A reprobate mind is the mind God gives a person over to after they refuse to retain Him in their knowledge.
The clearest scriptural foundation is Romans 1:28, where Paul says God 'gave them over to a reprobate mind.' Les Feldick defines this in terms of doing things that are not natural or normal, and he connects it to Romans 8:7's statement that the carnal mind is enmity against God. Even so, he insists that no one is so steeped in sin that God cannot save them.
Romans 1:28 — It contains the exact phrase 'reprobate mind' and shows that God gives this mind after people refuse to retain Him in their knowledge.
Romans 8:7 — It describes the unsaved carnal mind as enmity against God, which Les uses to explain the condition behind a reprobate mind.
Romans 1:28 states: 'And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.' In the following verses, the biblical description of those who are given over lists behaviors such as unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; being whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful. Romans 8:7 speaks of the same unsaved condition: 'Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.'
Les Feldick explains that a reprobate mind develops when people do not want to retain God in their knowledge, and God gives them over to that mind. He says the result is doing 'those things which are not convenient' — things that are not natural or normal — and that Romans 1:29 to the end gives a vivid description of their community. He links this to Romans 8, where the carnal mind is enmity against God and not subject to His law. Even respectable people can be enemies of God, because the old Adamic nature is a natural-born rebel. God does not expect an unbeliever to keep His law, because that nature is anything but subject to it. Yet Les's consistent gospel note is that there is no sinner so steeped in sin that God will not save and make him a trophy of His grace.
Romans 1:28 shows the root cause: 'they did not like to retain God in their knowledge.' In response, God gave them over to a reprobate mind. Les explains that a reprobate mind is one that causes people to do those things which are not convenient — things that are not natural or normal. The verses that follow, beginning at verse 29, give a vivid description of the community that results.
The Bible presents it as a direct response: because they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind. Les points to the rebellious state of the old Adamic nature — it is a natural-born rebel that will not do what God says, will not admit it is a sinner, and is not subject to the law of God. That state of mind is enmity against God, and it is what makes people His enemies.
Les connects the reprobate mind to the carnal mind in 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.' He explains that Paul can use 'carnal' in two ways — for a saved but fleshly-minded believer, or for a totally unsaved person who is still lost and carnal. When it describes an unsaved mind, it is God's enemy, no matter how good the person may appear.
Les is emphatic that yes. He says there is not a soul on the planet so steeped in sin and wickedness that God will not save in a minute, clean up his life, and make him a trophy of His grace. God's grace can be greater than any sin, no matter how vile the sinner.
Grace Greater Than Any Sin
No matter how vile or steeped in sin a person is, God's grace can reach them and make them a trophy of His grace — a hopeful answer for those worried about a reprobate mind.
Defining a Reprobate Mind
The reprobate mind is God's giving-over when people do not want to retain God in their knowledge, and it leads them to do things that are not natural or normal; the rest of Romans 1 describes that community.
Rebellious State of Mind
The same rebellious state of mind that refuses to obey God and refuses to admit sin makes a person God's enemy.
The Carnal Mind Is God's Enemy
Before salvation, even good citizens who were respected in the community were enemies of God, because the carnal mind is enmity against God.
Old Adamic Nature Is a Rebel
A person can claim to love God, but the old Adamic nature is a natural-born rebel, and that rebellion is what makes them an enemy until grace changes them.
Two Uses of the Word Carnal
Paul can use 'carnal' in Romans 8 for a saved but fleshly-minded Christian and also for a totally unsaved, lost person who is still carnal.
The Unbeliever Is Not Subject to God's Law
God does not expect an unbeliever to keep His law, because the Adamic nature is not subject to it; this is consistent with the giving-over in Romans 1.
The Carnal Mind Is Enmity Against God
The carnal, unsaved mind is enmity against God and is not subject to the law of God, so unsaved people are not His friends but His enemies.
Romans 1:28: And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
The exact verse where the phrase 'reprobate mind' appears and where God's giving-over is described.
Romans 1:29-31: Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
The vivid list of behaviors that fill a community of people with reprobate minds.
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.
Shows that the unsaved, carnal mind is God's enemy and cannot be subject to His law.
Les says it is the mind God gives a person over to after they refuse to retain God in their knowledge. People with that mind do things that are not normal or natural, and Romans 1:29-31 gives a vivid description of their community.
Les ties it to the carnal mind, which Paul says is enmity against God and not subject to His law. Even people who outwardly claim to love God can be His enemies because the old Adamic nature is a rebel.
Les says yes — there is no one so steeped in sin and wickedness that God will not save in a minute and make a trophy of His grace.
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