What does it mean that to be carnally minded is death?
To be carnally minded means to be fleshly minded, under the control of old Adam, and lacking eternal life. It results in spiritual death, eternal, because the one who does not have the Son does not have life and remains condemned.
Les explains that to be carnally minded is to be fleshly minded. He notes that sometimes Paul speaks of a carnal believer—one who is saved and in the body of Christ but is not Spirit-filled or Spirit-directed, with priorities still more in the flesh than in the Spirit. Normally, however, the word carnal describes the lost individual still under the control of old Adam, still in the flesh, with nothing of eternal life. Les connects this to Jesus’ words in John’s gospel: he who has the Son has life, but he who does not have the Son does not have life; the wrath of God abides on him, and he is condemned already. So the carnally minded are headed in only one direction: spiritual death, eternal.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
More Questions
What happens to someone who remains carnally minded?
Remaining carnally minded (in the old Adam) leads to eternal separation from God.
How does John's Gospel explain that being carnally minded is death?
Jesus taught that he who has the Son has life, and he who does not have the Son does not have life, but the wrath of God abides on him and he is condemned already — and being carnally minded unto death is the same thing.