Notice how Paul does not call the law itself a curse, as
that would be nonsensical. Paul is a Jewish believer and Scripture teaches that
Law is good (1 Tim. 1:8, Ps. 19:7, Rom. 7:12), so it is not the law that is a
curse. Paul is speaking on the curse of the law, which is death. The law
brings knowledge of sin, and it is sin that brings forth death (Rom. 3:20;
6:23; Gal. 3:24). So, when Christ becomes “a curse for us,” Paul is referring
to the curse of death. Death is the price of sin, the reward for the common
criminal, yet Jesus succumbed to death that we might live (Gal. 2:20). He was not
cursed by God, but instead through His moral body, experienced the curse of
death for all mankind. Jesus did not deserve death and, therefore, it was an
egregious crime for Him to be struck down and put to death. The very death we
inherit due to our sin, Jesus willfully surrendered Himself to as an innocent man
to free us from the condemnation brought by the law. Not so that God could
punish Him in our place, but so that Christ could resurrect as the
representative of mankind robbing death of its power.
This is important because many read “penalty of sin is
death” as God punishing mankind for their sin. In other words, many view death
as entirely punitive from God. However, this would mean every time a baby dies,
God is punishing them. Every time someone is murdered, God is punishing them.
This does not seem to follow, nor does it seem to be in line with, the biblical
pattern. Not to mention, scripture makes clear that death is the power of Satan
(Heb. 2:14).
Rather, when Adam and Eve fell into sin, this caused a
separation from God and man and thus they were exiled from the Garden of Eden
(His presence). This also resulted in them being separated from the Tree of Life,
lest mankind lives forever (Gen. 3:22). Thus, being exiled from God was
the punishment and the result of this punishment is mortality. Yet, the
rest of the Bible tells the narrative of God bringing humanity back unto Himself
from exile through His tender mercies. Although sin results in exile, God in His
love is continually pursuing His children to come unto Him.
A great example of God’s continual love during exile is
when Israel sinned against God after their exodus from Egypt, resulting in 40
years of wandering the desert (Num. 14:33). Although they were exiled in the
desert until the generation who disobeyed God passed away. He never left them.
In fact, He continued to lead them and protect them, despite their exile. Eventually
a new generation came up, and they inherited the promised land, proving God never
forsook them at all (Josh. 5:6). (William L. Hess, Crushing the Great
Serpent: Did God Punish Jesus? [2024], 190-91)
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