VERSE 5:  TWO CONTRASTING NATURES
“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”
Paul had a habit of using comparisons as a teaching method. In this verse we are shown two distinct and contrasting ways of living:
1.      To follow the dictates of one’s lower nature
2.      To place oneself under the control of the Holy Spirit and to focus their interests on the things of the Spirit.

“For they that are after the flesh”
Literally: “For the {ones}being according to flesh.”–Meaning those who remain under the guidance of their corrupt nature; meaning they     that are under the influence of the corrupt and    sinful desires and works of the flesh.

        “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are {these} adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness”
        “Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,”
         “Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in times past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21).    

This is referring to those who are unregenerated; unsaved; the unconverted; i.e., the natural man.  They who remain under the guidance of corrupt nature; fleshly in their character. Such are put here in contrast with the converted, that is, believers.  Here is the great distinction between Jews and genuine Christians. The Jews of who Paul is speaking are after the flesh; are under the power of the carnal, or rebellious principle; and consequently mind or relish the things of the flesh, the things that appertain merely to the present life; having no relish for spiritual and eternal things.

“mind the things of the flesh”–Such people have their thoughts and affections fixed on things that gratify the corrupt nature; meaning on things visible and temporal; on things of the earth, on pleasure, praise, or riches        

The minding of the flesh is opposed to that Law; this shows that it is hostile to God.  It will come under no obedience; “does not submit itself” for it is sin, and the very principle of rebellion; and therefore it cannot be subject, nor subjected; for it is essential for sin to show itself in rebellion; and when it ceases to rebel, it ceases to be sin. From this we learn that the purpose of God in the Gospel is not simply to weaken, or curtail, or even ro lay the carnal principle in bonds, but to destroy it altogether.. 

            MIND:  (Grk.–phronousin)-–This Greek word here for “mind” does not here have reference to intellect or understanding, but rather to the attention of occupation of the being,      caused by its natural disposition.  

Regarding this Greek word renered as “mind,” Robert Mounce, Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture–Romans. “ Phronousin- –means, “to be of someone’s mind; to be on someone’s side” and, “those who allow the direction of their lives to be determined by the flesh are actually taking the flesh’s side in their conflict between the Spirit of God and the flesh, while those wo allow the Spirit to determine the direction of their lives are taking the Spirit’s side”

            FLESH:  (Grk.–sarx)–Referring to the evil nature.

This refers to all that belongs to our fallen nature—meaning all that is opposed to the Holy Spirit.  “Whose end {is} destruction, who God {is their} belly, and {whose} glory  {is} in  their shame, who mind earthly things” (Phil. 3:19). They are supremely devoted to the gratification of their corrupt desires. Namely, on things visible and temporal; on things of the earth, on pleasure, (of sense or imagination), on egotistical praise, or riches. The way of the regenerate (saved) and the unregenerate (unsaved) are in opposite directions.

         “but they that are after the Spirit”
         Literally: “But the {ones} according to the Spirit.”–Those who are under the Spirit’s influence;

         Those who are led by the Holy Spirit; are under His guidance; meaning they in whom the Holy Spirit dwells, making them spiritual in their character. These are regenerated, born of the Spirit (John 3:3); redeemed from the influence and Law of the carnal mind.  Such who relish the things of the Spirit; are spiritually minded, and pass through things temporal, so as not to lose the things which are eternal. 
         A man will be under the predominating influence of one or other of these two principles, and, one or the other has the mastery of him, it will be the completion of his life, the character of his actions.  The unconverted (unsaved; carnal man) are still in a state of nature. These are put in contrast with the converted, i.e., believers.   The distinction between these two classes is as real as that between the sheep and goat nations at Christ’s Second Coming (Matt. 25:32).

           “the things of the Spirit”
         Literally:  “{Mind} the things of the Spirit.”–Those things which the Holy Spirit produces, or which He effects in the mind.

         “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,”–
        “Meekness, temperance; against such there is no law” (Gal. 5: 22-23).

These things re not revealed to us by internal impulses, but by the words of the Spirit, the Holy Scriptures. The indwelling Spirit helps the new man in Christ to keep these words; to think of, or relish or love things invisible, eternal; the things which the Spirit has revealed, which He works in us, moves us to, and promises to give us. In this verse we have seen two types of people:
1.      Those who live according to the flesh.
         This includes all those not born of God; that is, still in a state of nature.
2.      Those who live according to the Spirit.
         These are God’s true children, with  the Holy Spirit, of whom they were born, indwelling all of them.

