2 Corinthians 5:17 says that those who are in Christ are completely new creations. Their old sinful selves have passed away, and they have been made brand new in their spiritual nature. In this message, Duane teaches that although our physical bodies and minds did not literally become new at salvation, our spirits were recreated and made righteous before God through faith in Jesus.

Many believers still view themselves solely based on their physical characteristics and fleshly nature instead of their new spiritual reality. The Bible says we are no longer to regard anyone from a merely human perspective but through the lens of who we have become through the transforming work of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:16). Our true identity comes not from our family heritage, ethnic background, or any other natural factors, but from our spiritual rebirth in Christ.

Jesus discovered His identity as the Son of God by having the Scriptures revealed to Him through the Holy Spirit. As Jesus read the Old Testament, the Spirit revealed the prophecies and symbols that were speaking about Him. The same applies to believers - as we study the Bible, the Holy Spirit will reveal how the descriptions of who we are in Christ are relevant to us. Just as Jesus saw Himself in the Scriptures, we will recognize our new identity through God's word.

According to Romans 5, we were all born into sin because of Adam's disobedience in the Garden of Eden. Because of his one trespass, we were all made sinners by nature from conception. However, through Jesus' perfect obedience and sacrificial death, those who put their faith in Christ have been made righteous before God (Romans 5:19). Our sin was imputed to Jesus on the cross, and His righteousness has now been imputed to us.

Believers are no longer sinners but have been made the very righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). Understanding this truth about our identity transforms how we view ourselves. When we realize we have been made completely righteous through Christ, we repent and turn from sin because it no longer matches who we really are as new creations in Christ.