Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, May 15, 2005, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. For more outlines, including zipped files of outlines from previous years, click on the link at the bottom of this note, and go to our website:

THE MAN WHO BECAME A CURSE

By Michael D. O'Neal
Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church
Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Deut. 21:18-23

Text: Deut. 21:23

Deuteronomy 21:23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

Introduction: It is a joy to celebrate the birthday of our church and see the Lord bear witness to the occasion with the baptism of three converts this morning and sending us a family of four to labor with us. Praise the Lord for answering prayer!

Tonight, I want to praise God by lifting up His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, in the sermon. We remember again the words of Christ who said:

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Jesus was referring to the books of Moses, for He said in the same chapter:

John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

Our text says that a person who is executed by hanging is accursed of God.

Now I want you to turn to the New Testament and read what the Bible says took place on Calvary:

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:

Jesus is pictured in our passage tonight. He is the One who was accursed of God, not for His own sins, but for yours and mine. Tonight we are going to look at

THE MAN WHO BECAME A CURSE

We're looking at Jesus in Deuteronomy, crucified for our sins. We will consider four main truths about Him and His work on Calvary, becoming a curse for us:

THE RIGHTEOUS STANDARD
THE REBELLIOUS SINNER
THE REQUIRED SUBSTITUTE
The RESULTING SALVATION


I. THE RIGHTEOUS STANDARD

Deuteronomy 21:18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:

"the voice of his father" "the voice"

The voice of God in the Old Testament was the LAW.

Notice the "law" mentioned in the New Testament verse:

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:

God's law is:

A. The loving voice of the Father

B. The long-suffering voice of
the Father

C. The legal voice of the Father

II. THE REBELLIOUS SINNER

Deuteronomy 21:18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

A. Stubborn

B. Self-willed

C. Selfish (Isa. 53:6 - but
still loved by the Law-giver


III. THE REQUIRED SUBSTITUTE

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:

Note the words "being made a curse for us"

1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

This sacrifice - JESUS:

A. Had shed blood - Heb. 9:22

B. Had sinless behavior

C. Had sins borne on Himself -
1 Pet. 2:24

IV. The RESULTING SALVATION

Deuteronomy 21:21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

"put away evil"

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:

"hath redeemed us"

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

A. The removal of sins

B. The redemption of the sinner

C. The regeneration of the
Spirit

D. The rescue of the soul