Yes—according to Romans 8:7, the carnal mind is enmity against God, so people are naturally enemies of God until He saves them.
Romans 8:7 says the carnal mind—the unsaved, unregenerate mind—is enmity against God and is not subject to His law and cannot be. Les Feldick teaches that even outwardly kind and respectable people are enemies of God before believing, because the old Adamic nature is a rebel. Romans 5:10 likewise says that before reconciliation, "we were enemies."
Romans 8:7 — This is the text where Scripture directly says the carnal mind is enmity against God, making it the central verse for this question.
Romans 5:10 — Paul states that believers "were enemies" before being reconciled, showing that unsaved people are naturally enemies of God.
Romans 8:7 states plainly: "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Romans 8:5 sets up the contrast: "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit." Romans 8:6 gives the consequence: "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Paul also writes in Romans 5:10, "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."
Les Feldick teaches that the unsaved person is an enemy of God, even when they do not feel hostile toward Him. He explains that every person is under old Adam until the Lord saves them, and that old Adamic nature is a natural-born rebel against the things of God. That inner rebellion makes them an enemy, regardless of what they say with their lips. Les points to the way people respond: you can talk to good people and they will say, "I don't hate God; I believe in Him," but the book says they are enemies. Before salvation, many were good citizens and respected in their community, yet God saw their mind as His enemy. Les calls the language of Romans 8:7 "strong language" and says that the carnal mind is not just in opposition to God but cannot even be subject to His law. He also describes those who refuse to admit they are sinners or that they have a spiritual lack as being in rebellion—and a rebel is an enemy.
Les Feldick says that the unsaved, unregenerate person is under old Adam, and that mind is enmity against God. The old Adamic nature is a natural-born rebel against the things of God. Because of this, the carnal mind cannot be subject to the law of God—it is not just unwilling, but unable. This is why Scripture calls enemies of God people who may not think of themselves that way.
Yes. Les emphasizes that before God's grace saved them, even good citizens who were respected in their communities were still enemies of God. People may insist, "I love God, I'm not His enemy," but the book says they are. Their old Adamic nature is still in rebellion, even if that hostility is hidden beneath a friendly and helpful outward life. The carnal mind, not outward behavior, is what Scripture calls enmity against God.
Romans 8:6 says "to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Les Feldick says the end result of carnality is spiritual death. In contrast, those who are after the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit, which is the mark of a different mindset altogether. The believer has been reconciled, while the unsaved person remains an enemy until that reconciliation takes place.
Les points to Romans 5:10: "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." Until a person becomes a believer, they are an enemy of God. But before the Lord and His grace saves them, that enemy status is exactly what the whole human race has in common. The people who are no longer enemies are those who are after the Spirit and mind the things of the Spirit.
Profession vs. Reality
Les notes that not everyone who claims to be a Christian is one, showing that outward profession does not prove a person is not an enemy of God.
The Old Adamic Nature Is a Rebel
Les explains that the carnal mind is enmity against God and that the old Adamic nature is a natural-born rebel, so a person is an enemy.
Good Lives Do Not Remove Enmity
Even people who are good citizens and respected in their community are enemies of God before salvation, and God sees their mind as His enemy.
People Deny What the Book Says
Unsaved people may say they love God, but the book says they are at enmity with Him.
The Carnal Mind Cannot Be Subject to God's Law
Les emphasizes that the unsaved person's carnal mind is not just against God but cannot obey God's law.
We Were Enemies Before Believing
Les uses Romans 5:10 to show that people are enemies until they become believers.
The Spirit Brings a Different Mind
Les contrasts the carnal mind with those who are after the Spirit, who mind the things of the Spirit.
Rebellion Makes a Person an Enemy
Les teaches that refusing to admit sin or spiritual need is rebellion, and a rebel is an enemy of God.
Romans 8:5: For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
This verse establishes the contrast between the fleshly mind and the spiritual mind that frames Paul's statement about enmity.
Romans 8:6: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
This shows the outcome of the carnal mind versus the spiritual mind: death versus life and peace.
Romans 8:7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
This is the direct statement that the carnal mind is hostile to God and unable to obey His law.
Romans 5:10: For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Paul reminds believers that they were once enemies of God and were reconciled through Christ's death.
No. Les Feldick says you can talk to good people who insist "I don't hate God," but the book says they are enemies. The difference is that their old Adamic nature is still a rebel, even if they are not consciously aware of their hostility.
No. Les says that before God's grace saved him and many others, they were good citizens and respected in their community, yet God saw them as enemies. The carnal mind is enmity against God regardless of outward behavior.
In Les Feldick's teaching, the carnal mind is the unsaved, unregenerate, natural mind that is still under old Adam. It is a mind in rebellion, not subject to God's law, and it is what Scripture calls enmity against God.
Watch the Teaching: Christ in You — What Galatians 5 and Romans 8:10 Really Mean