What does Romans 8:7 say the carnal mind is?
Romans 8:7 says the carnal mind is enmity. It belongs to anyone still under the control of the old Adam, who has never had the gospel's power operate in their life. That mind is a rebel against the things of God, making the person an enemy rather than a lover of God.
Les explains that Romans 8:7 throws a curve at most people because it says the carnal mind is enmity. He defines the carnal mind as anyone still under the control of the old Adam, someone who has never had the power of the gospel operate in their life. Many people say they do not hate God, that they love God and believe in Him and are not His enemy. But the book says they are, and the book does not lie. Their old Adamic nature is still a rebel, a natural born rebel against the things of God. If you are a rebel, then you are an enemy. Les notes the expression, 'with friends like that, who needs enemies?'
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
More Questions
Is Romans 8:7 about a carnal Christian or an unsaved person?
In Romans 8:7 Paul is talking about the unsaved carnal person—someone still in the natural state—not about the carnal Christian.
Why can't the carnal mind be subject to God's law?
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, it is not subject to God's law and cannot be subject to it.