The topic of curses and Christians is one that generates a lot of questions and confusion. At the heart of it is whether a genuine born-again believer in Jesus Christ can be impacted by curses, hexes, spells, or witchcraft. To find the answer, we need to see what the Bible says about this issue.
First, it’s important to understand what constitutes a curse biblically. A curse is the opposite of a blessing. While a blessing brings favor, protection, and benefits, a curse brings misfortune, harm, and adversity. In the Bible, curses came in different forms, but often involved invoking higher powers to bring harm on someone.
In the Old Testament, curses were sometimes pronounced by God against individuals or nations engaged in extreme wickedness (Genesis 3:14-19; Deuteronomy 27:15-26). At other times, people pronounced curses against each other, often seeking harm by occult means (Numbers 5:11-31; 1 Samuel 17:43). In the New Testament, curses could come from demonic sources (Mark 5:1-20) or be invoked by people operating in sinful anger (Romans 12:14). So a biblical curse encompasses the invoking of supernatural powers to bring adversity, harm, and misfortune.
For Christians, the key questions are: Can a genuine believer have a curse placed on them that God allows to afflict them? Can a Christian unknowingly come under an effective curse? Let’s explore what the Bible says.
Christians are protected by God from curses
The consistent teaching of Scripture is that God protects His children from the powers of darkness and evil. While curses may be attempted against Christians, they have no impact when the believer is walking in sincere faith under God’s care and protection.
Psalm 91:9-11 declares of those who trust the Lord: “Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge—no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” (ESV).
Proverbs 26:2 states: “Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.” When there is no legitimate cause or place for a curse, it does not find a landing place in a person’s life.
Isaiah 54:17 promises true believers: “No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.” This shows that God nullifies curses and attacks launched against His people.
As Christians, we have the assurance that “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). God promises to cover and protect believers who abide in faith in Him. While curses may be attempted, they have no impact.
Jesus bore our curse so we could be blessed
In Christ, Christians have been freed from any curses and Experience the blessings of redemption. Galatians 3:13-14 says, “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’ – so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.”
On the cross, Jesus bore every curse pronounced against sinful humanity. He exhausted God’s wrath for sin, so that those who put their faith in Him could be freed from condemnation and curses, and instead experience the promised blessing of Abraham.
2 Corinthians 5:21 further confirms: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” When we are in Christ, we are made righteous and the curses for sin no longer apply.
Through faith in Christ, we inherit God’s blessing
Galatians 3:7-9 declares, “Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed.’ So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.”
Instead of being under curses, Christians through faith inherit the covenant blessings of Abraham. We are blessed through faith in Jesus (Galatians 3:14). Ephesians 1:3 says God has “blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” The believer is securely in the place of God’s favor and blessing.
The law’s curse is broken for believers in Christ
The law of Moses pronounced curses on those who disobeyed it (Deuteronomy 27:26). But Christ came to deliver believers from the curse of law-breaking. Galatians 3:10-13 says, “All who rely on works of the law are under a curse…Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.”
Romans 8:1-2 also confirms, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” So believers are free from both the curse of the law and the power of sin.
God turns curses into blessings for His people
Rather than allowing curses on believers, God is able to turn them into divine blessings. Deuteronomy 23:5 says of the Lord, “But the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loved you.” In Nehemiah 13:2 we read, “Our God turned the curse into a blessing.”
Genesis 50:20 declares, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” In Romans 8:28, Paul echoes this by saying, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” God can turn even curses intended for harm into blessings for His people.
The protection of God is for those abiding in faith
It’s important to understand that God’s hedge of protection applies specifically to those genuinely abiding and walking in faith in Christ. Psalm 91 makes clear that the promises of protection and refuge are for “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High” and those who “make the Lord your dwelling place” (Psalm 91:1,9).
These promises are not blanket coverage for anyone who simply professes faith or identifies as a Christian. True security is only found abiding and trusting wholly in Christ. Jesus said in John 15:5, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” As vitally connected branches, Christians abide in His life and protection.
So God’s promises of protection do not apply to those living in disobedience and outside of vital relationship with Him. If a professed believer is engaged in unrepentant sin or occult involvement, they step outside the umbrella of God’s care. But as long as they are sincerely abiding in Him, God protects them.
The authority of Jesus breaks any curses
As believers in Christ, we have His authority to break any curses pronounced against us. Luke 10:19 says, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.” Through faith in Jesus, we can exercise power over any harm or curses attempted against us.
1 John 4:4 confirms, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” The Holy Spirit resident in believers is infinitely greater than any curse or power brought against them. Jesus affirms He has given His followers authority over the enemy, rendering curses ineffective.
Curses return if you depart from faith
While abiding in faith in Christ, the Christian cannot be impacted by curses. But turning from faith removes that hedge of protection. In drawing back from loyal faith in God, a believer returns to the domain of the enemy and his curses inflicted on those who disobey God.
Hebrews 10:38-39 warns believers, “But My righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” Those who shrink back from faith are not under God’s protection and care.
2 Peter 2:20-21 soberly warns, “For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.” Turning from faith removes you from blessing back into domain of curses.
Temptations are not the same as curses
As Christians we will face temptations, trials, and attacks from the enemy. But these are very different from being under an actual curse. James 1:12-14 explains, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.”
While temptations and trials will come, God does not allow His children to be cursed. As believers, we are blessed in Christ and live under His protection when abiding in Him. So let’s hold fast to faith when challenges come.
Occult involvement removes God’s protection
If a Christian gets involved in something expressly forbidden like witchcraft or spiritism, that sinful opening can allow enemy curses to take hold. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 warns God’s people, “There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens…For whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord.”
When a believer willfully engages in the demonic realm against God’s commands, they lose His protection and come vulnerable to curses and dark powers. So freedom from curses requires avoiding all occult involvement and influences.
Freedom in Christ through repentance and faith
If a Christian ends up under oppression due to occult exposure or willful disobedience, there is a pathway back to forgiveness and freedom in Christ. Through sincere repentance, renouncing sinful ties, receiving God’s forgiveness by faith in Jesus, and walking in obedience, they can come out from under any dark influence.
1 John 1:9 promises, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” As we turn from sin and turn to Christ, He breaks any curse and fills us afresh with His blessing and new life.
So in summary, according to God’s Word curses have no legitimate hold on those abiding in faith in Jesus. While genuine Christians can and do face challenges, they are never forsaken by the Lord or outside His blessing and protection. He turns back any curse directed at His people. Our security is found through faith in Christ’s finished work and staying vitally connected to Him.