Audio commentary on this verse

Note 18 at Ro 8:8: Heb 11:6 says, "Without faith it is impossible to please him," so Ro 8:8 could also read, "So then they that are in the flesh cannot have faith" because faith is the only way to please God. Faith is a fruit of the Spirit (Ga 5:22-23) and cannot be produced by human effort.

Note 19 at Ro 8:8: This is the sum of what Paul was saying in Ro 7:15-24 and the reason we can never trust in our own holiness to be justified in the sight of God. The Christian life is not just hard to live; it is impossible to live in our own ability. Christianity only works when the Spirit of God indwells and controls us, thereby giving us supernatural ability. Without the quickening power of the Holy Spirit, we can't believe God and receive salvation.

Many religions of the world believe in one God--some of them even worship the God of Abraham--but they don't believe in Jesus as their Savior. Without Jesus, they are in the flesh and cannot please God. They may even live holier lives than those who have put faith in Jesus as their Savior, but their flesh will fail to be holy enough to earn salvation (see note 6 at Ro 3:23).