But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit,

If a person does not understand the distinction between the flesh and spirit, they often believe their flesh was made a custom creation by God who, like a potter, worked them as clay to create their body. In support of their contention, they often cite the following New and Old Testament Bible verses: Thus saith the Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, Isaiah 44:2; see also, Isaiah 44:24 & 49:45, Jeremiah 1:5. Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? Romans 9:20-21.

IF every person's body were a custom creation by God, who like a potter makes a clay bowl, each person created by God would be perfect and born of the Spirit of God because God is all spirit and not flesh at all. The most basic fact of life is offspring takes on the identity of their parents, i.e., flesh or spirit. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:6.  This we know and do not dispute as a fact of human existence. For example, horses make horses, donkeys make donkeys, but horses and donkeys make mules, and mules do not reproduce.  This fact also holds true for God. God is spirit, His son is spirit too.

Hence, the reference to the “potter” (Romans 9:20-21) and the “made thee and formed thee” (Isaiah 44:2 of the Old Testament) verses above are absolutely correct and properly understood in the context of humans being “produced” by God in the womb in accordance with capability He installed in us by design. Not by a "build as needed" or a "just in time" manufacturing process run by Him. The process is automatic. It was designed by God. It is initiated by mankind in action. Stated another way, the human procreative process is a natural, automatic capability established in all living creatures by God's design of each one from the very beginning. He made animals the same way and equipped them similarly. Thus, God does not enter the womb of every woman to make the baby like He did Jesus. 

Lastly, if the Father made all flesh as custom creations, the Father would knowingly create some flesh for souls that go to hell because He knows everything, or He is not God. If this were the situation, God would make Himself a God of the dead as their creator which cannot be. God is not, and cannot be, a God of the dead. He is a God of the living. I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Matthew 22:32. Furthermore, if the Father made all flesh as custom creations and some souls go to hell and some don’t, how can God be “no respecter of persons” as the Bible says?

As a testament of His supreme nature, therefore, God made man and woman in the first instance, and He equipped them to reproduce their kind according to His design of that creature. (See, Genesis 1:28 and 1 Corinthians 15:45 and 47.) As to each person (and parents), that which is born of the flesh is flesh.  

As reproof, Jesus is the only human ever conceived by the Holy Ghost─the Spirit, but more specifically the spirit of truth fulfilling the prophesies of the Word in satisfaction of the will of God the Father. Still, not even the flesh of that special human was “made” by God the Father as a potter makes a clay bowl. God initiated the creation, but Jesus received His flesh from the human parent–Mary. The flesh of Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament Bible prophesies. Does that make His flesh more enduring than ours? No.

The Bible says God chose Mary because of her virtuous human nature, and yet with specific reference to His flesh, Jesus Himself questioned why people called Him “good.” …Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Matthew 19:17; see also Mark 10:18 and Luke 18:19.  Simply stated, if His flesh was "no good" by His own admission and yet He was the fulfillment of Bible prophesy, then ours is no good either. (Please understand, "none good" refers to the weakness of all flesh as compared to the might of the Spirit in the Father. The flesh of Jesus was sinless, and by the Word ours can be too. A life in Christ matters.)

So, if that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit, what then did Jesus get from God? What component of the Spirit did Jesus get or have? The Word of God the Father (spirit) was placed inside of Jesus. This fact is extremely important for us to come to know Him and fully appreciate our life in Christ matters because we live by the same Word Jesus did. He proved the Word is true with the death of his own flesh, and the human history documented fact that Jesus did come back alive. How? No doubt, by the power of the truth that bears witness to God's Word-the Holy Ghost (spirit of truth). Jesus is the Word in His spirit. Powerful stuff!

How do we know the flesh of Jesus was like ours? Even though the flesh of Jesus was made to house the Word (John 1:14), for Jesus to be the perfect sacrifice for us as God intended, He had to be like us  

and tempted as we are.  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15. This is also why the flesh of Jesus and all flesh of mankind is "no good", but the Spirit (of God) is eternal and Holy.  All flesh is subject to temptation unto sin, and yet God does not tempt. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: James 1:13. 

For completeness,  God is an eternal spirit, and no part of Him can be killed. The Word is eternal in spirit and can never be killed. If the flesh of Jesus were of God as being of the Spirit, then His flesh would be the glorified flesh He got after His resurrection. If His flesh were glorified, Jesus could not be killed and could not have been the sacrificial surrogate for us simply because He would not be capable of temptation, sin, or death on the cross as mentioned. Stated another way, the Bible says Jesus was the target of temptation. (See, Matthew 4:1-11; and Luke 4:1-13.) If Jesus was incapable of being tempted or tempting, He would be immune from the potential for sin and could never be “tempted as we are” (Hebrews 4:15 above), or bear our sins at the cross for us, but the scriptures cannot be broken. (The flesh of Jesus was the fulfillment of Old Covenant prophesies and regarded as the true bread of life in the flesh, but more on that in the Lord's Porter course.)

