Search Menu Toggle navigation
Living By Faith
Search Menu Toggle navigation

THE LAW OF SUBSTITUTION

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then we’re all dead. (2 Corinthians 5:14)

“Jesus was not a martyr; He was a substitute, one man who died for every man.” -Mark Hankins

Jesus took our place.  He took our curse and died our death.  He took our condition so that we could have His condition.  He was identified with us.  We were there in His death and resurrection, because He died for us, we died with Him. Because He was raised for us, we were raised with Him. Everything Jesus did, He did for us and it is credited to our account as if we did it. Substitution progresses to identification and union with Christ.

In the four Gospels, a disproportionate amount of space is given to the actual events of the death and resurrection of Christ. Every sermon in the book of Acts and all of Paul’s epistles center on what happened in the death and resurrection of Christ. You can get anything you need from this event. Healing, prosperity, joy, victory — whatever you need — you can get from the fact that,“I was crucified with Christ. He took my place because He was my substitute. He took my condition.”

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.  (2 Corinthians 5:21)

  • 1

START DRILLING

The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

“When you drill into the phrase, “in Christ,” it swallows up your past, your failures, and your old identity.” -Mark Hankins

There is a story about a strange happening in South Louisiana at Lake Peigneur.  Texaco was drilling for oil in the Lake and the drill got stuck at 1250 feet. It began to list badly so they abandoned it. From the shore, they watched it sink from sight.  Meanwhile, men working in a salt mine under the lake noticed it was beginning to flood, so they also escaped. On the surface, a whirlpool threatened some fishermen, eventually pulling in some barges and a tug associated with the drilling. The whirlpool grew in size until it pulled in 65 acres of land. An oil rig, a salt mine, an entire lake, and 65 acres of land disappeared!

What God did for you through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ will swallow up who you used to be. Get the drill out and start drilling. Drill in Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:6, Ephesians 2:4-5, and Galatians 6:14. Drill until you hit something in the realm of the Spirit that will swallow up your past!

Confession:  My old man was crucified with Christ. I am no longer a slave to sin!  (Romans 6:6)

  • 0

OFFICIAL IDENTIFICATION

Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you? (Acts19:15 | NKJV)

“We carry the Word of God and the anointing of the Holy Spirit as official identification.” -Mark Hankins

Have you ever checked in for a flight and been asked for proof of identification? You can say, “Here I am. Can’t you see–this is me; I can prove that I exist. Just look.”  The authorities want to see a passport or driver’s license. You cannot prove who you are without official identification.

Acts19:13-16 tells the story of the seven sons of Sceva who tried to cast out devils in the name of Jesus “whom Paul preaches.”  The demons said, “Jesus we know and Paul we know, but who are you?” Jesus had official identification in heaven and hell, and so did Paul. You and I can also know who we are and the authority that is ours in Christ.

Spiritually speaking, all of us must carry some identification to do business in the realm of the Spirit. The Word of God must be engrafted into our inner man so we know who we are in Christ. We must also carry the anointing of the Holy Spirit as the guarantee that we are who God says we are and we have what God says we have.

Confession: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. (Galatians 2:20)

  • 0

THE HOPE OF MANKIND

For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. (2 Corinthians 5:14)

“When you see what God has done for you in Christ, the reality of redemption will swallow up your old identity.” – Mark Hankins

How could Jesus Christ, one man, die on the cross and His death be for every man?  It is simply a law of identification. We were all identified with one man, Adam, and affected by him. God simply took the same law that allowed one man to mess up everyone, and allowed one man, Jesus Christ, to die for everyone.

There is no hope for man outside of the blood of Jesus and His death, burial, and resurrection. A person has to be born again if he is going to get out of Adam. This changes your identity. No longer can you identify with defeat because you are identified with the triumph of Christ. No longer can you identify with failure, sickness, and bondage because you are identified with Christ. His victory is your victory! His life is your life! His blessing is your blessing! Everything that God put in Him now comes into you. You were identified with Adam before, but you are not in Adam now – you are in Christ!

Confession: I am born again! The blood of Jesus and the power of the Gospel has changed my life! I identify with the triumph and blessing of Christ!

  • 0

PURSUING YOUR POSITION 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)

“A breakthrough in revelation enables us to see what God sees.” –Mark Hankins

Once you have seen the scenery from your seat next to Jesus at the right hand of God, you won’t ever want to go back to life as it used to be. Other people may listen to a sermon on their identity in Christ and say, “Praise the Lord.  That was a good point,” but you will be thinking, “That wasn’t just a good point, that’s the way I live! I am who Jesus says I am! I have what He says I have! He lives in me, and I ALWAYS triumph in Him!”

Believers must have a deep revelation of their position in Christ. Even in the worst situations in life, you can laugh at the devil. Your mind may be going crazy with stress and pressure as you try to think about what you are going to do. You need to stop and begin to meditate on what God’s Word says about who you are in Christ. You need to see things from God’s perspective. God sees you seated with Christ in heavenly places.

Confession: I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus! By the blood of Jesus, I overcome all the works of the devil! (2 Corinthians 5:21, Revelation 12:11)

  • 0

Sign up for Living By Faith Blog Subscribers

* = required field

Recent Posts

Categories