3, what specific areas of creation are affected by the curse after Adam and Eve’s disobedience? ([43:16])
2. According to Deuteronomy 21, what does it mean for someone to be hung on a tree (xulon), and how is this connected to the idea of being under God’s curse? ([55:21])
3. In Revelation 22, what is described as being present in the new creation, and what is specifically said to be absent? ([36:19])
4. How does Paul in Galatians 3:13-14 describe what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross? ([58:27])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon described the curse as “the absence of God’s presence and blessing, not just a list of punishments.” How does this understanding change the way we view the effects of sin in our lives and in the world? ([43:16])
2. Why do you think God’s promise in Genesis 3:15—that the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent’s head—required the Messiah to be wounded in the process? What does this reveal about the nature of redemption? ([51:42])
3. The image of Jesus being hung on a tree (xulon) is used in both the Old and New Testaments. Why is it significant that the early church emphasized this language when talking about Jesus’ death? ([58:27])
4. The sermon talked about the “already and not yet” of God’s kingdom. What does it mean that the curse is broken, but we still live in a world marked by its effects? How do we experience both realities? ([01:00:04])
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### Application Questions
1. The curse touches every part of creation—spiritual, physical, relational, and environmental. Where do you most feel the effects of the curse in your own life right now? How does knowing Christ has broken the curse give you hope in those areas? ([43:16])
2. The promise of victory over evil comes through suffering and apparent weakness, not just power. Can you think of a time when God brought redemption or growth in your life through a season of weakness or pain? How did you see God at work? ([51:42])
3. Jesus became the “cursed one” for us by being hung on the cross. How does this truth affect the way you approach your own failures, shame, or sense of separation from God? ([58:27])
4. The “already and not yet” means we can experience healing, hope, and restoration now, even as we wait for the fullness of God’s kingdom. What is one area where you need to ask God for a foretaste of His kingdom today? ([01:00:04])
5. Communion is described as both a reminder of the future banquet and a real experience of God’s grace today. When you take communion, do you come with specific needs, confessions, or hopes? How might you approach the Lord’s Table differently after hearing this sermon? ([01:04:35])
6. The sermon invited us to bring our needs and brokenness to Jesus, trusting that the Lamb who bore the curse meets us with healing and freedom. Is there a specific area of brokenness or need you want to bring to Jesus this week? What would it look like to trust Him with it? ([01:04:35])
7. The pastor shared about praying for God’s kingdom to come “on this piece of earth today.” What is one practical way you can invite God’s presence and blessing into a specific situation in your life this week? ([01:00:04])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite group members to pray for one another, specifically asking for God’s healing, hope, and restoration in the areas where they feel the effects of the curse. Encourage everyone to bring their needs and hopes to Jesus, trusting in the freedom He has won.
Devotional
Day 1: The Curse and Its Reach
The curse that entered through sin in Eden affects every part of creation—spiritual, animal, human, and environmental realms—resulting in pain, frustration, and separation from God. Yet, even in the midst of this brokenness, God’s heart is to restore and bless, and the story of the curse is not the end but the beginning of His redemptive plan. As we recognize the far-reaching effects of the curse, we are invited to long for the fullness of God’s presence and the restoration He promises. [43:16]
Genesis 3:14-19, 23-24 (ESV)
14 The Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all livestock
and above all beasts of the field;
on your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat
all the days of your life.
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”
16 To the woman he said,
“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;
in pain you shall bring forth children.
Your desire shall be for your husband,
and he shall rule over you.”
17 And to Adam he said,
“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
and have eaten of the tree
of which I commanded you,
‘You shall not eat of it,’
cursed is the ground because of you;
in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
and you shall eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your face
you shall eat bread,
till you return to the ground,
for out of it you were taken;
for you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.”
23 therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.
24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.
Reflection: Where do you see the effects of the curse—pain, frustration, or separation—in your own life or in the world around you, and how might you bring these areas honestly before God today?
Day 2: The Curse Reversed by the Cursed One
Jesus became the curse for us by being hung on the cross, fulfilling the ancient prophecies and absorbing the full weight of our sin so that we might be set free from the curse and restored to God’s blessing. The cross is not just a symbol of suffering but the very place where the curse is broken, and through Christ’s sacrifice, we are invited to live as people who are no longer under condemnation. [01:00:04]
Galatians 3:13-14 (ESV)
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—
14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
Reflection: What does it mean to you personally that Jesus became a curse for you, and how can you live today in the freedom He has purchased?
Day 3: The Already and Not Yet of God’s Kingdom
Though the curse is ultimately removed in the new creation, we can experience the “appetizer” of God’s kingdom now—tastes of healing, restoration, and hope—because Jesus has already inaugurated His kingdom, even as we wait for its fullness. In the midst of our struggles, we are invited to pray for God’s kingdom to come in our lives today, trusting that His presence and power are available here and now. [01:04:35]
John 3:16 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need to experience a foretaste of God’s kingdom—His healing, provision, or restoration—and how can you invite Him into that place today?
Day 4: The Hope of a Curse-Free Future
God’s promise is that one day, in the new heaven and new earth, the curse will be completely removed, and we will dwell in His presence, healed and whole, serving Him in joy and freedom forever. This vision of Eden restored gives us hope and shapes the way we live now, as we anticipate the day when all things are made new and every trace of the curse is gone. [37:54]
Revelation 22:1-4 (ESV)
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.
4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
Reflection: How does the promise of a curse-free future with God encourage you to persevere and live with hope today?
Day 5: Living as People Set Free
Because Jesus has broken the curse, we are called to receive and walk in the freedom He offers—not handling this gift casually, but drawing deeply from His grace, forgiveness, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. As we confess, repent, and submit to Jesus as Lord, we are empowered to live as people of blessing, ministering to others and anticipating the fullness of God’s kingdom. [01:11:50]
Romans 8:1-2 (ESV)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Reflection: What step can you take today to more fully embrace your freedom in Christ—whether it’s confessing a sin, seeking prayer, or extending grace to someone else?
Quotes
No longer will there be any curse. What makes heaven heaven is there will be no curse. And the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. [00:37:45] (17 seconds)
Somehow our being liberated from the curse is also going to have an impact on all of creation. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. [00:47:30] (17 seconds)
God wants to bless, he wants us to be in a place of blessing, but disobedience removes us from that till a point where God says, okay, I'll let you have it the way you want it. If you want to be disengaged from me, I'll let you be disengaged from me and exile. [00:52:47] (22 seconds)
The Messiah was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, by his cursing, we are freed from the curse. By his wounds, we are healed. [00:57:25] (16 seconds)
Not only is the curse going to be removed forever when we are in heaven but that the curse has already been broken. Jesus has already been hung on the cross on the exulon. Jesus has already begun that work of crushing Satan by his death and his resurrection. [01:00:12] (31 seconds)
Whoever desires to be right with God, you don't have to go through a bunch of hoops to get right with God. You need to repent and confess your sins and realize that the only way you're made right with God is because of what Jesus did on that tree. If you come with that kind of humility and that kind of attachment to Jesus, because along with receiving the forgiveness, you're submitting to him as your Lord. [01:12:02] (27 seconds)
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