Are Generational Curses Real?
Have you ever heard someone talk about generational curses? Maybe you’re afraid that you are going to suffer for your parent’s or grandparent’s sin. Or even worse, that your children may have to suffer.
The term generational curse refers to any negative behavior pattern, health issue, or natural circumstance that is assumed to be passed down from generation to generation. Generational curses are real, but because of what Jesus has done, they can now be broken.
Maybe your dad was a drug addict or alcoholic. A generational curse would determine that you would also have to struggle with drug addictions and alcoholism. If divorce or marital strife is prevalent in your family, a generational curse would mean that you would likely get divorced or have marital problems. If a family has lived in poverty for generations, the children will not be able to escape the curse of poverty either as long as the generational curse is in effect.
Are Generational Curses a Real Thing?
When I first heard about generational curses, it was quite frightening. I definitely did not want to be punished for the sins of my parents and grandparents; and I especially did not want my kids to suffer the consequences of sins that aren’t their own!
Praise God, the Lord has shown me the truth about generational curses.
The Word of God tells us that Jesus became the curse for us to set us free from generational curses!
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), Galatians 3:13 NKJV
This means that although generational curses do exist, Jesus has set free us free from them. Jesus always has good news!
Where Do Generational Curses Come From?
The idea of generational curses actually comes from the Bible.
by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation. Exodus 34:7
Because of this passage, many Christians think that they are bound to suffer the consequences of their parents and grandparents sins and even live with the same struggles. Some preachers even teach this!
You may believe that you are experiencing hardships as a punishment for the mistakes of your ancestors.
You may believe that sins can be passed down to your children and they might suffer for your mistakes! If you have believed this or been taught this, there is good news found in the truth!
Jesus Has Redeemed Us From the Curse
It is obvious in the world that struggles with negative things are being passed down from generation to generation. This is because parents teach their children how to think. If Grandma believes a lie and teaches it to her children, then it is very likely that it will be passed on to the next generation.
But what happens when someone receives the truth? The lie is broken! Jesus died for us so that we could know the truth and be made free! We don’t have to experience life under the same generational curses as the world. We don’t have to continue believing lies just because they were handed down to us.
Generational curses are a negative consequence of the curse of the law. If God’s people didn’t obey His law perfectly, then they would suffer under those generational curses.
However, the New Testament shows us that, as believers, we are not under that curse any longer!
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’)” Galatians 3:13
Jesus completely redeemed us from all curses! Jesus has redeemed you from every curse that was passed down through your family. Maybe a certain disease runs in your family. You no longer have to be afraid of that disease. Jesus has redeemed you!
That is why on the cross Jesus said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). His job was done! He had taken every curse on that tree with Him, and those curses died with Him.
You are now free from every curse, and so are your children!
You Are Part of a New Family
Not only did God take on the curse of the law for us in Jesus, He adopted us into His family. You have been moved out of the bloodline of Adam and into the bloodline of Jesus Christ. Wow!
You’ve been adopted as a sons or daughter of God Himself.
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” Galatians 4:4-5
“He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will” Ephesians 1:4-5
God is our Heavenly Father, and we are His children. What generational curse could we inherit from a perfect, holy God? He has no chronic illness, destructive behavior, or poor financial situation to pass on to us.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father. Romans 8:14-15
We are now joint heirs with Christ, receiving all things with Him Romans 8:16-17
Jesus Became Our Curse
Jesus took our curses on the cross, including all generational curses.
God adopted us into His own family. He does not even remember our sins.
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. Hebrews 8L12 NKJV
God certainly won’t punish your children for your sins that He doesn’t even remember.
The Old Testament prophesied about this new way of dealing with sin in the New Covenant:
“In those days they shall say no more: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children’s teeth are set on edge.’ But every one shall die for his own iniquity; every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge” Jeremiah 31:29-30
Jeremiah was prophesying about the coming New Covenant, that would be enacted after the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Sins would no longer be carried to the next generation.
The Lord also said that under the New Covenant, “I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more” Jeremiah 31:34
God will not remember our sin, because Jesus took the punishment for it.
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” 2 Corinthians 5:21
Jesus actually became sin for us! He took on our sin, so that we could become righteous in Him. Our sin has been completely forgiven and obliterated as if it never existed. You will never be punished by God if you put your faith in what Jesus has done.
The curse of generational sin was broken!
You can be at peace, knowing that Jesus has paid the price so that you don’t suffer because of the mistakes of your parents and grandparents. And your children won’t suffer for your mistakes, either!