From Carnal to Spiritual (Part 6): Liberty and Responsibility

From Carnal to Spiritual (Part 6): Liberty and Responsibility

We’ve come a long way in this series, and it’s worth pausing to take it in. Each part has been a step—not just in understanding, but in spiritual posture. We began by recognising the carnal mind for what it is: natural, unrenewed, and unable to receive the things of God. That was Part 1. Then we saw that renewal isn’t just about adding truth—it’s about forsaking what shaped us before. That was Part 2. In Part 3, we were reminded that growth is measured by movement, not by flawlessness. The spiritual mind is formed gradually, and every step matters. Then came Part 4, where we saw that doctrine isn’t dry—it’s the very substance that renews the mind. Truth rightly divided gives structure to our thinking. And in Part 5, we brought that renewal into daily life. Walking in the Spirit isn’t mystical—it’s practical. It’s how we respond, how we think, how we live.

Now we arrive at a quiet turning point. Not a new lesson, but a reminder. A moment to breathe and consider what all of this means—not just inwardly, but outwardly. Because the renewed mind doesn’t exist in isolation. It begins to shape how we carry ourselves, how we speak, how we serve. And that’s where liberty comes in—not as a concept to admire, but as a reality to steward.

Paul wrote to the Galatians, “Only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). That verse doesn’t come with pressure—it comes with perspective. Liberty in Christ is a gift, but it’s also a trust. It frees us from the weight of law, yes—but it also frees us to walk with purpose. The spiritual mind doesn’t treat liberty as a personal escape. It sees it as an open door to serve, to build, to edify.

Doctrine and Discernment (Part Two): The Romans 14 Posture – Grace in the Grey

Doctrine and Discernment (Part Two): The Romans 14 Posture – Grace in the Grey

In Part One, we looked at the Bereans—those noble truth-seekers who searched the scriptures daily to test what they heard. They modelled doctrinal vigilance, spiritual hunger, and a deep commitment to clarity. But Romans 14 offers a different lens. Not contradictory, but complementary. Where the Bereans leaned into precision, Romans 14 leans into patience. Where Acts 17 highlights the pursuit of truth, Romans 14 highlights the protection of peace.

This chapter unfolds in two distinct halves—each with its own rhythm and focus.

Verses 1–12: The Vertical Posture – Conscience Before God

Here, Paul speaks to the individual believer’s relationship with the Lord. The topic isn’t doctrinal error—it’s personal conviction in disputable matters. Things like diet, holy days, dress, alcohol, and lifestyle choices. These are not gospel issues, but they do matter. Why? Because they touch the conscience.

"Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." (Romans 14:5)

This is not permission to drift into relativism. It’s a call to live with integrity before God. Each believer stands or falls to his own Master—not to tradition, peer pressure, or popular opinion. The risk here is judgement. We must not despise those who abstain, nor mock those who partake. The Lord is able to make both stand.

This vertical posture is deeply personal. It’s about honouring God in your choices, even when those choices differ from others. It’s about being persuaded—not pressured.

Spiritual Growth in Order: From Babes to Sons

Spiritual Growth in Order: From Babes to Sons

As we journey through the curriculum from Romans to 2 Thessalonians, we discover a divine order to spiritual growth—a process that moves us from babes in Christ to mature sons, equipped with spiritual knowledge and judgement. 

It begins with form: we receive the form of sound doctrine, the foundational truths that shape our understanding (2 Tim 1:13). Then comes information, as we are taught and enlightened by the Word, gaining clarity on God’s purpose and grace. This leads to transformation, where the renewing of our minds begins to take root (Rom 12:2), shifting our thinking from fleshly to spiritual. As our minds are transformed, our lives begin to conform to the image of Christ (Rom 8:29), reflecting His character and priorities. Finally, we perform—not in self-effort, but in godliness, walking worthy of our calling with discernment and grace (1 Tim 4:7). 

