Duane Sheriff Ministries

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Our Identity Conference 2024

Our Identity Conference 2024 | Part 1

May 4, 2024 • Duane Sheriff • 2 Corinthians 5:14–17, Luke 24:27, Galatians 6:13–15, Galatians 5:5, Matthew 4:1–7

In this message, Duane teaches that we are all born with a fallen identity because of sin entering the world. Many people struggle with their fallen identity and try to pretend to be something they are not. Others have had false identities imposed on them by family or society. The world also tries to confuse people's identities for its hidden agendas and purposes. However, when we come to faith in Jesus Christ, we receive a brand new identity as God's children. This identity is not based on our physical body or external circumstances but on our reborn spirit. The Bible teaches that when we accept Christ, we are crucified, buried, and raised with Him to new life (Galatians 2:20, Romans 6). Our old sinful self died with Christ, and we are made into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Understanding this new identity in Christ is extremely important because it connects us to our true purpose in life. When we know who we really are in Christ, it gives us a passion to live for Him. Our identity sets the course for how we think, feel, and act. Just as Jesus was attacked about His identity as the Son of God, Satan also tries to confuse believers about who they are in Christ. The devil wants to derail us from living out our God-given identity and purpose. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that believers must regard themselves and others based on this new spiritual reality, not on external appearances (2 Corinthians 5:16). Though we live in physical bodies, our true life is hidden in Christ. Colossians 1:27 calls this the "mystery" that Christ actually lives inside those who follow Him! Just as we use mirrors to see our physical appearance, we must use the Bible as a mirror to see our true spiritual identity. As we renew our minds according to the truth of God's Word, we experience the power of becoming who we already are in Christ. Though it is ultimately a spiritual mystery, knowing our new creation identity is the key to living with passion and purpose for God's glory.

Our Identity Conference 2024 | Part 2

May 4, 2024 • Duane Sheriff • 2 Corinthians 5:14–18, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 5:17–19, 1 Corinthians 6:9–11

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.

Our Identity Conference 2024 | Part 3

May 4, 2024 • Duane Sheriff • Romans 5:12–19, Isaiah 9:6–7, Ephesians 4:22–24, Romans 8:1–4

In the third session of the "Our Identity Conference," Duane explores the transformative power of understanding one's identity in Christ by contrasting the lives and impacts of two men: Adam and Christ. Adam, the first man, disobeyed God, which led to sin entering the world. In contrast, Jesus Christ, through His ultimate sacrifice, brought salvation and righteousness to humanity. This comparison is foundational to understanding redemption and transformation. Adam's disobedience led to sin and death spreading to all humanity, creating a separation between humanity and God, marking every human as inherently sinful from birth. Jesus, the "second" or "last Adam," signifies a new beginning for humanity. His life, death, and resurrection offer hope and a new nature to those who believe in Him. By His obedience and sacrifice, Jesus reversed Adam's curse, providing a path to righteousness that is not based on human efforts but on grace. Jesus' act was a free gift, bringing justification and life, whereas Adam's act brought judgment and condemnation. This contrast is crucial for believers to understand their new identity in Christ. Believers are no longer defined by their sins or human nature but by faith in Christ and rebirth as new creations. The practical application of this teaching is a life transformed by the renewing of the mind. Believers are called to live out their new identities, not conforming to the sinful patterns of the world but embracing the holiness and righteousness imparted by Christ. This transformation is not instantaneous but is a progressive journey of aligning one's thoughts and actions with the truth of God's word. Believers should fully embrace this new identity, letting it transform every aspect of their lives. This involves a continuous effort to renew one's mind, allowing the truth of God's word to replace old, sinful thought patterns and behaviors.

Our Identity Conference 2024 | Part 4

May 4, 2024 • Duane Sheriff • 2 Corinthians 11:1–4, Genesis 2:18–25, Ephesians 5:25–32, 1 Corinthians 6:15–17

In this message, Duane teaches the great mystery of Christ and the Church, as illustrated through marriage, to provide a deep understanding of our identity and relationship with Jesus. In Ephesians 5:31-32 Paul compares the marriage relationship between a husband and wife to that of Christ and the Church. This analogy helps believers understand their union with Christ and the depth of His love and commitment to them. Just as a husband and wife become one flesh in marriage, believers become one spirit with Christ. This union is a spiritual reality that reflects the intimate and unbreakable bond between Christ and His followers. The marriage analogy illustrates how believers are to submit to Christ and how Christ, as the husband, loves and cares for the Church. Old Testament prophecies foreshadow this mystery. In Isaiah 9:6, Jesus is called the "Everlasting Father," signifying His role as the progenitor of the new creation. Unlike Adam, who brought sin and death into the world, Jesus, the second Adam, brings righteousness and eternal life. This new creation in Christ forms a spiritual family, a grace race that transcends all earthly divisions and identities. Eve was taken out of Adam, symbolizing that she was always a part of him. This act foreshadows how the Church, taken out of Christ through His sacrifice, is intimately connected to Him. The opening of Jesus' side on the cross, from which blood and water flowed, parallels the creation of Eve from Adam's side and symbolizes the birth of the Church. This mystery of marriage and union with Christ reveals God's profound love and commitment to His people. It also highlights the spiritual reality that believers, as the Bride of Christ, are called to live in holiness and unity with Him. This relationship is not a temporary affiliation but an eternal bond culminating in ruling and reigning with Christ in the new heaven and earth.

Our Identity Conference 2024 | Part 5

May 5, 2024 • Duane Sheriff • 1 Corinthians 1:26–29, 2 Corinthians 4:7, Isaiah 51:1–2, Philippians 3:3

In the final message, Duane teaches that "Our Identity" and worth should not come from our abilities or accomplishments in the flesh but from our relationship with God and who we are in Christ. According to scripture, we can do nothing of value or significance without God. We have no reason to boast or take pride in our flesh, for everything we have and our talent or ability is a gift from God. No one is wise, mighty, or noble in their own strength or by their own merits (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). Instead, God has chosen the foolish, weak, and despised things of the world to confound the wise and mighty so that no flesh can boast or glory in His presence. We are nothing without God, and any knowledge, skills, or achievements we possess are ultimately from Him. Our natural, carnal mind is at enmity with God and cannot please Him. Only by abiding in Christ, the true vine, can we bear spiritual fruit and live lives that glorify God. Apart from Him, we can accomplish nothing of lasting value. Even our best efforts and supposedly good deeds are like filthy rags without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. When believers embrace their weaknesses and inadequacies, they become strong in the Lord. By acknowledging our utter dependence on God and His grace, we are driven to live by faith and rely on Christ's strength rather than our own. Our boasting and confidence must be in the Lord alone, for He alone is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise.