Romans 8:7-8

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. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Those that have never been born again, so as to be "in the Spirit," are still just as they were born "in the flesh," so they cannot please God. Do what they may, there is an essential impurity about their nature so that they cannot be well pleasing unto God. We must be born again, we must become spiritual by the new birth which is wrought by the Holy Spirit, or else it is impossible for us to please God. O you who are trying your best to please God apart from the new birth, and apart from Christ, see how this iron bar is put across your path: "they that are in the flesh cannot please God." Go then to him, and ask him to give you of his Spirit, that you may be spiritual, and no longer carnal.