From Carnal to Spiritual (Part 2): Renewal Requires Forsaking

From Carnal to Spiritual (Part 2): Renewal Requires Forsaking

The process of renewing the mind is not simply about learning new things—it’s about letting go of the old. The carnal mind, as Paul teaches, is not just a sinful mindset; it’s the default operating system of every person born into this world. Before salvation, it’s all we know. And even after we’re justified, it remains our natural tendency unless we actively forsake it.

Paul makes it clear in Romans 8:7 (KJV):

“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”

That’s not a matter of effort or sincerity—it’s a matter of incompatibility. The carnal mind cannot please God. It doesn’t matter how well-meaning a believer is; if they’re still thinking with the old framework, they’re walking in opposition to the Spirit. And tragically, many believers are trying to live for God while clinging to the very mindset that opposes Him.

Renewal, then, is not just about acquiring biblical knowledge. It’s about forsaking the thoughts that once defined us. Isaiah 55 says:

“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts.”

That’s the heart of renewal. You don’t just add Scripture to your thinking—you replace your thinking with Scripture. You don’t just memorize verses—you surrender your old conclusions. You don’t just learn about heaven—you begin to mind heavenly things, as Colossians 3 instructs:

“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

This is where many believers stall. They read the Word, they attend church, they even teach others—but they never truly forsake the carnal mind. They remain tourists in the kingdom of God, visiting with their old mindset still intact. And as long as you think like a tourist, you’ll never fully assimilate into the spiritual culture of the kingdom.

Paul’s language is strong:

“God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Galatians 6:14)

That's quite a statement, and Paul really meant what he said here. The world is dead to me, and I am dead to it. But that reality must be embraced intentionally. You don’t drift into spiritual maturity. You row against the current. And the moment you stop rowing, the carnal tide pulls you back.

Renewal requires forsaking. It requires a conscious decision to abandon the thoughts, values, and priorities of the natural world. It means recognizing that everything you knew before Christ was steeped in carnality. And it means accepting that the spiritual mind is foreign—it must be learned, cultivated, and guarded.

Paul’s prayers for the church weren’t about comfort or ease. They were about knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual understanding. He prayed that believers would be strengthened with might—not to escape hardship, but to endure it with joy. That’s the mark of a renewed mind: not just surviving trials, but seeing them as opportunities to advance the gospel. And that’s exactly what prayer sounds like when it flows from a spiritual mind. Paul’s petitions reflect a mindset fixed on eternal realities, not temporary relief. If we want to know where we are on the scale between carnal and spiritual thinking, we need only listen to our own prayers. Are we pleading for physical outcomes—health, finances, comfort, or circumstantial change? Then our minds are still rooted in the natural world. And as Paul teaches, that’s not where life and peace are found. The spiritual mind prays for understanding, for wisdom, for the character of Christ to be formed in us. It seeks to know God more deeply, not just to feel better. That kind of prayer reveals a mind that has begun to forsake the old and embrace the new—a mind that’s being renewed day by day.

So, if you’re serious about renewal, you must be serious about forsaking. You must be willing to scrutinize your old thoughts, challenge your assumptions, and surrender your reasoning to the authority of God’s Word. You must stop trying to make spiritual truth fit into a carnal framework. And you must stop acting like you’ve got a return ticket to the old world.

You’ve been translated into the kingdom of His dear Son. You’re not a visitor—you’re a citizen. And your conversation must match your citizenship. That means talking about spiritual things, thinking on things above, and letting the peace of God rule in your heart.

Renewal is simple, but it’s not easy. It requires effort, humility, and persistence. But the reward is life and peace. And that’s a salvation worth pursuing.

Inspired by and adapted from this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXAXfJ2KPk0