Romans 8:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

NIV: The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.

NASB: because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,

CSB: The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God's law. Indeed, it is unable to do so.

NLT: For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.

KJV: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

NKJV: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

Paul has written that a non-Christian's mind is set on the things of the flesh. That means his or her thoughts are focused on meeting sinful, selfish wants and needs and nothing else. This way of thinking, like all sin, leads to death.

Paul goes further in this verse. The mind set only on the flesh in this way is anti-God. It is against God. It must serve self above all else, including God. This is the mindset of "the world," which says, "Submit to God's law? But what if that keeps me from getting what I want?" No, Paul writes, the mind set only on serving self cannot submit to God's law. That person is not capable of obeying God, no matter how religious he or she might be.

It's important to be clear. Paul's teaching here does not allow for the possibility that a Christian might live in the Spirit sometimes and in the flesh at other times. Christians live in the Spirit. Period. Even when we are diverted or distracted by sin (1 John 1:9–10), that's not because it is who we are. That's not the path we're on—sin is a deviation from who we are in Christ (1 John 3:4–6).

Romans 8:1–11 begins with an enormous declaration about the grace of God: There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. After describing how this is possible, thanks to the life and death of Jesus, Paul compares two kinds of life. One is life in the Holy Spirit, for those who are in Christ, the other is a life lived according to the flesh. Those in the flesh, meaning non-Christians, are hostile to God. Christians have the Spirit; those who do not are not Christians. Because the Spirit is in us, we will be resurrected from the dead as Jesus was.

Romans 8 begins and ends with declarations of the Christian's absolute security before God. There is no condemnation for those in Christ, and nothing will ever be able to separate us from His love. Having believed the gospel, we now live in the Spirit of God. That allows us to call God Abba Father. We suffer with Christ, and we suffer along with all creation while we wait for God to reveal us as His sons. With the help of the Spirit, we are confident that God is for us and loves us in Christ.

In Romans 7, Paul revealed his frustration of trying to do good only to be thwarted by his sin. He begins Romans 8, though, with the triumphant statement that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. We live in the Spirit, and we relate to God as a child does to a father. The Spirit helps us in this season of suffering along with all of creation while we wait for our adoption to be complete with the redemption of our bodies. We are confident, though, that God is for us and nothing can separate us from His love.

The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: salvation by grace alone through faith alone. His intent is to explain the good news of Jesus Christ in accurate and clear terms. As part of this effort, Paul addresses the conflicts between law and grace, between Jews and Gentiles, and between sin and righteousness. As is common in his writing, Paul closes out his letter with a series of practical applications.