Who cannot please God according to Romans 8:8?
Romans 8:8 states that they who are in the flesh cannot please God. This describes lost mankind outside the Gospel and outside of being positionally in Christ. In that state, no one can please God, for pleasing Him requires faith, as Hebrews 11:6 confirms.
Les explains that Romans 8:8 is a conclusive thought about the state of lost mankind. When people are outside the Gospel and outside of being positionally in Christ, they are 'in the flesh' and cannot please God. He connects this with Hebrews 11:6, which he calls an absolute of Scripture: "Without faith, it is impossible to please God." Les notes that mankind totally rejects God's clear and precise laws and wants nothing to do with them, because that is human nature. The unbeliever who is an enemy cannot please Him apart from faith.
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
More Questions
Can a person in the flesh please God?
Those who are in the flesh—lost, outside the Gospel, and outside being positionally in Christ—cannot please God.