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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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FIRST CLASS RIGHTEOUSNESS

Whom God set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. (Romans 3:25)

There is no Economy class righteousness. All of the God-kind of righteousness is First class righteousness.
Mark Hankins

I do a lot of international flying and know that you can fly Economy class, Business class, or First class. When you board the plane in First class, the attendant will immediately greet you and make sure you have everything to you need to be comfortable. You are offered something to drink or eat. They will take your coat, make sure you have a blanket or pillow, and help you put up your belongings.

In Economy class, however, they almost act irritated that you are there! The seating isn’t so comfortable. Don’t ask for anything special–they’ll tell you to get it yourself. If you have an aisle seat, you can look up the aisle and see into First class. You develop a real economy mentality as the person next to you goes to sleep and snores and slobbers.

However, God spoke to me through all of this and said, “There is no Economy class righteousness.” All of the God-kind of righteousness is First class righteousness!

Confession: I have the God-kind of righteousness – First class righteousness!

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