The carnal mind is enmity against God because it is the unsaved, unregenerate mind that is not subject to God's law, making it God's enemy.
The Bible does not define the carnal mind by outward behavior. It describes a person still under the control of old Adam, whether or not that person would admit to being an enemy of God. Since that mind cannot and will not submit to God's law, God sees it as His enemy. Les Feldick points out that even people who lived moral, respected lives were enemies of God before His grace saved them.
Romans 8:7 — This is the verse that directly says the carnal mind is enmity against God and is not subject to His law.
Romans 8:6 — This verse contrasts being carnally minded with being spiritually minded, showing why the carnal mind's condition is a matter of life and death.
The key passage is Romans 8:6-7. Scripture says, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Then it 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 Bible's plain statement is that the carnal mind is at war with God. It is not merely weak or mistaken; it is enmity—God's enemy. The verse itself explains why: it cannot be subject to God's law. The carnal mind has not been changed by the gospel, so it remains opposed to God and His requirements.
Les Feldick emphasizes that when Paul says the carnal mind, he is talking about the unsaved, unregenerate person—someone in a natural state who has not yet been saved by God's grace. He explains that "enmity" is just another form of the word "enemy," so the carnal mind is literally an enemy of God. Les admits this is strong, hard-to-swallow language. He knows people do not want to hear it, but the book says it. He also points out that most people would deny being enemies of God. If you went up and down the streets of any city telling people they are enemies of God, they would probably swat you. They would say they do not hate God or detest Him, but whether they know it or not, the Word of God says they are at enmity with Him. Even people like Les's listeners, who were good citizens and respected in their communities, were still enemies of God before grace saved them. Les clarifies that the carnal mind is not subject to the law of God and cannot be. He uses the example of a woman who said "I hate God" when she was confronted with God's demands, showing that people can keep old Adam under a good veneer, but they show their true colors when confronted with the demands of God. In this passage, Paul is speaking of the old, sinful nature of lost people.
Les Feldick teaches that the carnal mind in Romans 8:7 is the unsaved, unregenerate person—one still in the natural state, under the control of old Adam. This is not the same as a believer who is merely immature. In Paul's usage, "carnal" can describe a saved Christian who is still fleshly-minded, but it can also describe someone who is totally lost. In Romans 8:7, Paul is talking about the lost person's old, sinful nature.
Les Feldick acknowledges this is a hard truth. He says if you tried to tell people on the streets of Tulsa or any other city that they are enemies of God, they would probably swat you. They would say, "I don't hate God; I don't detest Him." But Les insists that whether they know it or not, the Word of God says they are at enmity with Him. He also reminds his listeners that before grace saved them, most of them were living pretty good lives—good citizens and respected in their communities—yet they were still enemies of God.
Scripture is clear: the carnal mind "is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Les Feldick says this is exactly what the Word of God says, and it is not giving the unbelieving world more free reign than they already have. Because the mind is not subject to God's law, those who are in the flesh—under the control of old Adam—cannot please God. When old Adam is prodded, out it comes, as Les illustrates with the woman who said she hated God.
Carnally Minded Is Death — What Romans 8:5-8 Really Means
again, life and peace. And what kind of life? Eternal life. The eternal life of God Himself has now become part and parcel of every one of us who believe. And it's going to carry throughout all eternity. And we can't comprehend that. I can't any more than I can comprehend the outer edges of space. It is beyond us. My, when I read some of these things, it just boggles the mind.
Enmity means enemy
Les Feldick connects the term "enmity" to "enemy" and applies it to the unsaved person, showing that even people who would never say they hate God are nevertheless at enmity with Him.
The unsaved mind against God
Les shows that the carnal mind belongs to the unsaved, unregenerate person and is not just an enemy but is also not subject to God's law.
Good people are still enemies
Les explains that even those who were good citizens and respected in their communities were, before grace, enemies of God because they had not been changed by the gospel.
Old Adam surfaces when provoked
Using a woman who said "I hate God," Les teaches that old Adam can be hidden under a good veneer but is still there; lost people, whether they admit it or not, are enemies of God.
Carnal mind is God's enemy
Les contrasts the natural unsaved mind with the Spirit-led mind and reinforces that the carnal mind is an enemy of God and cannot be subject to His law.
Two meanings of carnal
Les clarifies Paul's use of "carnal": it can describe a saved but fleshly-minded believer, or a totally unsaved person; in Romans 8:7 it refers to the unsaved mind.
Carnal mind is spiritual death
Les shows that being carnally minded means spiritual death and that the carnal mind is the old sinful nature of lost people, which is why they are enemies of God.
Romans 8:6: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
This verse sets the contrast: a carnal mind leads to spiritual death, while a spiritual mind brings 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 of the question: the carnal mind is God's enemy because it cannot be subject to His law.
Not always. Paul can call a believer "carnal" when that believer is still fleshly-minded. But in Romans 8:7, the carnal mind refers to the old, sinful nature of lost people, and Les Feldick makes this distinction.
Yes. Les Feldick says enmity is just a different form of the word "enemy." So when the Bible says the carnal mind is enmity against God, it is saying that mind is an enemy of God.
From God's perspective, yes, until His grace saves you. Les Feldick says people can be good citizens, respected in their community, and still be enemies of God because they have never been changed by the gospel. The carnal mind is not subject to God's law.
The Bible says it cannot: the carnal mind is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Les Feldick teaches this plainly, adding that those in the flesh cannot please God.
Watch the Teaching: Carnally Minded Is Death — What Romans 8:5-8 Really Means