Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. I. THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF A CARNAL MIND PLEASING GOD. This springs from the necessity of the case. 1. As dwelling in a nature, every faculty of which is in hostility to His government and being, it is impossible that it can please Him. 2. There being no personal acceptance of those who are in the flesh, whatever they do cannot be accepted of God. First the person, and then the gift, is God's order (cf. Queen Esther's interview with Ahasuerus and Jacob's meeting with Esau). How can you do that which is well pleasing to a holy God while your person is to Him an object of just abhorrence? 3. The absence of faith in the unregenerate must render all the religious doings of the sinner displeasing. "For without faith it is impossible to please Him." How can he please God whose whole existence is a direct denial of God? "He that believeth not hath made God a liar!" Your unbelief is a practical denial of His existence. And, in your non-subjection to His law, you exclude Him from the government of His own world. 4. And what is the entire absence of love to God but another confirmation of the same truth? the great constraining motive of the sacrifice with which God is pleased is love, and "love is the fulfilling of the law." II. THE CHARACTER OF THOSE WITH WHOM GOD IS PLEASED. They are — 1. A spiritual people, and God, who is a Spirit, must delight in that which harmonises with His own nature. 2. They are an accepted people, and therefore their persons are pleasing to Him. The delight of the Father in Christ reveals the secret of His delight in us. "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 3. But it is a universal pleasing of God which the Scriptures prescribe and enforce (Colossians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:2; 1 John 3:22). 4. But what are some of the footprints of this walk? (1) Unreserved obedience. (2) Walking by faith. As unbelief is most dishonouring, so faith is most honouring to the Lord Jesus. (O. Winslow, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. |
    |