The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Galatians 5:16-21, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Remember in an earlier letter that I mentioned that the Galatians were an “on-again-off-again” people. Setting good things in clear opposition to evil things is an excellent teaching facility for all of us. It would be useless to say, “Just do what is right,” unless there were an indication of what “right” and “wrong” clearly mean. Things that we do without thinking are often things of the flesh.

If you need more specifics on “right” and “wrong,” just read carefully verses 19 through 21. Paul lists 15 “deeds of the flesh,” just in case we hadn’t figured them out for ourselves. They are even more specific in Greek; still, no thinking person needs more understanding. English is quite sufficient.

The heavy warning he gives to all of us is that if we practice (habitually indulge in) such things, we will not inherit a home in Heaven. In other words, if we have been truly born again, we are inwardly, spiritually hindered from living an “out-and-out”
immoral life.

Notice that Paul closes this short passage with the same teaching with which he started. Deeds of the flesh have no place in a believer’s lifestyle. That does not mean that believers always do what’s right. But living continually in “deeds of the flesh” is really “living on the thin edge of the wedge.” It is exceedingly dangerous!
If you belong to Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives within you to direct your life. Always listen to Him! Be prayerful, and learn to live in and by the Scriptures!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom