Search Menu Toggle navigation
Living By Faith
Search Menu Toggle navigation

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

FIRST ADAM, LAST ADAM

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:19)

The mystery of how you got here as damaged goods is solved in the Bible.
Mark Hankins

Your identification with Christ is based on several spiritual laws. One of those laws is simply this: your first birth identified you with Adam. The whole Bible is really about two men – the first Adam and the last Adam. The old man is from Adam. The new man is Christ, who is called the last Adam.

The same law that allowed one man, Adam, to affect every man is also the same law that allowed Jesus Christ, the last Adam, to take the condition of sin, the curse, shame, and death. In His resurrection, God deposited everything in Christ that He wanted in man. God put in Christ what He wanted in you.

The power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ identifies you with a whole new humanity — a whole new creation. You are not the same person anymore! You can no longer identify only with your natural family. You are now identified with Christ!

Confession: I am a new creature in Christ! Old things are passed away. I am not the same person anymore! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

  • 1

NATURAL VS. SPIRIT

I pray that your inner vision may be flooded with light, to enable you to see… (Ephesians 1:18 Barclay Translation)

In God’s economy, He has already done everything He is ever going to do about your redemption, your healing, your victory, and your prosperity!
Mark Hankins

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (1Corinthians 2:12-13)

In these verses, Paul describes one of the primary roles of the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, in our lives. Verse 14 tells us that the biggest job we have as believers is to take the step from the natural realm into the realm of the Spirit. Remember, the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit. Paul makes it very clear that the things of God cannot be discovered intellectually. We must have the spirit of wisdom and revelation to understand the things of God.

Confession: Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.
(1 Corinthians 2:9)

  • 0

SEATED FAR ABOVE WITH THE MOST HIGH

The eyes of your understanding enlightened still more and more…
(Ephesians 1:18 Doddridge Translation)

When you see things from God’s perspective, life will be different for you! Mark Hankins

I prayed the Ephesians 1 prayer without fail day after day. For a long time, it seemed like I didn’t get anything for my efforts but a dry mouth! I never smoked marijuana and I never took LSD, but the night revelation hit me I got higher than a kite! I saw myself sitting together with Jesus in the presence of God the Father far above all principality, power, might, dominion, and every name that is named. The fact that God had put everything under Jesus’ feet, and then raised me up together with Him became so real to me!

I had been a slow learner, but revelation finally came. When revelation came, my perspective changed. I wasn’t trying to be victorious; I was victorious because of what God did for me in Christ. The spirit of wisdom and revelation changed my perspective. Instead of trying to get the victory, I realized I already had the victory in Christ!

Confession: I am victorious because of what God did for me in Christ! “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV)

  • 0

MORE THAN ENOUGH POWER

And how very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power is the same as the mighty strength which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world. (Ephesians 1:19-20 Good News Bible)

Christ’s resurrection was more than a triumph over rigor mortis; it was a triumph over all the forces that held us in bondage! Mark Hankins

Paul used four different words for power in an attempt to describe what great power was released in the resurrection of Christ:

dunamis = dynamite; ability
energia = energy; operative power in exercise
kratos = manifested strength
ischuos = an endowment of strength

Paul said this power, power, power, power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead is not just great but exceeding great. Paul said that this power is great beyond measure — surpassing power — more than enough power.

Confession: The same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in me! This power is overwhelmingly great, incomparably great, immeasurable and unlimited! “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working working of His mighty power.” (Ephesians 1:19)

  • 0

Sign up for Living By Faith Blog Subscribers

* = required field

Recent Posts

Categories