Liberty, grace, and the leading of the Spirit—these three great truths from the Apostle Paul’s epistles give clear, practical answers to the daily questions we face as members of the Body of Christ. Paul doesn’t leave us guessing. He rightly divides the word of truth so we can walk in the liberty and power of this dispensation of grace.
Liberty Answers the Question: Can I?
“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” (1 Corinthians 10:23 KJV)
Under grace, the believer is not under the law. We are dead to the law through the body of Christ (Romans 7:4). The old “thou shalt not” system that governed Israel has been replaced by the glorious liberty of the children of God.
If someone asks, “Can a Christian do that?”—whether it’s a gray-area activity, a habit, or a cultural practice—the first answer from Paul is yes, it is lawful. You can. Liberty means you are free. Paul even uses strong language:
"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Corinthians 3:17 KJV)
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (Galatians 5:1 KJV)
But Paul doesn’t stop there. He immediately balances it: not everything is expedient (profitable, helpful) and not everything edifies (builds up). Liberty is real, but it is never permission to sin or to harm the conscience of a weaker brother (1 Corinthians 8:9-13).
When was the last time you asked “Can I?” about something? Did you stop at the first answer (liberty), or did you let grace and the Spirit speak next?
Grace Answers the Question: Should I?
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” (Titus 2:11–12 KJV)
Grace doesn’t just save us—it teaches us. This is one of the sweetest truths in Paul’s epistles. The same grace that justified the ungodly now instructs the justified how to walk as new creatures.
Grace doesn’t say, “Do this or else.” It says, “This is what fits who you now are in Christ.” We should deny ungodliness and worldly lusts because we are no longer in the flesh but in the Spirit.
"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." (Romans 8:9 KJV)
We should live soberly, righteously, and godly—not to earn favor, but because grace has already made us accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6).
"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1:6 KJV)
This is where so many stumble. They run back to the law (“Should I keep the Sabbath? Tithe? Follow dietary rules?”) instead of letting Pauline grace teach them. The law was a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ; now that faith has come, we are no longer under that schoolmaster.
"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." (Galatians 3:24-25 KJV)
Grace teaches by revealing identity. You are a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). Old things are passed away. The “should” flows out of that reality, not out of fear of losing salvation or trying to stay in God’s good graces. He already reconciled us—our trespasses are not imputed (2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 2:13).
When you face a “Should I?” decision, do you hear the voice of grace saying “Live like who you already are,” or do you hear the echo of law saying “Do this to stay right with God”?
The Spirit Answers the Question: Will I?
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14 KJV)
Here is the personal, moment-by-moment application. Liberty says “Can I?” Grace says “Should I?” The indwelling Spirit says “Will you walk in this?”
The Spirit does not drive us like a taskmaster. He leads sons. Christ lives in us (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27), and the life we now live in the flesh we live by the faith of the Son of God. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in us and quickens our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11).
This is where the rubber meets the road. You can do something (liberty), you should deny the flesh and walk godly (grace), but will you yield to the Spirit’s leading? Will you reckon yourself dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God (Romans 6:11)? Will you put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him (Colossians 3:10)?
This is not mysticism. It is walking by faith in what God says about you in Paul’s epistles. The Spirit uses the Word rightly divided to lead us. He never leads contrary to the doctrine delivered to Paul for this dispensation.
In your daily decisions, whose voice is loudest—the flesh crying “I want,” the law saying “You must,” or the Spirit gently leading “Walk this way, son”?
Putting It All Together – A Pauline Pattern for Daily Living
- Can I? Check liberty. All things lawful.
- Should I? Let grace teach you. Does this deny ungodliness and promote godly living? Does it edify?
- Will I? Yield to the Spirit who leads sons. Walk by faith in your new identity.
This order keeps us from legalism on one side and using our liberty for an occasion to the flesh on the other. It magnifies the grace of God and exalts the finished work of Christ. No mixture. No going back to the weak and beggarly elements. Just faith in what Christ has already accomplished and the Spirit’s power to walk in it.
Final thought to meditate on: The Apostle Paul could have written long lists of rules. Instead he wrote: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20). That is the secret. When Christ lives in you, the answers to “Can I? Should I? Will I?” become much clearer—because it is no longer you trying to figure it out in your own strength.
May the Lord give you grace to walk worthy of the calling wherewith you are called, standing fast in the liberty of the gospel, taught by grace, and led by the Spirit.
© 2023 Edward R. Cross Revised April 30, 2026
