The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 8:6-13, “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,
8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh–
13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”

Throughout all of Scripture, there is a constant battle between the Spirit and the flesh! It commences early in life and continues throughout our human existence. There is so much to see and so much to hear, that the battle rages almost without notice. Yet, it is there!

James says (4:17), “…that which is good became a cause of death for me…It was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good…”

Satan is clever. No doubt about it! He seeks to turn that which is good into that which dishonors the LORD. Yet, in the ultimate outcome, and “because the Spirit “…dwells in you…” we are under obligation…to live according to “the Spirit” –not according to the flesh! It is the flesh that takes us down; it is the Spirit who gives us life –Christ’s life!

The flesh can be defeated! Yet, its defeat comes only when we elect to focus upon the LORD and ignore the flesh. Simon Peter knew the difference when he said,

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born
again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable
and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
who are protected by the power of God through faith for a
salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Pet. 1:3-5).

Solomon said, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths
straight” (Prov. 3:5-6).

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