God sees the carnal mind as His enemy because the carnal mind is enmity against God — it is not subject to His law, neither indeed can be.
Romans 8:7 plainly states that the carnal mind is enmity against God and is not, and cannot be, subject to God's law. Les Feldick teaches that this carnal mind is the sin-bent, anti-God nature inherited from Adam. Until a person experiences salvation, that old nature makes them God's enemy regardless of their outward goodness or respectability.
Romans 8:5-7 — This is the key passage where Scripture contrasts the fleshly mind with the spiritual mind and declares the carnal mind to be enmity against God.
Romans 8:7 — This verse directly answers the question by explaining why the carnal mind is God's enemy: it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
The Bible draws a clear line between two kinds of people: those who are after the flesh and those who are after the Spirit. Those after the flesh mind the things of the flesh, while those after the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit. To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Verse 7 gives the reason: "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." The carnal mind is not neutral or merely weak — it is actively hostile to God and completely incapable of submitting to His law.
Les teaches that the carnal mind is the mind we are born with — the old Adamic nature that is sin-bent and anti-God. In Romans 8, Paul is speaking of people who are living under the control of old Adam, not necessarily people who look outwardly bad or criminal. Les stresses that many good, respectable, church-going people are still enemies of God because their old Adamic nature is a natural-born rebel against the things of God. Les also points out that the word "carnal" can be used in two ways: it can describe a carnal Christian — a believer who is saved but still fleshly-minded — or it can describe a totally lost, unregenerate person. In Romans 8:5-7, the context is the lost person whose carnal mind is enmity against God. That mind is not subject to God's law and cannot be. Les says this is strong language, but it is exactly what the Word of God says. Being carnally minded is spiritual death — not the end of existence, but eternal separation from God. Les emphasizes that these lost people are headed in only one direction: spiritual death for all eternity, unless they step into salvation.
The carnal mind is the mind we inherit from Adam — the old sin-bent personality that is anti-God. It functions in a normal, physically healthy body, but that person is under the control of old Adam. In Romans 8, the word "flesh" refers to this old Adamic nature. Les notes that "carnal" can also describe a believer who is still fleshly-minded, but in Romans 8 the context is the unsaved, unregenerate person who has nothing of eternal life in him.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, it is not subject to the law of God and cannot be. Les emphasizes that it is not simply that such people refuse to submit — they are incapable of doing so. Their old Adamic nature is a rebel, and a rebel is an enemy. As Les says, this is strong language, but it is what the Bible teaches.
No. Les Feldick teaches that good people often say, "I love God, I believe in Him, I'm not His enemy." But the Book says they are, because their old Adamic nature is still a rebel. Being a good citizen, a church member, or a respectable person does not change the fact that the carnal mind is enmity against God.
To be carnally minded is death — spiritual death, not annihilation. Les teaches that lost people are headed in only one direction: eternal spiritual death. He connects this with Jesus' teaching that he who has the Son has life, and he who does not have the Son does not have life. The carnal mind leads to eternal separation from God and the lake of fire.
The Carnal Mind Is Sin-Bent and Anti-God
Les introduces the concept that people are born with a personality that is sin-bent and anti-God, and explains that in Romans 8 'flesh' refers to old Adam.
Carnally Minded Is Spiritual Death
Les explains Romans 8:6-7, showing that the carnal mind is a lost person's old sinful nature and that the carnal mind is an enemy of God.
Enmity Means Enemy
Les shows that 'enemy' and 'enmity' are the same word in different forms, and that the carnal mind is not subject to God's law and cannot be.
The Strong Language of Romans 8:7
Les highlights that the carnal, unsaved mind is enmity against God and is not subject to God's law, calling it strong language.
Two Uses of the Word Carnal
Les clarifies that 'carnal' can describe a saved but fleshly-minded Christian or a totally unsaved person, depending on the context.
The Flesh Means the Old Adamic Nature
Les teaches that the mind we are born with — inherited from Adam — is enmity against God, and being fleshly-minded is spiritual death.
Good People Are Still God's Enemies
Les addresses the objection that good people love God, explaining that their old Adamic nature is still a natural-born rebel and therefore they are God's enemies.
Lost People Are Headed for Eternal Spiritual Death
Les emphasizes that the lost individual is still under old Adam and is headed only one direction: eternal spiritual death.
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 sets up the fundamental contrast between those controlled by old Adam and those controlled by the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:6: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
This verse reveals the consequence of the carnal mind — spiritual death — as opposed to the life and peace of the spiritual mind.
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 answering the question — the carnal mind is God's enemy because it is both opposed to God and incapable of submitting to His law.
Yes. Les Feldick teaches that the old Adamic nature in every unsaved person is a rebel, so even people who say they love God are still God's enemies according to Romans 8:7. The carnal mind is enmity against God.
Les says there is no difference — it is just a different form of the same word. The carnal mind is an enemy of God.
It means the unsaved, carnal mind is incapable of submitting to God's law because it is in a state of enmity against God. Les emphasizes that this is not just about bad people; the natural-born nature is anti-God and rebellious.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About the Old Sin Nature