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"The carnal mind is enmity against God..."

Text: Romans 8:7

A SHARPER PICTURE OF THE CARNAL MINDSET

The apostle Paul intended a sharp contrast to be shown between the two mindsets- spiritual and carnal! In order to dissuade anyone who might be drawn by carnality Paul wrote the following text.

“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God;
for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:7-8

1. The carnal mind is enmity against God

a) A plain statement of truth.

b) A solemn word of warning.

c) No one would desire to be at enmity with God.

2. Why is the carnal mindset considered “enmity against God”?

a) “It is not subject to the law of God”

i) The carnal mind will reject the laws of God.

ii) It will refuse to be subject to the laws of God,

iii) It will listen only to its own dictates!

b) “Nor indeed can be”

i) There is natural resistance against the law of God.

ii) It will be agitated when told that there must be obedience to God and His laws.

3. Those in the flesh cannot please God

a) Those in the flesh is another way of describing “the carnal mindset”

b) It cannot please God because it lacks that essential faith-relationship with God (Cf. Hebrews 11:6).

c) The carnal mindset cannot please God because it is beset with sin problems.