Changed

Even though we have been redeemed by Christ and are declared to be new creations in Him, there is the pull of the old nature, the flesh, activated by the power of the enemy. We have to regard sinful thoughts and behaviors from the past as being under the blood of Christ and seek to walk in the newness He promises. 1st Corinthians 6 says:
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

We are known by God - He has loved us greatly and sent His Son so that we might be redeemed. So, there is ideally a break from the actions of the flesh - we are told to put off that old nature and embrace the new.  Even though one or more of these areas of sin that Paul outlined in that passage may show up, we have to realize that they are still problem areas and deal with them with the resources of the Spirit, not embrace them as part of our new nature. 
 

+++++

The apostle Paul offers insight and understanding into the working of our mind in Christ and how we can regard and reject the entrapments of the flesh. Galatians 5 states:
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

The presence of Christ through salvation releases us from impulses and actions that are not pleasing to God and brings us into a state of freedom in Him.  Through His work in our hearts, we can truly experience change - and that change is not beyond the grasp of any human being, as long as he or she is willing to surrender to the cleansing, empowering work of Christ within.

Recently in Washington, DC, people who have experienced the power of God to set them free from the lifestyle of homosexuality gathered to send a message to lawmakers to reject the so-called "Equality Act," because, in essence, the law would deny people who wish to receive freedom from the LGBT lifestyle a legal means to receive the counseling that is helpful in producing that life change.

Dozens of members of what is called the "Changed" movement met at the U.S. Capitol recently to declare that their identity is in Christ, not in their past patterns of homosexuality. A LifeSiteNews article quoted Tamika Sanders, who is the founder and executive director of Coming Out, Inc. She is quoted as saying: “legislation that says that change is not possible says that we don’t exist,” and she adds that such a law “forces individuals to remain trapped."  The article goes on to say:

Legislation that bans “any attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression will force individuals to remain silent, with no voice, with no one to talk to about their internal conflict and struggles, and absolutely nowhere to find healing and wholeness,” asserted Sanders. 

The article quotes from a co-founder of the "Changed" movement: 

“Changed has come to DC to appeal to our President and to Congress to focus on human dignity apart from identity politics,” said Elizabeth Woning of California, co-founder of the Changed movement and a former lesbian, now married to her husband for 15 years.  “America deserves to know there’s more to the story when it comes to LGBTQ experience.”

Jason Maxwell is a man from Arkansas who has experienced transformation in his life. He said: “I am a survivor and overcomer of LGBT indoctrination that many in our country and churches have falsely partnered with, that says, ‘I was born that way.’” He went on to say, “Other LGBTQ don’t have to choose to find healing from sexual and emotional childhood trauma...but I want to make sure that they have the freedom to make that choice if they want to,” and have the option to seek “pastoral care, lay counseling, and professional counseling.” 

A pastor from Oregon named Drew Berryessa, said, "equality is never achieved by silencing another community.  It’s never achieved by persecuting another viewpoint, specifically people of faith and conviction.  The Equality Act does that."

One of the key words here is "freedom."  The message that these individuals is speaking is one of victory, of overcoming through Christ.  It is not a message of accommodating same-sex attraction or the gay lifestyle, trying to attach the word "gay" as an adjective to try to complement one's Christianity.  And, they recognize that this proposed federal legislation would prevent people from access to the Christ-centered care that they need in order to help them overcome.

The message of the gospel is that Christ has come to make us new.  The numbers show that the dominant sin in your life is not related to homosexuality, but there is one. The question is whether or not you are living with it, tolerating it, even feeding it from time to time, or allowing the power of Christ and the transformative nature of His Word to help you to truly walk in victory.  

We also have to ask ourselves, "do we want to change?"  We should be totally satisfied with who we are in Christ, and that means we can be dissatisfied with the sinful patterns and impulses that tempt us and weigh us down.  Our identity is in Him as a new creation, and unbiblical thoughts and behavioral patterns that are inconsistent with who He says we are can be dealt with in the Spirit.  It's not a matter of toleration or accommodation; it's all about freedom in Christ.