Some here expressed the idea that we have a (God given) right to enjoy our lives, including sexual pleasure. It is still our "right" if that is in a homosexual relationship. Isn't it interesting how this sounds like an alcoholic's justification for having a drink? (Some later editing may have toned down that particular as I sought it out to quote and didn't find it.) Having waited to participate very much on this topic, partly because there's a certain wearying of the flesh in having to keep saying the same things over and over, I watched others speak the truth in love and noticed the answer to this idea of our natural rights stand out to me as something important to be said.
Jesus says, "If any man forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." How does that sound like we have the right to a fulfilled Adamic life? "Who is baptized into Christ is baptized into His death." It a death to homo sapiens Jesus underwent. Then He was raised in an incorruptible deathless body, ascending into the Father's throne, which is over all. This homo novae, "the new man," is what we are now. "We have been translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of His love."
"As Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so also let us be walking in newness of life." The death of Adam and our change into the new man, these are what the "after-mind," (Greek is metanoia) connects to the evidences of the Adamic nature when manifesting. The problem is the Institutionalized religious world that claims it is the Church harps on sin and at best, the outer court understandings of the altar and laver, which is judgement and cleansing for sin. Theirs is a legalistic (and doomed to failure) attempt to correct, improve and fulfill Adam when the true ministry from God is the gracious feeding, upbuilding and corporate unleashing of the new man.
The proof that we are entirely of Christ now is we no longer follow the "eMOTIONing" of the flesh, at least fighting it instead on the side of those who, "Walk not after the flesh," "...to not fulfill its lusts or the desires of the mind," "...but, taking steps to walk around, following after the spirit." Even when prisoners of war we are a testimony of that newness of life which we have. We do not capitulate to our captors to become citizens of their country. We are of "Another country, an heavenly," a celestial realm.
Though it proves to be a prolonged struggle, as scripture is saying, "We wrestle." And it is, "Not against flesh and blood..." It is other powers and principalities, spirits, wicked spiritual gifts, higher realm things, things of higher dimensions than where the physical body resides that we continue struggling against. We war against, "...every evil imagination of the heart." We, "...cast down every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. thought It is a battle for our souls, the thoughts, will and emotions. Scripture speaks of, "Receiving the end of our faith, the salvation of our soul."
It is important to realize the flesh nature in the mind that is according to it will not change until we happen upon being physically transformed, "...from this body of humiliation into a body like His body of glory." Like the fish that was caught in the kingdom net which was thrown back because it was too small, some have started in the Way with a wrong focus on one's own change. It is the radiating glory of presence of God we are to perceive which is how we are changed. For this season, salvation is not about how I am different in my flesh, but how His presence is with me.
Jesus says, "If any person will not deny himself and take up his cross daily to follow me, he is not worthy to be my disciple." When Paul says, "I know that in myself, that is my flesh, there dwells not any good thing..." he defines what in particular is being singled out to be denied that Jesus speaks of as necessary. This does not mean there is any wrong in having flesh. We are spirit, soul and body in a unity which includes existence as incarnated beings. Jesus has forever sanctified our having mortal bodies by Himself being incarnated. It is the ascendency of spirit which the new man maintains over the rest of his being. Ordinarily it is with the passage of time God establishes this new order, eventually changing us, "...into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
