Cannot Please God

“For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” -Romans 8:7–8

As Paul continues his explanation of the two potential states of mindedness (phronema/φρονημα) of the individual and how it relates to two different trajectories—either life and peace or death—he brings the argument full circle to his original assertion in chapter one that mankind has rebelled against God.

“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” -Romans 1:20–21

This word hostile is remarkable in that it is the same word used in Luke 23:12 where it says, “And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.”

Again, in James 4:4, where he says, “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” 

The law of God reveals to us what pleases him and those who refuse to submit to God’s law (to what pleases him) are at enmity with God. They are literally taking up arms against God, rebelling against his rightful authority. How could one please God if they are rebelling against him? Indeed, they cannot! By setting one’s mind on the flesh, one can never say, in good conscience, they are God’s own. They cannot trust that God is any longer for them or will hear their prayers, except they repent.

John Calvin notes, “they who wish really to find out how far they agree with God must test all their purposes and practices by this rule.”