This isn’t just a doctrinal framework; it’s a living process. Through Paul’s epistles, we’re not merely informed—we’re formed, transformed, and conformed, so that we might perform the will of God with wisdom and spiritual maturity. Let the Word do its work.

From Carnal to Spiritual (Part 5): Walking in the Spirit Daily

From Carnal to Spiritual (Part 5): Walking in the Spirit Daily

Before we continue, let’s take a moment to look back at where we’ve been. In Part 1, we saw the difference between the carnal mind and the spiritual mind. The carnal mind is natural to all of us—it’s how we think before we come to Christ, and it remains with us unless we renew it. In Part 2, we learned that renewal requires forsaking. We cannot hold on to old thoughts and expect new life. The Word of God must replace what we once believed. Then in Part 3, we were reminded that spiritual growth is a journey. It’s not about being perfect but about moving forward. Every step matters. And in Part 4, we saw that renewal is shaped by doctrine. The mind is not renewed by emotion or experience, but by truth—truth rightly divided and received with meekness.

Now we come to Part 5, and we begin to see how this renewed mind is lived out. It’s not just something we understand—it’s something we walk in. Paul writes, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25). This is not a once-off decision. It is a daily walk. It is a way of thinking, a way of responding, a way of living. The spiritual mind is not just for study—it is for life.

From Carnal to Spiritual (Part 4): Doctrine Shapes Renewal

From Carnal to Spiritual (Part 4): Doctrine Shapes Renewal

Before we press forward, let us pause and reflect on the ground we’ve already covered. In Part 1, we explored the stark contrast between the carnal and spiritual mind—the one governed by fleshly reasoning, the other by divine truth. We saw that the spiritual mind is not natural, but cultivated, and that the believer is called to intentional renewal. In Part 2, we learned that renewal is not passive; it requires forsaking. Old thought patterns must be abandoned, not merely suppressed. The mind must be emptied of error before it can be filled with truth. Then in Part 3, we were reminded that this journey is not about perfection, but progression. God does not demand flawlessness, but faithfulness. The spiritual mind is measured not by how far we’ve come, but by whether we are moving forward—renewed day by day, growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, in Part 4, we turn our attention to the substance of that renewal. What exactly renews the mind? What shapes the spiritual understanding of the believer? The answer is not found in emotion, experience, or even sincerity—it is found in doctrine. Not just any doctrine, but sound doctrine, rightly divided, rooted in the Word of God and revealed through the apostle Paul for the Church today. “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine…” (Ephesians 4:14). The renewed mind is not a blank canvas—it is a built structure. It has a foundation, a framework, and a finish. And that structure is doctrinal.

Love That Serves: The Labour Born of Faith and Formed by Truth

The Labour Born of Faith and Formed by Truth

In the life of a believer, there is no higher calling than to walk in love—a love that serves, sacrifices, and reflects the very heart of Christ. Yet this love is not self-generated. It is not the product of religious tradition, emotional devotion, or fleshly effort. True charity, the kind that pleases God, is born of a pure heart, shaped by a good conscience, and sustained by faith unfeigned. As Paul wrote to Timothy, “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned” (1 Timothy 1:5, KJV). This is the goal of all divine instruction: love that flows from within, not manufactured from without.

This love is not passive—it is active. It is the labour of love that Paul commends in 1 Thessalonians 1:3, a love that works, gives, and serves. But it is also a love that is formed, not forced. It is developed in the believer through the work of faith—the ongoing process of studying the Word of God, yielding to its truth, and allowing the Spirit to shape the inner man. As the Word is received with meekness and obeyed with sincerity, the character of Christ begins to take root. And from that root springs the fruit of charity—not as a duty, but as a delight.

This is the essence of Christian liberty. As Paul writes in Galatians, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13, KJV). Liberty in Christ is not freedom to indulge the flesh—it is freedom to walk in the Spirit. It is the freedom to serve, not because we are bound by law, but because we are bound by love. And this love is not superficial—it is the highest righteousness a man can attain. A free man, willingly serving others, bound only by the love of Christ formed within him.