But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection. (1 Corinthians 9:27)

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and do not give the flesh a chance.
Mark Hankins

Your flesh still has certain desires that you have to deal with. Do not put yourself in situations where your flesh will be able to take advantage of you and drag you through lust. Paul said in Colossians 3:5 that you have to crucify the flesh and mortify the deeds of the body.

The devil will say to you, “If you are saved, you are a new creature. You can still hang around certain kinds of sin.” If there has been a problem and a weakness in your life, just don’t make any provision for that. You need to tell the devil, “No, I understand what my limits are, and it is best for me to stay far away from that temptation.”

Put on what is in you in Christ and don’t give the devil a chance. You might say, “I am in the world. I cannot help but come across certain things.” That is true, but you should not be looking for temptation, you should be doing your best to stay away from it. Acknowledge who you are in Christ then put to death the deeds of the body.

Confession: I am a new creature in Christ. Old lusts, thoughts, temptations, and habits are crucified. I keep under my body and bring it into subjection! (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 9:27)

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is free from sin. (Romans 6:6-7)

Wouldn’t you like to go ahead and lose your mind for a little while?
Mark Hankins

Paul said in Romans 6, “I know this for a fact. I was crucified with Christ. Christ took me to the cross with Him.” Some theologians believe that Paul had lost his
mind because he was not even in Jerusalem when Jesus was crucified. But Paul said, “Christ lives in me now. I did not survive the cross, and there is nothing left of me. It’s all gone. I am a brand-new man. I was crucified with Christ.”

Paul was presenting the law of substitution to the theologians and to us. The law of substitution has to do with the two Adams. The first Adam got us into this mess, so God made another Adam. Jesus is the last Adam. To get rid of the old Adam, there had to be a resurrection.

The death and resurrection of Christ is a group picture. You have to find yourself in it, or the picture does not look so great. Once you find yourself, you can say, “Oh, there I am!” This is not sense knowledge; the Holy Spirit reveals it to you.

Confession: Because Christ lives, I live! I am seated with Him and blessed with Him. I cannot be defeated! I cannot be depressed. Christ lives in me!

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Learn the language of redemption! “Christ hath [past tense] redeemed us!”
Mark Hankins

When Jesus went to the cross, He was made to be sin for us. He took our condition, and a surgical procedure was performed. God cut Himself open and put you in Christ. Three days later the process was complete, and the redemption story is still being told around the world.

Paul speaks of the preaching of the cross or the language of the cross in 1 Corinthians 1:18. The Greek word for “preaching” is the word logos. Logos means “the written word.”

Your redemption and your identification have a certain language. You must learn this language of identification. Get your tenses and verbs right because when Christ was crucified, you were crucified with Him. You died with Him. You are seated with Him. Start speaking that language. It is the key to God’s economy.

Confession: Christ has redeemed me. I was crucified with Him. I died with Him. I am now seated with Him!

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
(1 Corinthians 1:17)

The union between humanity and deity can never be broken.
Mark Hankins

Paul used the word “cross” In 1 Corinthians 1:17, not because he was simply talking about the crucifixion. He identified with the cross because that is where God identified with him.

The first step of God’s identification with sinful man began with the incarnation when God became a man, and Jesus came to earth.

The second step of God’s identification with fallen man was when Jesus told John to baptize Him. When Jesus got in the line with sinners, He said, “Baptize me with those who are confessing their sin.” John the Baptist did not understand what was happening so he said, “I am not baptizing You.” However, the union between humanity and deity in Jesus can never be broken. Not just for one human generation, but through all eternity. Jesus is still a man right now at the right hand of God.

Confession: “I consider myself as having died and now enjoying a second existence, which is simply Jesus using my body.” (Galatians 2:20 The Distilled Bible)

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!