According to the Greek dictionary, carnality means to have the nature and characteristics of the flesh (or more simply, it means “fleshly”). What, then, is the flesh? Sometimes it refers to the whole material part of man (1 Corinthians 15:39; Hebrews 5:7), and based on this meaning, carnal sometimes relates to material things like money (Romans 15:27) or to the opposite of our weapons of spiritual warfare (2 Corinthians 10:4). But the word flesh also has a metaphorical sense when it refers to our disposition to sin and to oppose or omit God in our lives. The flesh is characterized by works that include lusts and passions (Galatians 5:19–24; 1 John 2:16); it can enslave (Romans 7:25); and in it is nothing good (Romans 7:18). Based on this meaning of the word flesh, to be carnal means to be characterized by things that belong to the unsaved life (Ephesians 2:3). ¹  The Apostle Paul addresses carnal mindedness particularly in Romans chapter eight. Let’s take a look.

Romans 8:6–7 (KJV)
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Why the Carnal Mind is Deadly

• The scripture states in verse six, to be carnally minded is death.
• The Greek word ‘death’, thanatŏs, does not refer to physical death but spiritual death.
• Spiritual death is the opposite of life in God.

John 10:10 (KJV)
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

• Physical death is both a process, exhibited by the aging process, and a final event.
• Not so with spiritual death.
• Unregenerate people are dead while they are living.
• Their spirits are dead.
• Unbelievers experience the fruit of spiritual death daily.
• Believers, who are undeveloped spiritually, are alive to God in their hearts.
• But because of their yielding to the nature of the flesh, they experience the same lack of victory and the same fruits of death unbelievers experience.

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Spiritually Mindedness Is the Answer

• Paul goes on to finish verse six by saying to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
• Being ‘spiritually minded’ means the entire focus of your being, spirit soul and body, is on ‘the things which emanate from the Spirit’.
• These things begin with God’s Word.
• The Word should always be the primary area of focus for a spiritually minded believer.

John 6:63 (NKJV)
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

• The rewards of focusing on the things of God is life and peace.
• Life, in this verse, is the zoe life of God addressed in Romans 8:2.
• Eternal life does not refer to the length of life.
• It does not mean living forever.
• Every human being lives eternally, whether you come to Jesus or reject Him.
• Where you live eternally is the question.
• When the Bible speaks of eternal life, it speaks to quality of life.
• This life is imparted to your heart the moment you were born again.
• Peace, in this verse, is defined in the original langauge as a state of well-being or a set of favorable circumstances.
• Both life and peace come as the reward of yielding to Spirit controlled living.
• Eternal ‘zoe’ life abides in the spirit of a Jesus man.
• This life comes into your spirit at the time of the new birth.
• The peace of God operates similarly.
• We have positional peace with God by the sacrifice of Jesus.
• Through this positional peace, we can enjoy a ‘here and now’ peace in our everyday life.
• Life and peace are both an ‘inside’ state and an outward manifestation.
• The fruits of the ‘zoe’ life of God and the peace of God, with its favorable circumstances, are God’s will for every human person in the world.

Why the Carnal Mind Is Against God

• In verse seven, Paul states the carnal mind is enmity against God.
• What does that mean, emnity against God?
• The word ‘emnity’ means to be an enemy of, hostile or hating.
• The language is strong and definite.
• One reason why carnal mindedness is considered by God as hostile is stated back in verse six. ‘For to be carnally minded is death.’
• This is purely a black and white issue.
• No grey exists here.
• God is all out against death.
• You cannot side with behaviors which lead to death and walk comfortably with the Prince of Life.
• A second reason why carnal mindedness is considered hostile by heaven is found in the rest of verse seven. For it is, not subject to the law of God.
• The word ‘subject’ means to subordinate, to bring under control, to subordinate, subdue.
• The carnal mind is ‘not subject to the law of God’ meaning it refuses to take orders.
• The mind set on the flesh refuses to takes orders from the law of love.
• It refuses to take orders from God’s Word.
• The carnal mind aspires to nothing higher than a hostile, self-centered, and selfish state.
• And its so for good reason.
• ‘Neither indeed can be’ finishes out the thought.
• The words ‘neither can be’ is the Greek word ‘dynamai’ meaning to not possess capability.
• The carnal mind is not subject to God because it does not have the ability to submit.
• The benefit of having right understanding must be understood.
• The carnal mind lacks capacity to yield to God.
• In fact, it’s impossible.

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• You cannot make the flesh act right or bring it into subjection to the law of God by any means.
• Not even will-power does the trick.
• For, will power is, simply, the flesh trying to deal with the flesh.
• By operating out of your inward man; by yielding to the Holy Spirit within you; by walking out your position in Christ; by tapping into the love of God again and again, you can train your flesh to respond correctly.
• This process is called spiritual growth.
• There are some things that you have to grow in first before you can realize life and peace.
• You have to grow before you can overcome.

Call to Action:

We must make it our determined purpose to grow in God in order to avoid the debilitating death of carnality. In order to walk in life and peace, in order to enjoy the smile of heaven we must come to terms with what it takes to live a godly Christlike life.

Question: What’s your game plan here? How will you accomplish this call to action? Please leave your comments in the comments section below.

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