Let them endeavour to improve in spirituality of mind ; let them guard against relapses, which will destroy their peace ; and let their eyes be fixed upon the eternal state, where their present bliss shall be consummated in glory.]
Rom. viii. 7, 8. The carnal mind is enw,ity 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.
TO those who know not what is in the heart of man, it must appear strange that persons not very dissimilar in their outward conduct should be ad- judged to widely different states in the eternal world. But in the most imperfect of the regenerate, there is a predominant principle of love to God ; whereas in the best of unregenerate men there is a rooted enmity against him : and this alone places their characters as far asunder as heaven and hell.
St. Paul has been speaking of the final issues to which a carnal and a spiritual mind will lead : and because it may seem unaccountable that the one should terminate in death, while the other is produc- tive of eternal life and peace, he assigns the reason of it, and shews that the carnal mind is enmity against God, and that a person under its influence is inca- pable of rendering him any acceptable service.
In the Apostle's words there are three things to be considered ;
I. His assertion —
The mind here spoken of, is that which actuates every unregenerate man —
[" The carnal mind" does not necessarily imply a dis- position grossly sensual ; it is (as it is explained in ver. 5) a savouring of earthly and carnal things in preference to things spiritual and heavenly. And this is the disposition that rules in the heart of every child of man ]
This " mind is enmity against God " —