What the Natural Man Cannot Do

Romans 8:7-9 KJV

Because the carnal mind is enmity 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.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

The natural/carnal man, the one who lives free of God, likes to revel in what he can do. He sees himself as the master of his own life and sees limitless possibilities for himself. "What the mind can conceive the body can achieve." is but one of his positive thinking mantras.

Here however we learn that there are some things he cannot do:

He cannot be subject to the law of God

I think of the term “subjects” to describe the one who is a citizen of some king’s realm. He is subject to the king but also protected by the king. The carnal man has neither citizenship nor claim to relationship with God's kingdom.

He cannot please God

It is an impossibility. Though some would argue that he doesn't need to please God, many an infidel has found himself wishing he could do so in times of desperation.

He cannot be God's

The carnal man can never belong to God. He is currently possessed of another master and, under that master may never be possessed of the Lord.

But all is not lost! The carnal man may become born again. He may die to self and be raised again through the Spirit. This man, the spiritual one,

·       is subject to the law of God

·       is pleasing to God in Christ and

·       does belong to Christ and Christ to him.