The Enmity of the Flesh

In the faith journey, believers often grapple with an internal tension: the persistent struggle between aligning with God’s will and succumbing to personal desires. Why do we frequently find ourselves drawn toward self-gratification despite knowing what is right? The Apostle Paul addresses this profound dilemma in Romans 8:7: “Because the mind set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot” (English Standard Version). This declaration unveils a stark reality about human nature—our natural inclination is not merely indifferent to God but actively opposed to Him. Centuries earlier, the prophet Jeremiah echoed a similar sentiment: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds” (Jeremiah 17:9-10, ESV).

These scriptures confront us with the depth of our fallen condition, a truth central to the evangelical understanding of the Gospel. They reveal that apart from divine intervention, humanity is enslaved to sin, incapable of pleasing God or submitting to His righteous standards. Yet, this is not the end of the story. Romans 8 begins with the triumphant assurance of “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1, ESV) and concludes with the promise that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39, ESV). Between these affirmations lies a transformative message: through the Holy Spirit, believers can overcome the hostility of the flesh and live in harmony with God.

This blog post explores Romans 8:7’s assertion that the mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God and incapable of submitting to His law. We will examine how Jeremiah 17:9-10 reinforces this message and draw connections with associated scriptures. Through exegetical analysis, theological reflection, and practical application, we aim to illuminate the significance of this teaching for the Church and the believer’s life.

Exegetical Analysis

Romans 8:7 in Context

Romans 8 is a cornerstone of Pauline theology, offering a vision of life transformed by the Holy Spirit. The chapter opens with liberation—“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1, ESV)—and progresses to describe freedom from “the law of sin and death” through the Spirit (Romans 8:2-4, ESV). Paul contrasts two modes of existence: life according to the flesh and life according to the Spirit. He writes, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:5-6, ESV). Within this dichotomy, Romans 8:7 emerges as a pivotal statement: “Because the mind set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”

To unpack this verse, we turn to the original Greek. The phrase “the mind set on the flesh” is to phronēma tēs sarkos. Phronēma (from phroneō, “to think” or “to set one’s mind on”) refers to a mindset or disposition, the governing orientation of one’s thoughts and will (Thayer, 1889). Sarkos, from sarx (“flesh”), in Pauline usage often denotes the sinful human nature rather than merely the physical body (Moo, 1996). Thus, Paul describes a mind fixated on sinful desires—whether sensual, material, or self-centered—rather than on God.

This mindset “is hostile to God,” employing echthra (from echthros, “enemy”), which signifies enmity or active opposition. The fleshly mind is not passively resistant but antagonistic, inherently at odds with God’s nature and purposes. Paul elaborates: “for it does not submit to God’s law.” The verb hupotassō (“to submit” or “to subject oneself”) implies voluntary obedience or alignment under authority. Here, nomos (“law”) likely refers broadly to God’s moral will, encompassing the Mosaic Law and His righteous standards.

The final clause, “indeed, it cannot,” uses oude dynatai (“nor is it able”), emphasizing an inherent incapacity. The flesh lacks the power to obey God, not merely the willingness. This reflects Paul’s broader anthropology: apart from grace, human nature is enslaved to sin, as seen in Romans 7:18: “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out” (ESV). Romans 8:7 thus diagnoses the unregenerate state—hostile, rebellious, and impotent in spiritual matters.

Jeremiah 17:9-10: The Deceitful Heart

Turning to the Old Testament, Jeremiah 17:9-10 offers a parallel depiction of human corruption. Amid Judah’s impending judgment, Jeremiah warns: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9, ESV). The Hebrew lev (“heart”) encompasses the mind, will, and emotions—the totality of one’s inner being (Holladay, 1988). “Deceitful” (akov, from aqov, “crooked” or “treacherous”) suggests an insidious tendency to mislead, while “desperately sick” (anush, “incurable”) conveys a condition beyond human remedy (Koehler & Baumgartner, 1994). The rhetorical question “who can understand it?” underscores the heart’s inscrutability to all but God.

Verse 10 reveals divine omniscience: “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds” (ESV). “Mind” here is kilyah (“kidneys”), a metaphor for the innermost thoughts and motives (Waltke, 2007). God alone penetrates the heart’s deceit, judging righteously based on actions and their roots. Jeremiah 17:9-10 portrays humanity as inwardly corrupt, self-deceived, and accountable to a holy God.

