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GRACE VS. LEGALISM

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand… (Romans 5:2)

The mystery and the glory of the believer’s life is that your life
is one with Him. – Mark Hankins

Salvation is the reuniting of God and man. God’s does not work on you while you are isolated from Him. He doesn’t gradually render you fit to be reunited to Him. Legalism teaches that God operates on you apart from Himself, but grace begins by uniting you to God. Through that union, He supplies the life and power necessary to bring you into His holiness.

Grace is the opposite of legalism. Legalism says that you are not good enough and will have to live in sin-consciousness for the rest of your life. Grace, however, says because of what Christ has done, your spirit is instantly joined to Christ.

God welcomes you because of faith in Christ. He takes you right in and gives you His righteousness. Consider the depth of this principle of the Gospel when it is applied: you are united with Christ!

Confession: I have access by faith into the grace of God. I rejoice in hope of the glory of God because of what Christ has done for me. I am dead to sin and alive unto God!

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REDEMPTION REALITY

For as many as were the promises of God in Christ is the yes that fulfills them; therefore through Christ again let the Amen rise through us to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 1:20 Twentieth Century)

It is up to you to say, “Amen!”
Mark Hankins

When we talk about your redemption and who you are in Christ, we are not talking about some figment of your imagination or some religious thing. We are talking about an absolute reality of redemption and righteousness. We are talking about living in the reality that you are redeemed, righteous, victorious, and blessed. You need to live in the reality that old things are passed away, everything has become new, and now you are a new creation.

Jesus is the “Amen.” He brought the reality of redemption into the realm of human experience and into your life. The Twentieth Century version of 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, “…so let the Amen rise through us to the glory of God.” You need to respond to Him by saying, “Amen, so be it.”

Confession: I am in Christ, and I boldly declare and acknowledge right now the good things that are in me in Christ. I am who God says I am today! Yes, affirmative, so be it; it is so, Amen!

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LIVING IN THE HEAVENLY REALM

We found ourselves not only risen from death, but in Christ. In Christ who is in heaven therefore in the heavenly realm ourselves. (Ephesians 2:6 Carpenter’s)

When you pray and when you speak, things change in your family, your business, your body, and in nations.
Mark Hankins

What is it like to be in the heavenly realm? What is it like to go beyond the veil of this earth, enter into the Holy of Holies by the blood of Jesus, and live in the heavenly realm? You not only have fellowship with the Father, but you have authority in this world. You speak and pray from this place of authority seated at the right hand of God. God is not going to do this for you; He has already done His part.

You might say, “I can’t figure this all out with my head.” That is why Paul said, “I am praying that God will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation so the eyes of your heart will be flooded with light.” The Holy Spirit will give you revelation and then you can relax and sit down!

Confession: God has raised me from death with Christ and given me a place to sit with Him in heaven. I now exercise the authority like that which Christ has in the presence of God! (Ephesians 2:6 Johnson and Cressman)

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THE FINISHED WORK OF REDEMPTION

Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit. (Zechariah 4:6)

If you are fighting everything in the natural, you are going to lose!
Mark Hankins

You give the devil the most trouble when you sit down! Take your place first of all in Christ, in the finished work of redemption, and sit down. If you are fighting everything in the natural, you are going to lose. So take your place in the Spirit in Christ and sit down.

Christ is the head, and you are in His body. You have the same righteousness, the same life, the same victory, and the same authority Christ has. Satan is far below you, and you are far above him. You had better get your binoculars out to see him because he is so far below you!

You can deal with life from a different perspective now. You can deal with your problems from a position of triumph and victory, not from a place of trying to get the victory. You are not helpless, hopeless, or trying to make something work. You should picture yourself as a believer seated at the right hand of God.

Confession: I am taking my place. I am going to sit down right now, and I am going to rest in what Jesus has already done. I do not need to fight in this battle. God fights in the battle and gives me the victory!

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DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS

Christ took me to the cross with Him, and I died there with Him. Now it is not my old self but Christ Himself who lives in me. (Galatians 2:20 Laubach)

Whatever is in Christ is in you.
Mark Hankins

The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ can be studied from a number of different viewpoints. Many times people see Jesus on the cross, but they identify with one of the thieves or the Roman soldiers, who were saying, “Crucify Him!” They may identify with some of the disciples who ran off or with the crowd. What God saw in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is that you were identified with Christ Himself.

What happened to Christ happened on your behalf, so you were crucified with Him. You died with Him. You descended into the grave with Him, but on the third day you were declared righteous with Him. You were made alive with Him. You triumphed with Him. You were raised with Him. You sat down with Him. You reign with Him. He is the Head and you are a member of His body. Whatever is in Him is in you!

Confession: Christ lives in me! I was declared righteous with Him! I was made alive in Him!

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