Generational curses
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Travis
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I see generational curses play out all the time in the world around me. This alone is sufficient evidence for me to believe they exist, because I have experienced them myself and seen so many others experiencing them. But, that's not what you asked for, so here's some scripture:
So obvious start place that everyone knows:
The first objection to this, is "Hey, we are under the New Covenant, this is from the Old one, so it doesn't apply!"
Well, Paul said this in Ephesians chapter 2:
Paul seems to believe that the promise associated with the commandment to honor your father and mother is still intact. Why should we believe that the curse associated with another commandment is somehow magically nullified? For nonbelievers, generational curses definitely exist, for it says in Deuteronomy, "of those who hate me." But, I believe that Numbers 14 still alludes to the fact that God does in fact visit the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and that this still applies to believers as well, as long as they allow it to. We have methods of dealing with such things though, that nonbelievers do not have access to.
Also, there is the general law of sowing a reaping:
These verses alone do not prove generational curses, but they do prove that people curse themselves by doing evil, and that God shows no partiality in the matter. This does give strong support towards the idea of generational curses though, and how they can very well still affect believers.
God, by allowing curses to go down the generational line, lets us see how absolutely horrible the consequences of sin are. What starts out as adultery in a man, can lead to a compounding series of failed marriages down the family line for generations. Multiple lives are affected, and the sin just builds up and furthers itself as time progresses, only coming to a stop by the grace of God. Sin is devastating.
The strongest support for generational curses probably lies in the fact that we inherent Adam's sinfulness. Not a single persons who is a descendant of Adam and Eve (Christ as the exception of sorts) was born without sin:
All that being said, the answer to all curses lay at the foot of the cross though:
If Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, how much more so any other curse. This is not automatic, it needs to be applied. The Israelites didn't take the whole of the promise land in a single day.
A friend of mine practically wrote a book on this subject (curses in general) on another forum about 5 or so years ago... I might go look that back up and give it a quick review...
Blessings,
Travis
I see generational curses play out all the time in the world around me. This alone is sufficient evidence for me to believe they exist, because I have experienced them myself and seen so many others experiencing them. But, that's not what you asked for, so here's some scripture:
So obvious start place that everyone knows:
Deuteronomy 5
9 You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
Numbers 14
18 'The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.'
9 You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
Numbers 14
18 'The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.'
The first objection to this, is "Hey, we are under the New Covenant, this is from the Old one, so it doesn't apply!"
Well, Paul said this in Ephesians chapter 2:
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land."
Paul seems to believe that the promise associated with the commandment to honor your father and mother is still intact. Why should we believe that the curse associated with another commandment is somehow magically nullified? For nonbelievers, generational curses definitely exist, for it says in Deuteronomy, "of those who hate me." But, I believe that Numbers 14 still alludes to the fact that God does in fact visit the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and that this still applies to believers as well, as long as they allow it to. We have methods of dealing with such things though, that nonbelievers do not have access to.
Also, there is the general law of sowing a reaping:
Romans 2
9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.
Galatians 6
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Ephesians 6
8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.
9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.
Galatians 6
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Ephesians 6
8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.
These verses alone do not prove generational curses, but they do prove that people curse themselves by doing evil, and that God shows no partiality in the matter. This does give strong support towards the idea of generational curses though, and how they can very well still affect believers.
God, by allowing curses to go down the generational line, lets us see how absolutely horrible the consequences of sin are. What starts out as adultery in a man, can lead to a compounding series of failed marriages down the family line for generations. Multiple lives are affected, and the sin just builds up and furthers itself as time progresses, only coming to a stop by the grace of God. Sin is devastating.
The strongest support for generational curses probably lies in the fact that we inherent Adam's sinfulness. Not a single persons who is a descendant of Adam and Eve (Christ as the exception of sorts) was born without sin:
Psalm 51
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
All that being said, the answer to all curses lay at the foot of the cross though:
Galatians 3
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"
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"
If Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, how much more so any other curse. This is not automatic, it needs to be applied. The Israelites didn't take the whole of the promise land in a single day.
A friend of mine practically wrote a book on this subject (curses in general) on another forum about 5 or so years ago... I might go look that back up and give it a quick review...
Blessings,
Travis
No I do not believe so and here a verse that show that if valid at one time, is no longer the case.
Jeremiah 31:29-32 [29] In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. [30] But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. [31] Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: [32] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day [that] I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
However, the definition of what a generational curse (GC) needs to be expanded upon. One could easily state that "alcoholism", "drug addiction", "physical abuse" might be examples of GC. We might excuse some as just learned behavior, but others are carried within a family genetically. Which I dare say could be identified as a GC at work.
Now to flip to the otherside which is where I stand on this..............I do not believe this GC is carried forward once a person is saved. Once you are saved, you've been born again. You are no longer the old you, but a new you.
Looking at 1 Peter 2:24 [24] Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
That a healing has occurred, curing any possible curses from moving forward, if they were in play.
To provide additional support to this we can look at the following verse:
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
I believe that lld things such as GC are no longer binding for we have become new in Christ Jesus!!!!! Awesome news for the believer? :thumbsup: Not so much for the unbeliever
Who of cause we pray for, and witness to, regardless if a GC is in play or not in their lives.
YBIC
C4E
Jeremiah 31:29-32 [29] In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. [30] But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. [31] Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: [32] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day [that] I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
However, the definition of what a generational curse (GC) needs to be expanded upon. One could easily state that "alcoholism", "drug addiction", "physical abuse" might be examples of GC. We might excuse some as just learned behavior, but others are carried within a family genetically. Which I dare say could be identified as a GC at work.
