Sin is enmity

In Triumph Over Temptation we are given a glimpse of some thoughts and ideas that John Owen had on Romans 8:7 which reads "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.". Or, as it is quoted in this book: "The carnal mind is enmity against God." Here are some quotes under the heading Sin Is Enmity:


The word enmity towards God suggests more than the hostility that enemies have toward one another. Enmity is the personification of all hostility. Enemies can be reconciled, but enmity is never reconciled.Indeed, the only way to reconcile enemies is to destroy enmity. (53)


Mortification abates its force, but it cannot deal with its nature. Grace changes the nature of man, but nothing changes the nature of sin. (54)


Here then is where much of the power of sin lies. Its enmity admits no terms of peace. There may be a truce where there is no peace. But with this enemy we can have neither truce nor peace. (54)


Sin fights the spiritual principle that is in us. It fights to destroy our soul. Although it opposes the work of grace in us, its nature and purpose above all is to oppose God. (55)