Today I plan to open a can of worms that has long turned rancid.  Some might say it might be better to leave that can unopened.  But think of it like this, if you have some old leftovers in your refrigerator that have turned green and smelly, you can leave them there and ignore them, but wouldn’t it be better to remove them and clean things up?
   We are told the Lord Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law.  OK, let’s start with this passage from Galatians 3:10-14 to get some background here:
Gal 3:10  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Gal 3:11  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Gal 3:12  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
Gal 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:
Gal 3:14  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
   Everyone wants to have the blessings of Abraham, and they talk about it all the time in church.  What did the blessing of Abraham consist of?  It was material blessing, lands, possessions, and the like.  It was not a promise of eternal life, nor was it a promise of good health, but that Abraham’s blessing would come upon the Gentiles through Jesus Christ.  Are we then Jews, or Gentiles? 
    We know the law was never given to the Gentiles, but it WAS given to the Jews.  Abraham lived before the Law was given, and we know how God blessed him exceedingly, and as I said, everyone wants those blessings.  The Jews were given the law, that if they would keep them, they would be blessed.  Jesus himself said salvation is of the Jews, when He said in John 4:21-24:
Joh 4:21  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
    So, back to the question, what exactly did Jesus redeem us from?  Would you say that eternal death is a curse?  How about sickness?  How about poverty and depression?  What brought the curse in the first place?  That answer is simple:  sin against God, disobedience to His Word.  Does that mean when Jesus went to the cross to redeem us from the curse that the curse no longer exists?  No!  The curse is still out there!  But whether or not you live under the curse is entirely up to you, because Jesus paid the price to redeem you from it.  Does that automatically mean you are redeemed?  Ahhh, now we are opening the can of worms.
    You see, sin is defined as disobedience to God’s Word.  Now before you say that only applies to the laws of Moses, let me remind you, long before Moses ever lived, God told Adam and Eve NOT to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  So, what did they do?  Yep, you guessed it!  They disobeyed God and ate of it anyway.  That, my friend, started the curse, and it’s been with us ever since. 
    So, does that mean if Jesus redeemed us from the curse, we are in no obligation to obey the Word of God?  Some would argue with me about that, putting the rotten can of worms back into the fridge for another day, but we need to settle this issue once and for all.  Jesus’ sacrifice paid the penalty for disobedience, but didn’t license future disregard of His Word.
    He paid IN FULL the penalty for all our sins.  That would have to mean past, present, and future sins.  It says in Psalm 103:2-3 that He healed all our diseases.  Would that also not mean past, present, and future disease?  So then, why are many of “God’s redeemed” sick?  Why are they living oppressed, beat up, broke, sick and depressed?  Would it not seem God is failing to keep His Word?  It might, unless we consider the fact that God cannot lie.  Then we would have to consider the alternative, that WE are not living like redeemed people.  How do I mean?
    Am I saying God’s people are still being disobedient and living in sin?  Well, if the shoe fits, wear it.  Some are, some are not.  If certain ones are still living in sin, abusing the grace of God, there is a remedy: REPENT and obey God.  And if they (or you) are NOT living in disobedience to God, there is still something else to consider, and that is the words coming out of our mouth.  It is impossible to speak against God’s blessings and have them.  Let me repeat that:  IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SPEAK AGAINST GOD’S BLESSINGS AND HAVE THEM!  Some say they are redeemed from the curse by the blood of Jesus, then turn right around and talk about how they just can’t seem to pay their bills, or how they just can’t get well.  They may be accurately speaking about their circumstances alright, but we must remember, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH!  That means, when the circumstances of life don’t line up with the Word of God, you speak God’s Word to them until they do!
    In your home, there is a thermometer on your wall by or on the thermostat controlling your heating and air conditioning unit.  The thermometer tells the temperature like it is.  If you don’t like the temperature as it is, you set the thermostat to where you WANT the temperature to be, and that heating/air conditioner unit will do everything in its power to change the temperature to what you demand it to be by the setting of the thermostat.  Do you see where I’m going with this?  Most of you are thermometers, telling it like it is, instead of speaking God’s Word over your circumstances, and being thermostats.  How long do you do operate as a thermostat?  Till it’s like it should be!  Are you redeemed?  If so, and you’re sick, you aren’t walking in your redemption!  What are you going to do about it?  Tell it like it is?: “Oh, I’m so sick and broke, and God said I shouldn’t be, but if it’s God’s will I’ll be well and prosper”.  Or are you going to assail those adverse conditions with the Word of God until they change into what God said they should be?
    If you aren’t walking in the fullness of your redemption, my friend, it isn’t God’s fault, it’s YOURS.  He has clearly outlined in His Word what the benefits of your redemption are.  He has done His part.  Don’t blame God if you aren’t doing YOUR part.  You CAN walk in fullness of life, for God said so.  But He won’t make you do it.  He has said, “This is the way; walk in it.”  Will you?  If you are redeemed, SAY SO, and keep speaking to adversity until it releases you.  It may release you quickly, and it may not, depending how determined you are to make sure you are doing your part to change things to line up with God’s Word.  I know people who have seen very quick changes; then again, there are those who just aren’t gaining any ground by all outward appearances.  God tells us not to grow weary and give up.  When we give up, we never know if our breakthrough could have come ten seconds from now.  But I hope YOU won’t ever give up or give in.  God’s Word works if you will work God’s Word.  Faith is your servant, don’t EVER give it a day off or a vacation, else you’ll never see what you’re redeemed from.