Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the Law of God neither, indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 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, ROM 8:7-9.

To correctly understand this verse, we should notice ROM 8:1-9. This passage teaches thre only two classes of men: carnal and spiritual.

There are so many people who think they can live as though there is no repentance or sanctification. They act as though they can continue to live in sin, that they can remain carnal and still have a pardon.

The verses in this text and in the preceding chapter clearly teaches us that there are only two classes of men—carnal and spiritual. There is no such thing as the Carnal Christian.

Some would take 1CO 3:1-3 to establish a third class of people—the carnal Christian. This is a tragic misunderstanding of Scripture. There is no such thing as being able to remain carnal and be a Christian.

1CO 3:1-3 says, "And I brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal and walk as men?"

This passage of Scripture is taken by many people to mean that we can continue to live in envy, strife, and division as a class known as carnal Christians. They would teach that we can remain carnal, walk as men, and still be considered babes in Christ. That's not, however, the teaching there.

This passage of Scripture is teaching us that by nature we are carnal. As a result of our fallen nature, we have envy and strife. At the time the Spirit first quickens us, we are walking in these things; but it is the immediate work of the Spirit to cultivate these things, to identify them, and to weed them out.

That is the work of grace in the heart.

As soon as the Spirit begins the work of grace in the heart, sin becomes sinful. It becomes abominable; it becomes hateful, and the immediate effect is the work of sanctification.