Now let's look at us, born of two flesh (human) parents. Many self-professing Christians claiming their flesh was made a certain way by God will say their genes govern their conduct, and so be it. People often rely on mankind's science to justify their flesh. Both of those by definition, however, are testaments to living according to the will of the flesh. (See, John 1:12-23 below.) 

Overall, man’s “it's not my fault" defense (doctrine) is better understood as the, “God made me this way” doctrine of people adopting worldly explanations or science to excuse their unrighteous fleshly behavior(s). As part of the excuse, they suggest they are predisposed to a certain conduct by God, because God made them that way. Any alleged "sinful behavior" is then by His design and thus not sin at all. We know, God did not make us as custom works, and thus He is not responsible for our misconduct.

The reason why there is no difference between humans, regardless of their fleshly orientation or identity, is every human is genetically predisposed to sin because of their flesh! Both parents were sinful humans. That which is born of the flesh is flesh. There is no exception. Not even Jesus, as explained previously, was immune from the temptation to sin, but He was the only human who did not sin, albeit capable of it. Why? His spirit/will (of the man Jesus) was the Word of God in the Spirit. Jesus knew perfectly well who He was and is, but His flesh still tried to mess Him up as ours does. The struggle we have with our life in Christ is we forget who we are in Him and resort to the weak impressions of ourselves as faulty humans.

Even so, the concept of “genetic disposition” sounds encouraging to the world lacking understanding and/or searching for justification, and yet after a closer study we find the excuse is completely unnecessary and unfounded in the Word. Jesus knows our plight and died for us to set us free from the penalty of our flesh, provided we believe God, not merely believing in the concept of Him. 

In reality, we should disclaim ownership of our sinful flesh as we become alive in Christ, so He can be the perfect and complete sacrifice for us. In doing so we admit our failures once and for all times, and learn to live in Him going forward.   For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for  to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find  not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Romans 7:15-20.

Now knowing that sin is truly a product of the flesh of every human with two human parents, why would anyone blame God for making their flesh sinful when He didn't do it. Why would we pass up the right to put our sin on Jesus as the sacrifice of God by His will appointed for our benefit to eliminate the penalty for our sin? It simply doesn't make sense and isn't very smart.

Before we go too far, everyone must know there are three wills we must consider: The will of the flesh, the will of man, and the will of God. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13. (God's will is indirectly stated in the preceding verse, but everyone should have no problem admitting it exists.) Our will of man has one, and only one, important choice. Choose to live by the will of God, OR die by the will of the flesh. We frequently desire the will of our flesh because of the “feel good” factors we enjoy. This is so, because we all have lusts of the flesh, but we cannot live forever by them. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Galatians 5:24.)

Man’s decisions “to do” or “not do” something resulting in sin, or transgression of God's will, is the result of the will of man choosing the will of the flesh over the will of God. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:  All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. Mark 7:21-23. 

What does the Bible say about (pre)disposition of mankind?  Unless a person has a life in Christ by the Spirit of Christ (the Word) in them, ALL are reprobate. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Corinthians 13:5. The reprobate is one who retains God as part of their knowledge, but seeks to change “the truth of God [His Word] into a lie” to protect and serve the creature (i.e., their own flesh) instead of God.  Logically speaking a reprobate has the mind of a reprobate (the “reprobate mind”). The reprobate mind is for all who desire to live in prolonged or continued unrighteousness choosing the will of their flesh. See, Romans 1:18-31. (Emphasis added).

The greatest advice we can give to everyone in order to avoid the reprobate mind, or be set free from it, is cling to the pure Word-the truth and repent. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26.

All things we do prove which path we are on, righteousness unto life, or unrighteousness unto death. Every form of fleshly conduct, homosexuality, heterosexuality, all others and every variant in between is ALL carnal by nature. Carnality of all types is doomed. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. Romans 7:14. Therefore, if we choose a lifestyle satisfying the will of our flesh over a life in Christ through the Word according to the will of God, He will not know us when our body gives out and dies. God the Father recognizes His son and tasked Him to care for His own. His own receive the spirit of Christ (the Word,) and He knows us. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But  ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of  God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is  none of his. Romans 8:6-9. We will die as reprobates being destroyed in the torment of hell forever if He does not know us because the other existence opposes God's will and is part of evil. Hence, the paramount need for a rebirth in the Spirit. Life in Christ matters for sure! 

Everything above, and on this site, is fully explained and taught in the Lord's Porter course.