Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
What does Romans 8:7 mean?
Believers may be chastened of the Lord, but will not be condemned with the world. By their union with Christ through faith, they are thus secured.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Romans 8:7-11 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Romans 8:7
Because - This is given as a reason for what is said in Romans 8:6 . In that verse the apostle had affirmed that to be carnally minded was death, but he had not stated why it was. He now explains it by saying that it is enmity against God, and thus involves a sinner in conflict with him, and exposes to his condemnation. The carnal mind - This is the same expression as occurs in Romans 8:6 το φρονημα της σαρκος to phronema tes sarkos.
Key words
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Because the carnal mind is enmity against God,.
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Because the carnal mind is enmity against God,.
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Because the carnal mind is enmity against God,.
Context in Romans 8
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Romans 8 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as justification and Abraham. Romans is Paul’s fullest sustained exposition of sin, grace, righteousness, faith, Israel, the Spirit, and transformed life in Christ. Read this chapter with the wider themes of justification, grace, and faith in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
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Passages on trusting God, receiving Christ, persevering without sight, and the relation between faith and lived obedience.
Key passages on God's unmerited favour, the grace of Christ, salvation by grace through faith, and how grace transforms the way believers live.
Passages on the nature of sin, its consequences, God's judgment, repentance, and the way of forgiveness through Christ.