The Flesh Cannot Please God Romans 8:8

Paul the apostle told the people in Rome, “to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace”, and he added, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” In chapter eight and verse eight of Romans, Paul shared how, “they that are in the flesh cannot please God” where we read:

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

The verse begins, “So then they that are in the flesh ...” Paul began with the words, “so then” which means “therefore, accordingly and consequently” “they that are in” or “the humans whether male or female who are living according to” “the flesh” which means “the mere human and earthly nature of man apart from divine influence and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God”. Paul shared concerning people who are living apart from the divine influence who are opposed to God and prone to sinful behavior.

The verse goes on to say, “... cannot please God.” Paul added the word, “cannot” which means “are unable and incapable by their own virtue, ability, resource, state of mind or favorable circumstances” “please” or “accommodate one's self to the opinions desires and interests of” “God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Paul shared how there is no way “in the flesh” to “accommodate oneself” to perfectly fulfill the “desires and interests” of “God”.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see how everyone falls short of fulfilling the “desires and interests” of God. No one keeps His “law” perfectly other than Jesus, and no matter how noble or strong the effort may be, they all fail. Jesus Christ lived “according to the Spirit”, and He overcame “sin in the flesh” so that we might have access to God. Attempting to “please God” with human works always comes up short, and only “belief and trust” in Jesus Christ's finished work on the cross enables a person to be “saved”. Jesus provided the way for people to have a relationship with God through His fulfilling the “law”, and now all that is necessary to be “saved” is to “receive” Him as “Savior and Lord”. Let all who read these words “receive” Jesus into their hearts and lives today.

Next time Paul tells his readers, “you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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