God used the Apostle Paul to write this which is found in the book of Romans, "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Rom. 8:7 KJV
Backing up to the previous chapter, Paul ends it by stating, "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." Rom. 7:25 KJV
By observing the two scriptures referenced above, we note that one mindset is not capable of serving the law of God and is in fact at enmity (hostile to God) with God and serves the law of sin. Paul refers to this as the carnal mind, while the other mindset serves the law of God and is at peace with God, but notice that either the law of God is served or the law of sin is served; both by the use of the mind. (also ref. Romans 8:6)
We see that earlier in the book of Romans, Paul says this about sin, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Rom. 6:14 KJV
Then he, (Paul) later states, "Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?" Rom. 7:1 KJV
How many Christians know that we have already died? Perhaps not all Christians know this because the Apostle Paul asks, "Don't you know..?" That means you may not know. "Or don't you know, that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" Rom. 6:3 NIV
Paul writes, in the epistle to the Galatians, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Gal. 2:20 NIV To 'have been crucified' means you were killed. In this case, we died together with Christ. Knowing that we died with Christ, we are to also know what is found in Romans chapter 7, verse 4: "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God."
By dying to the law, we also died to the dominion of the law and the dominion of sin in our lives, as once again stated, "For sin shall not have dominion over you : for ye are not under the law but under grace." Romans 6:14 KJV
Found in the Apostle Paul's letter to the church in Colosse, he writes, "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead." Col. 2:11-12 KJV
The scripture above tells us we put off the body of the sins of the flesh when we were baptized with Christ. This is why the apostle Paul wrote in the book of Romans, "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you." Romans 8:9a KJV Further stated in Paul's epistle to the Galatians, "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." 5:24 KJV
Paul also states, "For as many of you who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Gal. 3:27 KJV We've died to the law, sin, and the flesh, all at the moment of our conversion, the same time we received the Holy Spirit. (ref. Rom. 7:4 - dead to the law) (Rom.6:11 - dead to sin) (Rom. 7:5, 8:9, Gal. 5:24 - dead to the flesh) (Gal.3:3 - received the Spirit at conversion)
By dying to the law we also died to the penalty of the law or curse of the law, which Christ has redeemed us from. (ref. Gal. 3:13, 4:4) The law also brings wrath and with wrath is a fear of punishment. (ref. Romans 4:15, 1 John 4:17-18) This fear of punishment is what placed the enmity in our minds before we knew the truth of Christ. Because of the weakness of our flesh, we, at times, fail in areas. Once again, Romans 8:7 states, "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Paul writes this to the church in Colosse, "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation - if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. Col. 1:21-23a NIV
It's hard to trust a God who you fear is going to punish you every time you fail or come up short in an area, but Christ's sacrificial work of the cross has removed that fear. John writes this in his epistle, "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment (punishment). He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:17-18 KJV It was God's unconditional love that saved us, for He died while we were yet sinners. (ref. Romans 5:8)
All the major religions of the world have a system of works (human effort) which must be obtained or met in an attempt to be in 'right standing with God' (righteousness) in hope of somehow qualifying for heaven after one dies. This is why the writer of Hebrews tells us, "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Hebrews 2:14-15 KJV What separates Christianity from all major world religions is that a 'born again' Christian is in a relationship with Christ by grace through faith, whereby God's Spirit indwells us. The Apostle Paul writes about himself, shortly after stating that he has been crucified with Christ. "I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"
Gal. 2:21 NIV
Going back to two of our scripture references at the top, found in the book of Romans, "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Romans 8:7 KJV and "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord, so then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." Romans 7:25 KJV Once again, remember that the Apostle Paul writes " But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you."
Romans 8:9 KJV
That's an easy one to qualify for if you're born again!