Now to flip to the otherside which is where I stand on this..............I do not believe this GC is carried forward once a person is saved. Once you are saved, you've been born again. You are no longer the old you, but a new you.
Looking at 1 Peter 2:24 [24] Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
That a healing has occurred, curing any possible curses from moving forward, if they were in play.
To provide additional support to this we can look at the following verse:
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
I believe that lld things such as GC are no longer binding for we have become new in Christ Jesus!!!!! Awesome news for the believer? :thumbsup: Not so much for the unbeliever
Who of cause we pray for, and witness to, regardless if a GC is in play or not in their lives.
YBIC
C4E
Travis
Active
I'm glad you brought this up. This is one of the best scriptures I've seen brought up in arguments against generational curses, so I look forward to addressing it, If the Lord sees fit to let me do so in due time.
Blessings,
Travis
Travis
Active
Question:
Were you healed of all physical infirmities when you were born again? (I was not)
Did you still have any ailments in your soul (mind, will, emotions)? Like say a problem with anger, or hate, or lust?
If we were not instantly healed of all these things at the moment of our conversion, why do we assume that all curses were automatically nullified and completely reversed at that moment?
To provide additional support to this we can look at the following verse:
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
I believe that lld things such as GC are no longer binding for we have become new in Christ Jesus!!!!! Awesome news for the believer? :thumbsup: Not so much for the unbeliever
Who of cause we pray for, and witness to, regardless if a GC is in play or not in their lives.
If all things are become new, and the old things are passed away, why do we still sin? Why do we have to fight against the flesh if the flesh is dead?
I believe that Christians have power over any and all curses through what Christ did on Calvary. I do not think that this means we don't have to concern ourselves with such matters because it is already done with though, but these things must be worked out as God brings them to our attention and teaches us about things.
Rom 8
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Even curses end up working for our good and fit into God's sovereign plans.28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Blessings,
Travis
Look forward to reading it my brother.
Before we can go on to discuss your #5 post. It really, would be beneficial to nail down exactly what would be a "GC" or exactly what falls within this category. If we use a wide/general definition to describe it as "sin" then there can be no argument (at least there won't be on my part) that GC is viable and exists in everyone. The believer is not exempt, because perfection awaits us and is not currently a condition of Body (corrupted), Soul (changing), and Spirit (perfect). That is why our members are at war with each other. So, if you could narrow GC down I hope that we'll be able to go from there. For our edification/growth, and most especially to the Glory of God!
YBIC
C4E
Here's a little article from GotQuestions
The Bible mentions “generational curses” in several places (Exodus 20:5; 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9). God warns that He is “a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.”
It sounds unfair for God to punish children for the sins of their fathers. However, there is more to it than that. The effects of sin are naturally passed down from one generation to the next. When a father has a sinful lifestyle, his children are likely to practice the same sinful lifestyle. Implied in the warning of Exodus 20:5 is the fact that the children will choose to repeat the sins of their fathers. A Jewish Targum specifies that this passage refers to “ungodly fathers” and “rebellious children.” So, it is not unjust for God to punish sin to the third or fourth generation – those generations are committing the same sins their ancestors did.
There is a trend in the church today to try to blame every sin and problem on some sort of generational curse. This is not biblical. God’s warning to visit iniquity on future generations is part of the Old Testament Law. A generational curse was a consequence for a specific nation (Israel) for a specific sin (idolatry). The history books of the Old Testament (especially Judges) contain the record of this divine punishment meted out.
The cure for a generational curse has always been repentance. When Israel turned from idols to serve the living God, the “curse” was broken and God saved them (Judges 3:9, 15; 1 Samuel 12:10-11). Yes, God promised to visit Israel’s sin upon the third and fourth generations, but in the very next verse He promised that He would show “love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:6). In other words, God’s grace lasts a thousand times longer than His wrath.
For the Christian who is worried about a generational curse, the answer is salvation through Jesus Christ. A Christian is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). How can a child of God still be under God’s curse (Romans 8:1)? The cure for a “generational curse” is repentance of the sin in question, faith in Christ, and a life consecrated to the Lord (Romans 12:1-2)
The Bible mentions “generational curses” in several places (Exodus 20:5; 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9). God warns that He is “a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.”
It sounds unfair for God to punish children for the sins of their fathers. However, there is more to it than that. The effects of sin are naturally passed down from one generation to the next. When a father has a sinful lifestyle, his children are likely to practice the same sinful lifestyle. Implied in the warning of Exodus 20:5 is the fact that the children will choose to repeat the sins of their fathers. A Jewish Targum specifies that this passage refers to “ungodly fathers” and “rebellious children.” So, it is not unjust for God to punish sin to the third or fourth generation – those generations are committing the same sins their ancestors did.
There is a trend in the church today to try to blame every sin and problem on some sort of generational curse. This is not biblical. God’s warning to visit iniquity on future generations is part of the Old Testament Law. A generational curse was a consequence for a specific nation (Israel) for a specific sin (idolatry). The history books of the Old Testament (especially Judges) contain the record of this divine punishment meted out.
The cure for a generational curse has always been repentance. When Israel turned from idols to serve the living God, the “curse” was broken and God saved them (Judges 3:9, 15; 1 Samuel 12:10-11). Yes, God promised to visit Israel’s sin upon the third and fourth generations, but in the very next verse He promised that He would show “love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:6). In other words, God’s grace lasts a thousand times longer than His wrath.
For the Christian who is worried about a generational curse, the answer is salvation through Jesus Christ. A Christian is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). How can a child of God still be under God’s curse (Romans 8:1)? The cure for a “generational curse” is repentance of the sin in question, faith in Christ, and a life consecrated to the Lord (Romans 12:1-2)