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SHAME-FREE LIVING

For the scripture saith, Whosever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 10:11)

We must consistently see ourselves in the light of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Mark Hankins

Many people try to fix their behavioral problems with more and more doses of shame and guilt. Instead of curing the problem, shame perpetuates the problem. The Complete Life Encyclopedia makes this interesting statement about shame:

“Shame is the issue that drives almost every compulsive, self-defeating behavior known to the human race. Shame is at the root of all addictions.”

The cure is at the cross of Jesus Christ. On the cross, God was working in Christ, but He was working on us. Jesus took our condition and we were engrafted into Him. Now, God sees us through the blood, through the cross, and through the resurrection!

Confession: I reign in life through the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness through one man Jesus Christ! I am free from guilt, shame, sin, death, and the curse! (Romans 5:17)

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JESUS TOOK OUR SHAME

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5)

We look a lot better in Christ than we do outside of Him.
Mark Hankins

Jesus took our guilt, shame, sin, death, and curse so that we could be free. We were engrafted into His death that we might be one with His resurrection and victory. He was made to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God In Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Colossians chapter one, verses fourteen and twenty-two says, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins…In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.”

We are new creatures In Christ. God would not make an unrighteous new creature. We have the same righteousness as Jesus Christ Himself. He took our shame that we may live without guilt. We can now face life confident that we are qualified for God’s best blessings.

Confession: I am a new creature In Christ! I have the same righteousness as Jesus Christ Himself. I am qualified for God’s best blessings!

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GOD SEES YOU IN CHRIST

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth. (John 16:13)

If you are not impressed with who you are and what you have in Christ, you have not seen Him lately!
Mark Hankins

A man in Christ is a man with the life of God. You are not deity, but you are not only human. You have been born of God. God has given you His very own life. You are not the same person you used to be.

God sees you in Christ, but you must also see yourself in Him. You will never be different until you see yourself differently. The Holy Spirit takes the things of Christ and shows them to us. He is able to project the image of Christ from the Word to the screen of our minds, so we can live in the reality of our redemption.

Take time to renew your mind every day with the reality of redemption. Dare to act like the Bible is true, and it will become real in your life. Allow God to introduce you to your new self!

Confession: I am a new creature in Christ Jesus. I have God’s very own life and nature in me. The life of God is in me now. I know I have eternal life. The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. In Christ, I am redeemed, blessed, and victorious!

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SEEING WHAT GOD SEES

I pray that you new Christians will understand the mighty position with Christ which your congregations occupy. (Ephesians 1:16 The Distilled Bible)

You are such a new creature in Christ you will have to let God introduce you to your new self!
Mark Hankins

Paul’s prayer for believers in Ephesians 1:16-23 is very important for us today. We have a mighty position with Christ. Few Christians have understood the authority we have as believers. The same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead was released “towards us.” We were the targets for that power. God was focusing on us. He was looking at us. God saw us there in Christ. He was working on us. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:10) What God did in Christ, He did in us.

In 2 Corinthians 12:2, the Apostle Paul refers to himself as, “a man in Christ.” He could not tell whether he was in the body or out of the body. Paul even ascended into the third heaven. A man in Christ is not just of this world, but he also has access to heaven. Paul’s prayer is our prayer today: that we can see and enjoy the life God has given us in Christ!

Confession: I have a mighty position with Christ. The same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead was released towards me. I am God’s workmanship in Christ!

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LIFE AS GOD HAS IT

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

A man in Christ is a man with the life of God.
Mark Hankins

The Greek word in the New Testament that is translated life or eternal life is zoe. I like W.E. Vine’s definition of the word zoe (eternal life, everlasting life, or life):

“It is life as a principle…life in the absolute sense, as God has it, that which the Father has in Himself and which He gave to the incarnate Son to have in Himself. (John5: 26) Eternal life is the present actual possession of the believer because of his relationship with Christ.”

God has given us a new quality of life in Christ. He has given us His own life — the very same life that raised Jesus from the dead. (Ephesians 2:4-6) God wants us to know that we have eternal life now. We are not trying to get it or some day in the sweet by-and-by going to get it. The gift of God is eternal life. (Romans 6:23) What a great gift God has given us in Christ!

Confession: Eternal life is my present actual possession because of my relationship with Christ!

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