No—God does not expect unbelievers to keep His laws because their carnal mind is enmity against Him and is not subject to His law, neither indeed can be.
Romans 8:7 says the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Les Feldick teaches that God does not expect the lost to live righteously; they are servants of old Adam and are under no demands to keep God's law until He saves them.
Romans 8:7 — This verse directly states that the carnal mind is not subject to God's law and cannot be, answering the question with a definitive no.
Romans 8:7 declares, "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." This verse shows that the unsaved person's mind is hostile to God and incapable of obeying His law. Romans 8:8 continues, "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." Those who are in the flesh—the unsaved—cannot please God through their own efforts or good behavior. Romans 6:20 also says, "For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness." This describes the lost condition of being servants to sin with no obligation to righteousness.
Les Feldick teaches that God does not expect the lost to keep His laws or to live Christian lives. The carnal mind—the person still under the control of old Adam—is enmity against God and is not subject to God's law. Because of this, you cannot legislate Christian morality on the world; it will not work, and God does not want believers to try. Les explains that when the lost are servants of old Adam, they are under no demands to live righteously. So far as God is concerned, unbelievers are enemies and aliens, even when they appear to be good citizens or respected people. They may keep old Adam under control or put on a good veneer, but when confronted with God's demands, they show they are enemies. Yet God does not stop loving His enemies; He keeps pouring out grace and offering salvation through Christ.
Les Feldick teaches that the carnal mind—anyone still under the control of old Adam who has never had the power of the gospel operate in their life—cannot be made to obey God's law. The law of God does not apply to them as a means of forcing righteous living. Just as an American is not under Russian law, lost people are not under God's control; they are enemies and aliens. Consequently, God does not expect them to keep His law, because they are not subject to it, neither indeed can they be.
Les Feldick clarifies that being a good citizen, being respected, or living a good life does not change what God sees. Before salvation, even those who looked good were enemies of God. Romans 8:8 says they that are in the flesh cannot please God. The old Adamic nature remains rebellious even when it is kept under control or covered with a good veneer. God looks beneath the outward actions at the person's nature.
Les Feldick points out that God's primary expectation for the lost is not morality but salvation and reconciliation. Even while they are enemies, God does not stop loving them. He keeps pouring out His grace and offering salvation through the death of His Son. Romans 5:10 says, "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." Rather than trying to force the world to obey His law, God works to change hearts through the gospel.
The Carnal Mind Is Enmity Against God
Les Feldick explains that the carnal mind is anyone still under the control of old Adam who has never had the power of the gospel operate in their life, and that mind is enmity against God.
God Doesn't Expect Unbelievers to Live Righteously
Les teaches that the carnal unbeliever is not subject to the law of God and cannot be, so God does not expect the lost to live righteously—they are servants of old Adam.
When Confronted, Unbelievers Show They Are Enemies
Les shows that people may keep old Adam under control or put on a good veneer, but when confronted with God's demands, they reveal that they are enemies of God.
Before Salvation We Were Enemies Even While Living Good Lives
Les reminds that even those who were good citizens and respected were still enemies of God before grace saved them, showing that God sees the nature, not just the outward life.
Unbelievers Are Enemies and Cannot Be Forced to Obey God
Les reaffirms that the carnal mind is not subject to God's law and cannot be, so you cannot force the unbelieving world to live a Christian life.
The Unregenerate Person Is an Enemy of God
Les connects the carnal mind to the unsaved, unregenerate person and states that such a person is not subject to God's law.
Lost People Are Enemies and Aliens but God Loves Them
Les compares lost people to non-citizens who are not under the law, explaining they are enemies and aliens, yet God still loves them and offers salvation.
Why Every Believer Still Struggles With Sin — Romans 7:15-25
You see it? And it's the same way for you and I in our Christian experience. The things that we know we should not do, we're constantly finding ourselves doing it when we're in a defeat. And the things that we should do, oh, it's so easy to say, well, I'm too tired. I'm going to stay home tonight. I'm not going to go to Bible study, see? And this is exactly how it works.
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 core verse showing that the unsaved person's mind is hostile to God and cannot submit to His law.
Romans 8:8: So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
This confirms that those still in the flesh—the unsaved—cannot please God regardless of outward behavior.
Romans 6:20: For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
This shows that while lost people are servants of sin, they have no obligation to righteousness.
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.
This verse shows that unsaved people are God's enemies, yet God reconciles them through Christ's death while they are still enemies.
No. Les Feldick teaches that the carnal mind of the unbeliever is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. God does not legislate Christian morality on the world, because it will not work.
No. Romans 8:8 says they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Les Feldick explains that God looks at the person's nature, and the old Adamic nature is enmity against God.
Yes. Les Feldick teaches that the lost person, whether he realizes it or not, is an enemy of God. The carnal mind is enmity against God, even if the person claims to love God.
Les Feldick teaches that because the carnal mind is not subject to God's law and cannot be, you cannot legislate Christian morality. The only thing that works is the gospel operating in a person's life.
Watch the Teaching: Carnally Minded Is Death — What Romans 8:5-8 Really Means