Romans 8:1-8 (KJV) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who Walk Not After The Flesh, but After The Spirit. 2 For [since] the law [Gk. nomos, the prescribed instruction] of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law [operation] of sin and death. ³ For what the law [Mosaic Law] could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 [So] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after [according to] the flesh, but after [according to] the Spirit. 5 For they that are after [live according to] the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after [live according to] the Spirit [mind] the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be Carnally [fleshly] Minded is Death; but to be Spiritually Minded is Life and Peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against [hostile to] God: for it is not subject to the law [Gk. nomos, prescribed instruction] of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 

The verses above are the most clearly prescriptive and important words of the Lord through Paul instructing us as to how we should live ‘by the Spirit’ and not by the self-serving impulses of “the flesh.” The Apostle Paul teaches in Romans chapter 8 the doctrine of what it means to either “walk after [according to]” the flesh, or “after [according to] the Spirit.” Paul says that those who walk after the flesh are also those who “mind the things of the flesh,” and this “mind” is “carnally [fleshly] minded.”

This “mind of the flesh” is dangerous to the godly edifying of the believer, and this mind refuses to be “subject to the Law of God” (v7) This mind is “enmity against God,” and those who have this mindset, and “walk after their flesh.” These are those who are “in the flesh,” and even while they are positionally “in Christ.” They may be saved but their “walk” cannot “please God.” This walk is a self-willed walk concerning their soul-self desires and whatever their mind and heart is “after.” This is a form of idolatry, placing ‘self’ before the Lord’s will.

By contrast, those believers who walk “after the Spirit,” mind the “things of the Spirit”; this mind is “Spiritually minded.” They that are Spiritually minded are those who also are “subject to” “the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:2). They walk by the Word of God alone, their minds, and their hearts are after the operational doctrine which is according to godliness only. They “walk” as a “debtor” unto the Spirit of God as they are also “led by” the Word of God for today.

Rom 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live (Gk. zao, live spiritually). 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 

 And so, these Saints are those who think Spiritually and not only will their walk in Christ be a walk after or in accord with  the Living Word of the Living God, their Bible study, and their decision making will be after the Spirit (the Word of God) as well.

We will now look at a few examples of how “carnally minded” Bible study could affect the growth of the Saint, and this is based upon the lack of understanding the Word of God, the will of God, the Power of God, the love of God, and the life of Christ is designed to work effectually within our inward man only. But when the Saint views God’s Word with a ‘carnal-fleshly’ understanding, he will not gain the godly wisdom and understanding God intended we have concerning godliness, and the Life and Power of His Son in our lives, and the “treasure” that we could have within our inner man.

1Cor 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, [so] that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 

Moreover, thinking with the Spiritual mind is what God desires from the Saint to live godly, an example of this is in first Corinthians chapter 5, Paul writes about one that “should have his father's wife.” Looking at this with the carnal mind, we would look at the issue and say, ‘that that was unthinkable for someone to behave this way,’ and this was ‘ungodly what was done,’ or wonder, ‘I wonder, was this his own mother, or Stepmother?’ But the carnal mind looks at the Bible details, missing the Bible doctrine. But the way we ought to look at this situation the way Paul looked upon it, with the Spiritual mind, and as Paul says they ought to rather have mourned. Because bearing one another's burdens, we would look at it from the ‘father's sake’ who had this done unto him, but not just for that purpose only, but it caused a disruption in the edifying of the body of Christ at Corinth. This is why Paul says a little leaven leavens the whole lump, because of this, the father mourned, and they ought to as well as members of His one body.

And Another Example:

2Cor 1:8  For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10  Who delivered us [internally] from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; 

Now at first glance. One would think that the Apostle Paul is saying that God delivered him from physical suffering, and that this is what Paul means when he says he ‘trusts’ that God delivered him, and will deliver him again in his time of need again. But this is not what the Apostle is saying at all. In 2^nd Corinthians 11:23-28, Paul details all the physical suffering he endured for Christ’s sake, but not only that; Paul says he glories in these infirmities. And what Paul is saying in the verses above, is that it is his inner soul-man that was delivered, and that was by trusting the “Word of God,” this is how he became delivered by God. It was by His provision given to us when we suffer, and when we do, we have been given “salvation” by “the God of all comfort” when we read and operate upon the doctrine of peace in our time of suffering.

Again here ins Romans 8:24-28

Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

Furthermore, in the above verses, if viewed with the carnal mind, one would assume that the Third Member of the Godhead Himself makes intercession for us upon ‘prayer request,’ this is not the case at all. When verse 26 says, “the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us,” Paul is saying it’s the doctrine of the Holy Ghost which makes intercession for us; and that is found within our Bibles. It is the Words of God that teach the believer how to pray with a SPIRITUAL MIND. It is in the Word of God that we find the “hope that is not seen.” It is the Word of God whereby we find the “things that are not seen.”  it is in the Word of God that the “treasure” of God call dwell richly in earthen vessels and give us an internal “salvation” from our sufferings, such that we can endure. And it is by His Word that we have been given this Grace to suffer for His sake, and by operating upon His doctrine, which is the doctrine of His Son, when we suffer, and we use the Word of Christ, we are suffering together with Him. This is how the Lord Jesus Christ "also maketh intercession for us," because it is by His Word that we are to live by the indwelling life of Christ.

Nothing shall separate us from operating based upon the love of Christ when we suffer. We are to turn to the Words of our Lord through Paul, to operate by the “mind of Christ.” In this way we have the inner provision of His intercession by His Word.

But the “natural man,” and the ‘carnal mind’ would say the things written here are "foolishness,” (1Cor. 2:14). This is because he cannot discern the Spiritual “things that are freely given” to us of God.

God’s grace truth for today is designed to work within our inward soul-man that it may become “renewed” in mind and heart.

Romans 12:1-2 (KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

• Potions adapted from Rod Jones