VERSE 6:  TWO CONTRASTING DESTINIES
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

         “For the be carnally minded”
           Literally: “for the mind of the flesh”–The same as to mind the things of the flesh, as in v. 5

   MIND:  (Grk.–phronēma)–The bent or will of the flesh is death as shown in 7:7-24.

          CARNALLY MINDED:  (Grk.–phronēma tēs sarkos)–Literally means, “the mind of the flesh.”  The flesh here refers to the evil nature. 

The mind is possessed by and controlled or dominated by, the evil nature,.  This is a picture of the unsaved person (the natural man).  The sense here is that to follow the inclinations of the flesh, or the corrupt desires of our nature, leads to condemnation and death.  So, to be spiritually minded, is the same as to mind the things of the Spirit.  Is spiritual death, and if continued will issue in eternal death.

“is death”
Literally: {Is} death.”–He who is carnally mind is to live in the state of condemnation, and  as a result, liable to eternal death,  he who is spiritually minded has the life and peace of  God  in his soul, and is in full prospect of life eternal. 

The penalty of transgression; condemnation and eternal ruin (see notes on 5:12).  This gives the nature of the carnal mind as the reason why it only cares for the things of the flesh.

“but to be spiritually minded”|
Literally: “The mind of the Spirit”–Men must be under the predominating influence of either one or the other of these two principles, and, because either the one or the other has the mastery, will be the pattern for their life, or the character of their actions. 

        SPIRITUALLY MINDED:  (Grk.–phronēma tou pneumatos)-–Literally:  “the mind possessed by the Spirit.”  That is, a mind controlled or dominated by the Holy Spirit.  He that is spiritually minded has the life and peace of God in his soul, and is in full prospect of life eternal.  So, to be spiritually minded, is the same as to mind the things of the Spirit.

         That is, making it the object of the mind, the end and aim of the actions, to cultivate the graces of the Spirit, and to submit to His influence. To be spiritually minded is to mind the things of the Spirit, to seek those feelings and views which the Holy Spirit produces, and to follow His leading. The unconverted (those still in a state of nature)l are put in contrast with the converted, i.e., believers.  
         Is life and peace; (spiritual life), manifesting itself in love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, and all those dispositions and habits which promote the glory of God and the good of men.

“is life and peace.”|
Literally:  “{Is} life and peace.”  This is opposed to rhw death in verse 6.  It tends to life, and is in fact real life.  For, to possess and cultivate the graces of the Spirit, to be led where He would guide us, is the design of our existence, and is the only path of happiness.  He who is spiritually minded has the life and peace of God in his soul, and is in full prospect of life eternal.

             LIFE:  (Grk.–zôê)–In contrast with death.  A sure mark of spiritual life, and the way to life everlasting.

            PEACE:  (Grk.–eirênê)–As in 5:1-5.

In this verse Paul has drawn a contrast between two different lives
1.      A life that is dominated by sinful human nature:
         a.      Their only law is their cravings and desires.
         b.      Their focus and center is on self.
2.      A life that is dominated by the Spirit of God.
        They are Spirit controlled; Christ centered, God focused.
To live under the influence of the carnal mind is to live in the State of Condemnation, and consequently liable to eternal death; whereas, he who is spiritually minded has the life and peace of God in his soul, and is in full prospect of life eternal..

VERSE 7:  THE CARNAL MINDED
“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:  for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."

 “Because the carnal mind”
Literally:  “Because the mind of the flesh.”– This is the same expression as occurs in verse 6.

This means that the minding of the things of the flesh (giving to them supreme attention), is hostility against God; and involves the sinner in a controversy with him, and hence leads to death and woe. This passage should not he alleged in proof that the soul is physically depraved, but merely that where there is a supreme regard to the flesh there is hostility to God.

            BECAUSE:  (Grk.–dioti)–Literally:  “because, for; therefore.”  Paul is now giving the reason for what he said in v. 6.  There Paul told us that to be carnally minded was death,  but he did not tell us why this was. He now goes on to explain this by saying that it is really   enmity against God, and thus involves a sinner in conflict with Him.

