What is the meaning of Romans 8:8?

Those

• Paul is speaking of people as they naturally are, descendants of Adam, born with a bent toward sin (Romans 3:10-12; Psalm 51:5).

• “Those” draws a line between two humanities: those in the flesh and those in the Spirit (Romans 8:5).

• Jesus made the same distinction: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6).

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controlled by the flesh

• “Controlled” points to a dominating influence, not a momentary lapse. Life is habitually steered by desires that run counter to God’s will (Ephesians 2:3; Galatians 5:17).

• “Flesh” means the fallen human nature with its self-centered passions—everything that resists the rule of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-21).

• This control shows up in mind-set: “The mind of the flesh is death” (Romans 8:6) and cannot submit to God’s law (Romans 8:7).

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cannot please God

• The verdict is absolute. No amount of moral effort, religious ritual, or worldly success can bridge the gap (Isaiah 64:6; Titus 3:5).

• Pleasing God requires faith that unites us to Christ and His righteousness (Hebrews 11:6; Philippians 3:9).

• Only the Spirit frees us from flesh-dominion, enabling true obedience and fruit that delights the Father (Romans 8:9-11; Galatians 5:22-24; Colossians 1:10).

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summary

Romans 8:8 delivers a sober but hopeful truth: left to ourselves, we are powerless to live lives that satisfy God. Yet by turning from flesh-reliance to Spirit-dependence through faith in Christ, we move from the realm of “cannot” to the freedom of “well done.”