Connecting the Texts

Romans 8:7 and Jeremiah 17:9-10 converge on the fallenness of human nature. Paul’s fleshly mind, hostile and unsubmissive, mirrors Jeremiah’s deceitful heart, leading astray from God’s truth. Both emphasize incapacity—Paul’s “it cannot” parallels Jeremiah’s “desperately sick”—and imply a need for external redemption. While Paul focuses on the mind’s rebellion against God’s law, Jeremiah highlights the heart’s duplicity, yet both diagnose a pervasive spiritual malady requiring divine intervention.

Theological Discussion

Evangelical Perspective: Original Sin and Total Depravity

These scriptures anchor the doctrines of original sin and total depravity. Original sin, derived from Genesis 3 and Romans 5:12, teaches that all humanity inherits a sinful nature from Adam’s disobedience. Total depravity, a hallmark of Reformed theology embraced by many evangelicals, asserts that sin corrupts every aspect of human nature—mind, will, emotions, and body—rendering us unable to seek or please God apart from grace.

Romans 8:7 exemplifies this: the fleshly mind’s enmity and incapacity reflect a total inability to conform to God’s will. John Calvin commented, “The carnal mind is not merely opposed to God, but is enmity itself,” highlighting its radical corruption. Similarly, Jeremiah 17:9’s portrayal of the heart as deceitful and incurable aligns with this view, a point often stressed by Puritan theologians like Thomas Watson, who urged self-examination in light of such texts.

This depravity does not mean humans are utterly evil but that no faculty remains untainted by sin. Ephesians 2:1-3 reinforces this: “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world…carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (ESV). Colossians 1:21 adds, “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds” (ESV). These passages affirm that, naturally, we are spiritually dead, rebellious, and under judgment.

The Necessity of Regeneration

If humanity is so corrupted, how can we be reconciled to God? The answer lies in regeneration by the Holy Spirit. Jesus declared, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6, ESV), signaling the need for spiritual rebirth. In Romans 8:9, Paul assures believers, “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you” (ESV). The Spirit, who “raised Jesus from the dead” (Romans 8:11, ESV), transforms us, enabling obedience where the flesh fails.

This transformation is the heart of the Gospel: Christ’s atonement redeems us, and the Spirit renews us. As Colossians 1:13 states, God “has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son” (ESV). The Spirit becomes our “new operating system,” shifting our minds from fleshly enmity to spiritual alignment.

Practical Implications

For believers, this theology demands a Spirit-led life. Galatians 5:17 warns, “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do” (ESV). The flesh remains a present foe, even for the regenerate, as Paul laments in Romans 7:23-25. Yet, the Spirit empowers us to “crucify the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24, ESV).

Practically, this involves setting our minds on “the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5, ESV) through prayer, Scripture, fellowship, and obedience. It is a daily battle, but one we fight with divine aid. As Charles Spurgeon (n.d.) vividly described Romans 8:7, the carnal mind “is not at enmity, but enmity itself…sin in the essence.” Only through the Spirit can we tame this rebellion and please God.

Associated Scriptures

Several passages reinforce this teaching:

Galatians 5:17 (ESV): “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit…they are opposed to each other.” This highlights the ongoing conflict within believers, necessitating reliance on the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV): Our pre-conversion state—dead in sin, following the flesh—underscores our natural enmity and need for salvation.

Colossians 1:21 (ESV): “Hostile in mind” echoes Romans 8:7, linking alienation from God to sinful deeds.

John 3:6 (ESV): The flesh produces only flesh, affirming regeneration as the sole remedy.

These texts collectively depict humanity’s fallen state and the Spirit’s transformative power, forming a cohesive Biblical narrative.

Conclusion

Romans 8:7 and Jeremiah 17:9-10, supported by associated scriptures, reveal a sobering truth: the mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God, incapable of submitting to His law, and the heart is deceitful and desperately sick. These passages ground the evangelical doctrines of original sin and total depravity, emphasizing our dependence on God’s grace. Yet, the Gospel offers hope: through Christ’s redemption and the Spirit’s indwelling, we are freed from condemnation and empowered to live for God.

For the Church, this calls for proclaiming the Spirit’s transformative power and equipping believers to walk in it. Individually, we must set our minds on the Spirit daily, trusting Him to renew us. As Romans 8:11 promises, “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you” (ESV). Let us pray with the psalmist, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24, ESV).