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THE ENGRAFTED WORD

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
(James 1:21)

The Word doesn’t work unless it is implanted on the inside of you.
Mark Hankins

James 1:21was written to believers. This must mean that after you are born again, your soul still isn’t saved. Your soul is made up of your mind, your will, and your emotions. Even after you are born again, you still have to get your soul saved.

James says to receive the Word with meekness. In other words, humble yourself and be teachable. The engrafted Word has the ability to save, deliver, restore, and make your soul (your mind, will, and emotions) whole.

Why does James call the Word the engrafted Word? The Word will not work for you unless it is implanted on the inside of you. How do you get it implanted? By acknowledging every good thing that is in you in Christ. In other words, you stick with it and keep feeding and meditating on the Word. God already deposited every good thing in you when you were born again, but it is up to you to acknowledge what you have in Christ.

Confession: I lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save my soul!

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RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST

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. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Being righteous means you are accepted by God, have right standing with God, and are pleasing to Him.
Mark Hankins

In most churches you wouldn’t have any trouble telling people, “Jesus died on the cross for you.” But they doubt the second half of that verse: “That we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Being righteous means that you are accepted by God, have right standing with God, and are pleasing to Him. This gives you confidence in prayer and in facing the adversary, the accuser of the brethren.

The Bible says you are an heir of God and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ. When you are born again, a spiritual deposit is made in you. We have talked about some of this deposit: wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. The Apostle Paul begins all his letters by stating what God has done for you in Christ. After he declares what God has done for you in Christ, he declares who you are in Christ and what to do about it!

Confession: There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)

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THE WORKMANSHIP OF GOD

The old condition has passed away; a new condition has come.
(2 Corinthians 5:17 Williams)

God would not make an unrighteous new creature because He already had an unrighteous old creature!
Mark Hankins

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Verse 18 begins, “And all things are of God,” which means this is the work of God.

The old condition from which you have been redeemed is the curse of the law, which includes poverty, sickness, confusion, fear, sin, and the devil’s domination of your life. When does the “old condition” pass away and the “new condition” come? It doesn’t happen over a process of ten or twenty years. It happens the moment you are born again because of the grace of God. The moment you are saved, you become a new creation in Christ.

God would never make an unrighteous new creature! The moment you were born again, you are in Christ, and you are a new creature. Old things are passed away and everything has become new.

Confession: I am the workmanship of God. My old condition is gone and a new condition has come. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!

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ACKNOWLEDGING EVERY GOOD THING THAT IS IN YOU IN CHRIST

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

Every believer needs to have a daily acknowledgement or confession of who he or she is in Christ.
Mark Hankins

We often spend too much time focusing on our bad qualities and what is wrong with us. If you look at what is wrong with you long enough, it will get worse. Paul is saying that for our faith to become effective or effectual, we need to acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ. How do you acknowledge them? By confessing, speaking, or acting on the Word of God.

When you first get up in the morning and look at yourself in the mirror you should take time to acknowledge some of the good things of who you are in Christ. When you are driving down the road, begin to confess who you are and what you have in Christ. It will change your prayer life because often you will quit asking God for things that the Word says already belong to you!

Confession: Wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption are mine because I am in Christ!

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HONOR THE BLOOD OF JESUS

Through the blood of his cross…you are reconciled to God by Him…In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight. (Colossians 1:20-22)

We, as believers, are accepted into the presence of God, having perfect fellowship with the Father God because of what Christ has done for us.
Mark Hankins

We honor the blood of Jesus as we lift our voice in faith declaring what it has accomplished and what it is accomplishing. The spoken Word of God is the voice of the Blood Covenant. Every Word has blood in it. The blood must be applied by faith.

According to your faith so be it unto you. There is no such thing as passive faith. Faith acts like the Bible is true. Live by faith and continually apply the blood. There is power in the blood.

God sees us in Christ. We have full assurance of faith to go right into the very presence of God because we have been washed in the blood of Jesus. We are in Christ by faith in the blood of Jesus. Let us honor the blood of Jesus and confess daily who we are and what we have in Christ Jesus.

Confession: I have faith in the blood of Jesus. In Christ I have redemption through His blood! (Colossians 1:14)

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