Romans 8:7-8 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.… It is no contradiction to the statement of the text, and no proof of love to God — I. THAT WE DO MANY THINGS THAT ARE AGREEABLE TO HIS LAW WITH THE WILLING CONSENT OF THE MIND. Propose the question, Would not I do this good thing, or abstain from this evil thing, though God had no will in the matter? If you would, then put not down what is altogether due to other principles to the principle of love to God or a desire of pleasing Him. You may have a very large share of estimable principles: but an enlightened discerner of the heart may look unto you and say, "I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you." For when He puts in for that share of your heart which you give to wealth, or pleasure, or reputation, then is not God a weariness? How would you like the visit of a man whose presence broke up some arrangement that you had set your heart upon? or marred the enjoyment of some favourite scheme that you were going to put into execution? Now, is not God just such a visitor? Yes; and to admit Him, with all His high claims and spiritual requirements into your mind, would be to disturb you in the enjoyment of objects which are better loved and more sought after than He. It is because your heart is occupied with idols that God is shut out of it. There is nothing monstrous in all this to the men of our world; but how must the pure eye of an angel be moved at such a spectacle of worthlessness! That the bosom of a thing formed should feel cold or indifferent to Him who formed it — that not a thought or an image should be so unwelcome to man as that of his Maker — that the creature should thus turn round on its Creator — there is a perversity here, which time may palliate for a season, but which must at length be brought out to its adequate condemnation. II. THAT A GOD DIVESTED OF ALL WHICH CAN MAKE HIM REPULSIVE TO SINNERS SHOULD BE IDOLISED AT TIMES by many a sentimentalist. It would form no deduction from our enmity against the true God that we give an occasional hour to the worship of a graven image; and it is just of as little significancy to the argument that we feel an occasional glow of affection or of reverence towards a fictitious being of our own imagination. If there be truth in the Bible, it is there where God has made an authentic exhibition of His nature; and if God in Christ be an offence to you — if you have no relish for spiritual communion with such a God — then be assured that, amid the painted insignificancy of all your other accomplishments, your heart is not right with God. III. THAT WE DO MANY THINGS WITH THE DIRECT OBJECT OF DOING THAT WHICH IS PLEASING TO GOD. Why, I may both hate and fear the man whom I may find it very convenient to please. I may comply by action; but I may abominate the necessity which constrains me. A sovereign may overrule the humours of a rebellious province by the presence of his resistless military; but you would not say that there was any loyalty in this forced subordination. IV. THAT WE DO WHAT GOD WILLS BECAUSE HE WILLS IT. The terror of His power may constrain you to many acts of obedience. Thieves, and swearers, and Sabbath breakers may, under the fear of the coming vengeance, give up their respective enormities, and yet their minds be altogether carnal. There may be the obedience of the hand, while there is the gall of bitterness in the heart at the necessity which constrains it. (T. Chalmers, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. |
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