The Carnal Mind Enmity Against God

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Romans 8:7-8

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.…

The apostle does not say it is opposed to God merely, but it is positive enmity. It is not black, but blackness; it is not rebellious, it is rebellion; it is evil in the concrete, sin in the essence. It is unnecessary, therefore, to explain that it is "enmity against God." It does not charge manhood with an aversion merely to the dominion, laws, or doctrines of Jehovah; but it strikes a deeper and a surer blow.

I. THE TRUTHFULNESS OF THIS GREAT STATEMENT. It needs no proof since it is written in God's Word. But did I need witnesses, I would conjure up —

1. The nations of antiquity, and tell you of the awful deeds of mankind.

2. The delusions of the heathen. I would drag their gods before you; I would let you witness their horrid obscenities, the diabolical rites which are to them most sacred things. Then after you have heard what the natural religion of man is, I would ask what must his irreligion be?

3. The best of men who have been always the readiest to confess their depravity.

4. Your conscience. Didst thou never hear the heart say, "I wish there were no God"? Have not all men at times wished that our religion were not true? Now suppose a man wished another dead, would not that show that he hated him? Or has not thine heart ever desired, since there is a God, that He were a little less holy. Has it never said, "Would to God these sins were not forbidden"?

II. THE UNIVERSALITY OF THIS EVIL.

1. As to all persons. There is in the carnal mind of an infant, enmity against God; it is not developed, but it lieth there. Young lions when tamed and domesticated still have the wild nature, and were liberty given them, would prey as fiercely as others. So with the child. And if this applies to children, equally does it include every class of men.

2. At all times. "Oh," say some, "it may be true that we are at times opposed to God, but surely we are not always so." Yes, but mark, the wolf may sleep, but it is a wolf still; the sea is the house of storms, even when it is glassy as a lake; and the heart, when we perceive not its ebullitions, is still the same dread volcano.

3. The whole of the mind is enmity against God. Look at —

(1) Our memory. We recollect evil things far better than those which savour of piety.

(2) The affections. We love a creature, but very seldom the Creator; and when the heart is given to Jesus, it is prone to wander.

(3) The imagination. Only give man something that shall well-nigh intoxicate him, and how will his imagination dance with joy!

(4) The judgment — how ill it decides.

(5) The conscience — how blind it is. I might review all our powers, and unite upon the brow of each, "Traitor against God!"

III. THE GREAT ENORMITY OF THIS GUILT.

1. What is God to us? He stands to us in the relationship of a Creator; and from that fact He claims to be our King. He is our Legislator, our Lawmaker; and then, to make our crime still worse and worse, He is the ruler of providence; for it is He who keeps us from day to day; and I ask, is it not high treason against the Emperor of heaven that we should be at enmity with God?

2. But the crime may be seen to be worse when we think of what God is. God is the God of love. Do you hate God because He loves you?

IV. THE DOCTRINES TO BE DEDUCED FROM THIS. Is the carnal mind at enmity against God?

1. Then salvation cannot be by merit, it must be by grace.

2. Then an entire change of our nature is necessary.

3. This change must be worked by a power beyond our own. An enemy may possibly make himself a friend; but enmity cannot.

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