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UNDERSTANDING RIGHTEOUSNESS

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, the just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:16-17)

 

“The Gospel is the revelation of how God makes man righteous.” – Mark Hankins

 

Understanding righteousness and understanding redemption are essential to your faith working mightily. The main theme of the book of Romans is righteousness. The Apostle Paul begins by saying that the Gospel of Christ is fundamentally a revelation of righteousness.

Righteousness simply means “right standing with God.”  It is living in a state of divine favor or being pleasing, accepted, or approved by God. Righteousness is a gift.

The Gospel is a revelation of how God makes man righteous. Jesus took your sinful condition so you could receive His righteous condition. He took your place so you could have His place.

 

Confession: For He hath made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.   I am the righteousness of God in Christ!  (2 Corinthians 5:21)

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THE GOOD NEWS

It is in and through Christ and the sacrifice of His life that we have been liberated. (Ephesians 1:7 | Barclay)

 

“Everything Satan has done in Adam, God has reversed in Christ.” – Mark Hankins

 

The Gospel is the good news that man has been given eternal life through Jesus Christ. That life is the very life of God imparted to His children. It is healing life, overcoming life, reigning life, victorious life and it is the blessed life now- not just for when you get to heaven. It is heaven’s life flowing in you in this world.

God has targeted His power at man’s deepest needs– spirit, soul, and body. God knows the root of your problems, and He has effectually focused His power there.  The word “salvation” has a five-fold meaning: deliverance, healing, safety, preservation, and soundness. This is not just a “heaven” message; it is an “earth” message as well.

The Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16) Someone said that if you think you need more power, you really just need more Gospel. The Gospel is the power of God. The word “gospel” means glad tidings or good news. The Gospel is where God has released His power for the purpose of producing salvation.

 

Confession: I have eternal life. It is healing life, reigning life, victorious life, overcoming life, and blessing life!

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YOU ARE FREE

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor… preach deliverance to the captives. (Luke 4:18)

 

“Your release from prison has been accomplished through a price that was paid on your behalf.” – Mark Hankins

 

In Jesus’ first message, He declared that He would “preach deliverance to the captives.”(Luke 4:1) Beck’s translation says, “He sent me to announce to prisoners, ‘You are free.’” Jesus is not talking about His jail ministry. A prison ministry is a great ministry, but there are many people held captive who are not behind steel bars; they are behind real bars.

Only Jesus can bring deliverance. Only the power of the Gospel can bring freedom. Your redemption was legally purchased through the blood of Jesus. His death and resurrection have established a new, universal fact for every man.  Jesus purchased your freedom. That means the prison doors of Satan, sin, and sickness are open and the prisoner is legally free! The prisoner does not have to sneak out some dark night; he can walk out in the daylight because he has a legal release!

 

Confession: God has given me a legal redemption. I am free because God is righteous and He has righteously effected my release!

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REDEMPTION: AN EVERLASTING RELEASE

Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:6)

 

“Christianity does not begin with something you do, but with something that has been done for you in Christ.” – Mark Hankins

 

Faith begins by knowing redemption facts. God paid the price for you in Christ two thousand years ago. Everything Jesus did in His death and resurrection was

done for you, or as some translations say, “in your behalf.”  You could say Jesus gets the glory for everything that has been done, but you get the credit because He was acting in your behalf.

Satan’s dominion over mankind has been permanently broken because of what Christ has done. Redemption is not a temporary thing that must be added to by man or replaced later by something more effective. The Amplified Bible calls it, “A complete redemption, and an everlasting release.” (Hebrews 9:12) An everlasting release means it lasts forever. God has left nothing out.

 

Confession: All that I need is supplied in Christ. My past, present, and future have been taken care of.  My spirit, soul, and body have been taken care of — all because of what Jesus has done for me!

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GOD’S MASTERPIECE

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

 

“In Christ, you are not just a different person; you are a new kind of person!” – Mark Hankins

 

While preaching in Paris, I had the opportunity to visit the Louvre. With over eight miles of galleries, one million works of art and more than 400,000 masterpieces, I knew I would not be able to see everything. So I headed right for the Mona Lisa (one of the most world-famous masterpieces) and spent extra time there. If you see all the other paintings and sculptures, and miss the Mona Lisa, you have missed the most important work of art.

The same is true of the Bible. It contains the world’s greatest collection of God’s works of art. However, if you see all the beautiful pictures in the Word of God and miss God’s greatest masterpiece, then you will have really missed the Bible.

The Bible is the story of man’s redemption. The Bible is about Jesus, our Redeemer, and His work. All sixty-six books contain pictures of God’s plan and purpose to restore man to Himself.

 

Confession: I am a new creation in Christ. Old things are passed away, and everything made new. I am God’s Masterpiece – a man in Christ!

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