What is the meaning of Romans 8:7? because Verse 7 begins with “because,” linking back to Romans 8:6: “The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace.” Paul explains why death accompanies a flesh-ruled life. Scripture repeatedly ties cause to consequence: “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23); “The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction” (Galatians 6:8). Living by the flesh inevitably leads to separation from God’s life and peace. the mind of the flesh This phrase points to an inward disposition that centers on human desires apart from God. The “natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God… because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14). The fleshly mind evaluates everything by self-interest, seeking gratification rather than God’s glory. It is not merely weak; it is fundamentally oriented away from the Spirit. hostile to God Hostility means open enmity, not innocent ignorance. James 4:4 warns, “Friendship with the world is hostility toward God.” Colossians 1:21 reminds believers that they were once “alienated from God and… hostile in your minds.” The anti-God posture of the flesh shows up when God’s holiness confronts human pride; resistance flares because the flesh treasures autonomy. does not submit to God’s law Rebellion expresses itself in refusal to bow to God’s revealed will. Romans 3:10-12 declares, “There is no one righteous… no one who seeks God.” Psalm 2:1-3 pictures nations conspiring to “cast away” the Lord’s cords. Whether in overt defiance or polite indifference, the unrenewed mind hears God’s commands and chooses its own way instead. nor can it do so The problem is deeper than unwillingness; it is inability. Spiritual deadness renders the flesh powerless to please God: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44). Ephesians 2:1-3 describes humanity as “dead in trespasses,” enslaved to “the cravings of our flesh.” Apart from the Spirit’s regenerating work, submission to God’s law is impossible. summary Romans 8:7 exposes the grim reality of a life governed by the flesh: it is locked in hostility toward God, refuses His authority, and lacks the capacity to change itself. Only the Spirit can liberate the heart from this dead-end mindset and produce true life and peace. |
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