“the carnal mind”–To have a carnal mind supposes hostility or hatred toward God.   This means, that such a regard to the flesh is really hostility to God, because it is opposed to His Law, and to His plan for purifying the soul (comp. James 4:4; I John 2:15). Some things to understand about the carnal mind:

         Paul’s purpose here is not to teach that neither the mind itself, or the intellect, or the will, not even the soul itself is physically depraved, or opposed to God; but it does mean that the action of  minding of the things of the flesh (carnality).  But it does mean that giving to them supreme attention is hostility against God; and it involves the sinner in a controversy with Him. Therefore, this leads to death and woe.  Understand that this passage should not be taken as a proof text that the soul is physically depraved, but merely that where there is a supreme regard to the flesh there is hostility to God.  
         Paul is not here teaching the Doctrine of Universal Depravity; but he is teaching that where a person gives this corrupt desires of the soul, there will be hostility to God.  What Paul is showing is that this minding of the things of the flesh exists everywhere by nature. Understand that Paul is not here teaching the Doctrine of Depravity, but he is showing that where such depravity does exist, it involves the sinner in a fearful controversy with God.

            CARNAL:  (Grk.–sarx)–Carnality means, “to be dominated by indwelling sin.”       

         “is enmity against God”–
         Literally: “{Is} hostile toward God.”– Against God; has enmity towards God; or in regard to Him. 

“for it is not subject to the Law of God”
Literally:   “For it is not being subjected to the Law of God.” It is not in subjection to the command of God.  The “it” here refers to the “carnal” mind;  the minding of the things of the flesh.  It does not mean that the soul itself is not subject to His Law, but that the minding of those things is hostile to His Law. 

            SUBJECT:  (Grk.–hypotassō)–This is another of Paul’s military terms which means, “to arrange in order under,” such as under a military commander. 

The carnal mind is not marshalled under the command of God; but rather to Satan.  As a result, those who are within the sphere of  the evil nature are not able please God;  who off course are the unsaved.  The expositor Denny has said, “The reason why the mind of the flesh terminates so fatally is because it is hostility to God, the Fountain of Life.  Alienation from Him is necessarily fatal.”

         “neither indeed can be”
         Literally “For neither can {it be}.”–This is an absolute certainty. There is the utmost inability in regard to it.

They are different things and can never be made to harmonize; just as adultery cannot be chastity; falsehood cannot be truth; dishonesty cannot be honesty; hatred cannot be love.   The one should be renounced, that the other may be followed. In such a state of mind there neither is nor can it be the least subjection to the Law of God.

VERSE 8:  FLESHLY PEOPLE
“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
This is God’s sweeping announcement regarding all mankind that are out of Christ; and in this sense all in the flesh are out of Christ.  Those who are in flesh, even if they, like Cain, would attempt to worship God, or come to Him in their own way, God cannot accept.

“So then they that are in the flesh”|
Literally:  “and the {ones} being in the flesh”–It follows; it leads to this conclusion. 

Because this carnal mind is enmity against God, they that are in the flesh (they who are under the power of the workings of this carnal mind), which every soul is that has not received redemption in the blood of the Lamb.  Not only are such persons who are apart from Christ “totally depraved” (every part of their being has been affected by the Fall), but they are also “totally disabled” being in their rebellious state they cannot ever please God.

          IN THE FLESH:  (Grk.–en sarki)—This literally means, “to be dominated by indwelling sin.”  Sarki not only refers to sexual sins, but really includes the entire range of self-centered activities that deny that God has a rightful place in one’s life. 

Such follow fleshly appetites and desires, and are not led by the Spirit of God. They that are in  a fleshly state; the same as “they that are after the flesh,” as in verse 4.  They are un-regenerated sinners; who are following supremely the desires of the flesh (7:18).

“cannot please God ”
Literally: “Are not able to please God.”–Because of the handicap of the lower self in bondage to sin.  And, if they cannot please God, they must be displeasing to Him; and consequently in the broad road to final perdition.   

         While they are in the flesh (carnal); while they thus pursue the desires of their corrupt nature, they cannot please God The two are incompatible, contrary the one to the other; They are utterly irreconcilable. It is simply that the supreme regard to the flesh, the minding of that is utterly irreconcilable with the Law of God. This does not mean that the sinner has no responsibility and cannot be saved. On the contrary, the sinner is responsible and can be saved by the change of heart through the Holy Spirit.
         A fleshly state is contrary to that spiritual state which God requires. For this reason they should no longer continue their wicked and dangerous course, but should turn from it and live.         This is really God’s sweeping announcement concerning all mankind that are out of Christ.  In this sense, ALL in the flesh are out of Christ.  Those in the flesh, even if, like Cain, they would “worship” God in some way, would come to Him in their own way—the flesh way—a way which God neither cannot accept nor WILL NOT accept.