By Brother R. Michel Lankford
In This Study:
- Paul was NOT teaching that we should be CARNAL MINDED in order to walk in grace.
- How can the same things which Paul said is carnal minded; is hostile against God; is what cannot please God; and is what leads to death; how can these same things be the Grace of God at the same time?
REMEMBER: Paul wrote this letter to a predominantly Gentile congregation who came to faith in Messiah. Paul wrote this letter approximately 25 years after the death and the resurrection of Messiah, (so we were already in the so-called, ‘Age of Grace,’ when Paul wrote these words). Paul taught this predominantly Gentile congregation that the Law and the first writings, (the Old Testament), is still valid for teaching and training Gentile Christians, (Romans 15:4-6; 1 Corinthians 10: 1-6, 11-12).
So he was NOT teaching AGAINST the written Old Testament as so many Christians believe and claim today. On the contrary, Paul repeatedly taught IN FAVOR of the WRITTEN Law and the Scriptures. Paul REPEATEDLY taught AGAINST BREAKING the Commandments of God throughout many of his writings in the Second Writings, (New Testament), this is part of the reason that many of us do NOT ACCEPT the false doctrine that Paul the apostle taught that we should now break and do the opposite of Yahweh’s Laws Commandments and Instructions given to Moses because we are saved by grace through faith in the Messiah.
We do not believe that this is what Paul taught for two reasons. First, it forces too many other parts of Scripture to become false, and it contradicts many things which Paul himself taught and said in many of his own writings. Therefore the doctrine of lawless grace is simply not biblical and not true; regardless of its popularity and long-standing favor, it’s a false doctrine.
The BIBLE SAYS, as it is written:
“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, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:5–8, NKJV- With emphasis)
Paying Attention to What Paul SAID:
Q: What are the two distinct mindsets that Paul the apostle is discussing here?
A: Paul is clearly discussing the distinct differences between a mindset that is controlled by the sinful nature versus a mindset that is controlled and renewed by the spirit.
Q: Which mindset does Paul favor in his teaching? Does Paul recommend that we adopt and maintain carnal mindedness? In the passage, does Paul favor the idea that we should allow our minds to be controlled by our sinful nature and its passions? OR, according to his own teaching in the passage, does Paul favor that we adopt a mindset that is renewed and controlled by the Spirit?
A: It should be obvious and clear to anyone who can read that Paul is clearly teaching AGAINST having a mindset that is controlled by our sinful nature, (carnal mindedness), and he is advocating IN FAVOR of us adopting and maintaining a mindset that is renewed and controlled by the spirit, which is the OPPOSITE of carnal mindedness.
Why? He clearly said, “For to be CARNALLY MINDED IS DEATH.” Therefore, Paul CANNOT be promoting carnal mindedness, because he already said it leads to DEATH. Conversely, Paul is advocating having a mindset controlled by the Spirit, (as opposed to being led by our sinful nature), because having A MINDSET THAT IS LED BY THE SPIRIT, IS LIFE AND PEACE, according to Paul. According to Paul, being truly led by the Spirit is also proof that you are a child of God, (Romans 8:14).
Q: How does Paul specifically define and describe the carnal mind which is controlled by the sinful nature?
A: Paul clearly describes being carnally minded which leads to DEATH with the following description:
(a). The carnal mind is at enmity against God; (meaning to be hostile against and make yourself an enemy of God by your mindset).
(b). The carnal mind which is hostile against God, does not subject itself to the Law of God.
(c). The carnal mind which is hostile against God, CANNOT subject itself to the Law of God.
(d). Those who live in carnal mindedness and have a mindset controlled by the sinful nature, CANNOT please God.
Please remember and do not forget that Paul specifically said that this mindset which is hostile against God, which does not subject itself to the law of God, which is unable to subject itself to the law of God, is of the sinful nature and leads to DEATH, not eternal life, but DEATH.
Q: Why does Paul say that the carnal mind is hostile or an enemy against God, what is the cause of this enmity or hostility according to Paul?
A: Paul gives a clear definition of why the carnal mind is an enemy hostile against God. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; “FOR IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE LAW OF GOD.”
FACT: According to Paul’s own teachings, being in a place or situation where we do not subject ourselves to God’s Law; that is NOT a sign that you are, “Under Grace,” according to Paul, not subjecting yourself to the Law of God is a sign that you are being controlled by your sinful nature and your carnal mind. That’s not God’s Grace.
FACT: According to Paul’s own teachings, being in a place or situation where we do not subject ourselves to God’s Law; that is NOT a sign that you are, “Under Grace,” it’s a sign that you are hostile against God, and that you are at enmity, (an enemy against God, not a friend). Therefore, not submitting to God’s Law CANNOT be God’s Grace at work.
FACT: According to Paul’s own teachings, being in a place or situation where we do not subject ourselves to God’s Law; that’s NOT a sign that you are, “Under Grace,” it’s a sign that you CANNOT be pleasing to God. That CANNOT be God’s Grace at work in our lives.
FACT: According to Paul’s own teachings, being in a place or situation where we do not subject ourselves to God’s Law; that’s NOT a sign that you are, “Under Grace,” that is NOT a sign that you are walking in a way that leads to eternal life; not subjecting yourself to God’s Law is a sign that you are walking in DEATH, according to Paul, because that’s the end to which being carnal minded leads. It does not lead to life, it leads to death.
DILEMMA:
- Since not submitting to God’s Law is a sign of carnal mindedness and a sign of being hostile against God, how can it be the Grace of God, not to submit to His Law?
- If Paul was teaching you not to subject yourself to Yahweh’s Law, then he would be teaching you to be carnal minded, by his own definitions.
- If Paul was teaching you not to subject yourself to Yahweh’s Law, then he would be teaching you to be hostile against God, and to make yourself God’s enemy, by his own definitions. How can it be God’s Grace to make yourself God’s enemy?!
- If Paul was teaching you not to subject yourself to Yahweh’s Law, then by Paul’s own definition, he would be teaching you NOT to please God.
- Paul himself said that being carnally minded, (which includes not subjecting ourselves to the Law of God), leads to DEATH. It DOES NOT lead to Eternal Life, but it leads to DEATH according to Paul. So how can the same thing which Paul just said causes death, also be the Grace of God working at the same time?! It’s impossible!
Contrary to what we have been trained to believe by habit and tradition, the apostle Paul WAS NOT teaching us to DISOBEY and to do the opposite of Yahweh’s Laws Commandments and Instructions, as a matter of Grace . By his own definitions, if he was teaching us to disobey and do the opposite of Yahweh’s Laws Commandments and Instructions, Paul would then be teaching us to be carnal minded. He would be teaching us to be hostile against God and to make ourselves God’s enemy. He would then be teaching us NOT to please God, and Paul would be teaching us to walk in DEATH and not life, according to his own teachings.
Moreover, when Paul taught as he did in Romans 8:5-8, he was also AGREEING and being consistent with what God had already said through the prophets, through the Messiah, and through every other apostle. In teaching as he did in Romans 8:5-8, Paul was upholding in confirming the rest of Scripture, and not contradicting it as he would have been opposing Scripture, if he had been teaching a lawless grace, which most Christians mistakenly accept in Paul’s name.
Brother Michel Lankford
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