Living By Faith

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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UNDERSTANDING REDEMPTION

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.  (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus are the center of the Gospel! Mark Hankins

The simple definition of redemption is, “Freedom through the payment of a price.” Webster’s Dictionary defines the word redeem as: “To buy back; tore-purchase; to get back; to recover; to ransom; to pay off (a mortgage or note); to liberate from captivity; to deliver; to reclaim.”

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul says, “First of all I delivered unto you.”  The Revised Standard Version translates this, “as of first importance.”  The matter of first importance is what God did for us in Christ Jesus in the great plan of redemption.

Redemption is an accomplished fact in Christ. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32) The truth will not help you if you do no not know it. You must see what God has done for you. In John 16:13, Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Spirit of Truth. God wants you to be free.  He has given you His Holy Spirit to show you the things of Christ.

Confession: In Christ Jesus, I am redeemed. I have been liberated from the captivity of sin. I am delivered!

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THE LANGUAGE OF REDEMPTION

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 werecrucified 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!

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BRAGGING ON REDEMPTION

That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.  (Philemon 6)

In all of your teaching and preaching, you must always leave people with the consciousness of the triumph of Christ. John G. Lake

People think it makes God happy for them to talk about everything they are not.  Would it make you happy if your kids came in every day and told you everything they are not? E. W. Kenyon said, “The reason that the majority of Christians are weak, though they are earnest, yet they are weak, is because they have never dared to make a confession of what they are in Christ.”

Some people get upset with this truth; they think they are being humble when they continually run themselves down. When a believer assumes this attitude, he is not only being ignorant, he is opening the door to the devil.

You need to acknowledge who you are in Christ and the good things that are in you because you are in Him. We know that in ourselves we can do nothing. We have already proven that! In other words, you are not really bragging on yourself; you are bragging on redemption!

Confession: I am triumphant in Christ! In Him I am redeemed. I am not trying to be, hoping to be, or going to be–in Him I am righteous now!

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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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