Yes — until they are saved, people's unsaved carnal nature makes them enemies of God, whether they recognize it or not.
Romans 8:7 says the carnal mind is enmity against God and is not subject to His law. Les Feldick teaches that lost people may deny hating God, but the old Adamic nature underneath remains hostile. Even respectable citizens can be enemies in God's sight. Yet God keeps loving His enemies and offers reconciliation through Christ.
Romans 8:7 — States the core truth that the carnal mind is enmity against God and cannot be subject to His law.
Romans 5:10 — Shows that believers once were enemies and needed reconciliation through Christ's death.
Romans 1:30 — Lists 'haters of God' among the marks of unrighteous humanity.
Romans 8:6-8 draws a sharp contrast: "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." The text does not merely describe bad feelings about God; it describes the unsaved mind-set itself as active opposition ("enmity") to God. Romans 5:10 confirms that everyone begins in this position: "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 uses "enemies" to describe the human condition before reconciliation. Romans 1:30 lists "haters of God" among the marks of a humanity that has turned from God.
Les Feldick teaches that the word "enmity" in Romans 8:7 is simply another form of "enemy," and it describes the unsaved, unregenerate person. He says people can keep old Adam under control and appear decent outwardly, but when they are confronted with what God demands, their true colors may come out — as when one woman responded, "I hate God." Whether lost people realize it or not, they are enemies of God. Les points out that most believers, before grace saved them, were good citizens and respected in their communities, yet in God's sight they were enemies. He is amazed that society holds together as well as it does, because unsaved people are not subject to God's law. At the same time, God does not stop loving His enemies; He keeps pouring out grace and offering salvation, exactly what Romans 5:10 describes.
Les says you could walk up and down the streets of a major city and tell people they are enemies of God, and they would probably say, "No, I'm not an enemy of God. I don't hate God." But the book says they are at enmity with Him. A person can keep old Adam under control and put on a good veneer, yet still be an enemy underneath.
Yes, according to Les. He says that before God's grace saved us, most of us were probably living pretty good lives; we were good citizens and respected in our communities, but so far as God was concerned we were enemies. Outward decency does not remove the rebellion of the old Adamic nature.
No. Les stresses that God does not stop loving His enemies. He keeps pouring out His grace and offering salvation. This is why Romans 5:10 speaks of being reconciled "when we were enemies."
Les uses the illustration of not being a citizen of a country: a non-citizen is not under that government's control. Spiritually, lost people are not under God's control — they are aliens and enemies. Romans 8:7 says the carnal mind is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Les says he is amazed society holds together as well as it does, since unsaved people are enemies rather than subjects of God's law.
Carnally Minded Is Death — What Romans 8:5-8 Really Means
there is so much bigger again than our sun that it would take. I don't remember how many hundreds of thousands of our suns to be equal in size to the star Centaurus. Now that's the infinite God. That's eternity. And Hey, that's where we're headed. We're headed to that infinite eternal period of eternal life. Time only it won't be time, I guess, but listen, this is what we're dealing with.
Hidden Hatred Comes Out
Les explains that people can control or cover the old Adamic nature, but when pressured by God's demands they betray true enmity — even saying 'I hate God.'
Respectable People Were Still Enemies
Les reminds believers that before salvation many were good citizens and respected in the community, yet God saw them as enemies.
Enmity vs. Enemy
Les demonstrates that 'enmity' is just another form of 'enemy'; the unsaved, unregenerate person is an enemy and cannot be subject to God's law.
The Book Says So
Les shows that lost people may insist they don't hate God, but Scripture says they are at enmity with Him.
God Keeps Loving His Enemies
Les uses the foreign-citizen analogy to show lost people are aliens and enemies, but immediately adds God still loves them and offers reconciliation.
Enemies Until We Believe
Les points to Romans 5:10 and Romans 8:6 to show a person is an enemy until he becomes a believer.
Down-Deep Hatred
Les teaches that unrighteous people are 'haters of God' deep in their hearts, even if they don't march with placards, because they oppose what God wants.
Romans 8:6: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Shows the stakes of the two mindsets: the carnal mindset ends in death.
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.
The central verse for why people are considered enemies of God.
Romans 8:8: So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Confirms that the carnal person cannot do what pleases God.
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.
Reveals that all believers were once enemies and needed reconciliation.
Romans 1:30: Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Scripture includes 'haters of God' among the traits of unrighteous humanity.
Les says the issue is not their words but the old Adamic nature inside them. The carnal mind is enmity against God, and even someone who thinks he loves God can show hatred of God when confronted with His demands.
Yes, according to Les. He says there is basically no difference; it is just a different form of the same word. The carnal mind is said to be enmity against God, meaning it is an enemy of God.
Yes. Les says God doesn't stop loving His enemies; He keeps pouring out grace and offering salvation. That is why Romans 5:10 says we were reconciled while we were enemies.
Scripture says no: 'So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.' Les connects this to the lost person who is under control of old Adam and not subject to God's law.
Watch the Teaching: Carnally Minded Is Death — What Romans 8:5-8 Really Means