One curse of the Torah is found in Numbers 15:28-31:

Willful sin – sin which is made knowingly – could not be atoned for nor forgiven by sacrifice. The sacrificial system was for unintentional sin alone. The person who willfully chose to sin against God carried that sin forever. The consequences included eternal separation from both God and community. Forever an outcast from society and spirituality. This is the very real reason for the Pharisaic need to create “fences” around the Law and why they were consumed with holiness.

It is also why Paul said in Galations 3:10: For everyone who depends on legalistic observance of Torah commands lives under a curse, since it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the Scroll of the Torah.”

Under such, who could stand before the throne and proclaim righteousness? No one.

But Jesus.

Paul continues in Galatians 3:13-14:

Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the Torah by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Messiah Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.”

Jesus became the one sacrifice which could atone for EVERY sin – willful or otherwise.

Is it any wonder that Paul was desperate for the world to know such saving grace?

There need never be another outcast of community or spirit, there need never again be one saddled by separation from the God of grace.

Still today, your sin – willful or otherwise – has no power to separate you any longer from the spiritual freedom which is found at His feet.

Because of Jesus.

Praise be to God.