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.

Beloved, the subject matter of the Scripture before us for consideration is very solemn.

Scripture so clearly teaches us that by nature we are all carnal, sold under sin. We want to notice the carnal mind in contrast with the Spirit of Christ. This topic is important because it measures in our hearts where we are standing in the sight of God.

By nature we all have a carnal mind. By nature we all have a mind that goes after the things of this world and the things of the flesh, but verse 7 says, "...the carnal mind is enmity against God."

In Adam we all fell. In Adam we all disobeyed God. Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden, and he was promised life eternal for one reason: if he would obey. His was to obey the command not eat of the forbidden tree, the tree of knowledge of good and evil. If he disobeyed, he would die.

Now Adam disobeyed, and this is why death has come into the world, "...by one man's disobedience many were made sinners...," ROM 5:19.

This is why we all have spiritual death dwelling in our hearts by nature. Scripture teaches us that we are all, "...dead in trespasses and sins" by nature, EPH 2:1.

This spiritual death means that we have a carnal mind or a mind which is not subject to the will of God, "For to be carnally minded is death...," ROM 8:6. Our text deals with the carnal mind as being enmity against God. "...for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be."

In the text we read, "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God," V:8. This tells us is that if we have a carnal mind, doing the things that please the flesh, walking, "...according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience," EPH 2:2, we cannot please God.

The carnal mind is not willing to obey God. That's what a carnal mind — disobedient to God.

We must ask ourselves if we yet have that carnal mind. Is our conversation still, "...in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and the mind...," EPH 2:3, or do we have the Spirit of Christ? There is such a contrast between the two.