Living By Faith

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!

  • 0

A RIGHTEOUS NEW CREATURE

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
(Romans 3:23-24)

You can never get any more righteous than the moment you are born again and washed in the blood of Jesus!
Mark Hankins

Righteousness is yours through faith in the precious blood of Jesus. God has not only forgiven the sinner, but He has made him His very own righteousness. He has not only forgiven the one who believes in Jesus, but He has forgotten that he has ever done anything wrong. (Isaiah 43:25-26) You are not only forgiven, but you have been recreated with God’s own righteousness imparted to you. We have been recreated in righteousness.

Jesus has given you His standing with the Father God. Jesus has let you share His place with God. Your place of righteousness is in Christ. In Him you are free from the power, control, and effects of sin. In Him you have confidence in the presence of God. In Christ and by faith in His blood, you have boldness not only before God, but also before your adversary, the devil, who comes to accuse you. You are a righteous new creature!

Confession: In Christ I am free from guilt and shame! In Him I am free from inferiority and unworthiness!

  • 0

UNDERSTANDING RIGHTEOUSNESS

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, the just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:16-17)

The Gospel is the revelation of how God makes man righteous.
Mark Hankins

Understanding righteousness and understanding redemption are essential to your faith working mightily. The main theme of the book of Romans is righteousness. The Apostle Paul begins by saying that the Gospel of Christ is fundamentally a revelation of righteousness.

Righteousness simply means “right standing with God.” It is living in a state of divine favor or being pleasing, accepted, or approved by God. Righteousness is a gift.

The Gospel is a revelation of how God makes man righteous. Jesus took your sinful condition so you could receive His righteous condition. He took your place so you could have His place.

Confession: 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. I am the righteousness of God in Christ! (2 Corinthians 5:21)

  • 3

YOU ARE FREE

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor… preach deliverance to the captives. (Luke 4:18)

Your release from prison has been accomplished through a price that was paid on your behalf.
Mark Hankins

In Jesus’ first message, He declared that He would “preach deliverance to the captives.”(Luke 4:1) Beck’s translation says, “He sent me to announce to prisoners, ‘You are free.’” Jesus is not talking about His jail ministry. A prison ministry is a great ministry, but there are many people held captive who are not behind steel bars; they are behind real bars.

Only Jesus can bring deliverance. Only the power of the Gospel can bring freedom. Your redemption was legally purchased through the blood of Jesus. His death and resurrection have established a new, universal fact for every man. Jesus purchased your freedom. That means the prison doors of Satan, sin, and sickness are open and the prisoner is legally free! The prisoner does not have to sneak out some dark night; he can walk out in the daylight because he has a legal release!

Confession: God has given me a legal redemption. I am free because God is righteous and He has righteously effected my release!

  • 1

THE GLORY – A PLACE OF REVELATION

But we all with open face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

We must see the glory of God to do the will of God.
Mark Hankins

The glory is a place of revelation. God reveals Himself to us in ever increasing ways in the glory. He is the Lord our Provider, Healer, Shepherd, Righteousness, and Victory. He is everything we will ever need!

After Moses saw the glory of God, his understanding expanded of who God is and how great His goodness is. Now Moses could receive what was necessary for him to do all that God required of him. We must see the glory of God to do the will of God.

You will look a lot better in Christ than you do outside of Him. So what do you need to do? Get on the rock; climb into the rock, and in Him the glory of God will pass by. In Him you will be changed. In Him is revelation. In Him the goodness of God will come to your house.

Confession: Before I was formed in my mother’s womb you ordained a place for me in Christ. Christ is the Lord my Provider, my Healer, my Shepherd, my Righteousness, and my Victory! In Him, the goodness of God is coming to my house!

  • 0