Audio commentary on this verse

Note 18 at Rom. 8:8: Hebrews 11:6 says, "without faith it is impossible to please him." This verse also could 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 (Gal. 5:22-23) and cannot be produced by human effort.

Note 19 at Rom. 8:8: This is the sum of what Paul was saying in Romans 7:15-24 and the reason no one can ever trust in their 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 an individual, thereby giving him supernatural ability. Without the quickening power of the Holy Spirit, no one can believe God and receive salvation.

Many religions of the world believe in one God and 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 a holier life than someone who has put faith in Jesus as their Savior, but their flesh will fail to be holy enough to earn salvation (see note 6 at Rom. 3:23, p. 759).