It's really very simple.
When Paul says that the carnal mind is enmity against God, he’s emphasizing the deep conflict between our natural, sinful mindset and God’s holy, righteous standards. Our carnal mind is wired to resist God’s authority and laws, leading us to make decisions that go against His will. This is why Proverbs advises us not to lean on our own understanding—because our natural, fleshly understanding is tainted by sin and can’t be trusted to lead us in the right direction. Instead, we are called to acknowledge God in everything we do, seeking His wisdom and guidance, and allowing His Spirit to renew our minds (Romans 12:2) so that we think and act according to His will, not our flesh.
So, in practical terms, this means making a conscious effort to set aside our natural inclinations and instead seek God’s perspective in every area of life. It’s about allowing the Holy Spirit to transform the way we think, so that we are aligned with God’s will, rather than being led by our own flawed, fleshly understanding.
Now for some hermeneutics on this.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 2:14-16
14But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
2:14
NASB "a natural man"
NKJV "natural man"
NRSV "those who are unspiritual"
TEV "the man who does not have the Spirit"
NJB "the natural person"
REB "an unspiritual person"
Peshitta "the material man"
This is the opposite of a "spiritual person" referred to in 1 Cor. 2:6,13 and 3:1. The term (i.e., psuchikos) is used several times in the NT where it refers to life on earth, life lived in relation to the five senses only (i.e., bios, life vs. zoē, life). The ikos ending means "characterized by" (cf. 1 Cor. 3:3). It then could mean earthly vs. heavenly or unspiritual vs. spiritual (cf. 1 Cor. 15:44,46; James 3:15; and Jude 1:19).
NASB "does not accept"
NKJV, NRSV "does not receive"
TEV "cannot receive"
NJB "has no room for"
Peshitta "rejects"
REB "refuses"
This Greek negated term means "rejects," "refuses to accept," "cannot comprehend," or "cannot make sense of." This term without negation is often used of welcoming a guest. This term (i.e., dechomai, cf. Luke 8:13; Acts 8:14; 11:1; 17:11; 2 Cor. 11:4; 1 Thess. 1:6; James 1:21) is synonymous with lambanō (cf. John 1:12; 12:48; 14:17). It does not relate to human ignorance, but to the incapacity of understanding spiritual truth!
This is the mystery of how/why some who hear the gospel respond and some do not. Is this rejection related to predestination or human volition? The answer is "yes," but exactly how these two relate is part of the dialectical nature of revelation itself (cf. Phil. 2:12-13, see Special Topic at 2 Cor. 8:16-17). I like what Frank Stagg, in New Testament Theology, says, "in the New Testament, the opposite of election is not non-election, but man's rejection of God's salvation" (p. 87).
"foolishness" See note at 1 Cor. 1:25.
"they are spiritually appraised" This is a legal term that speaks of the preliminary exhaustive examination before a trial (cf. Luke 23:14; Acts 12:19; 24:8; 25:26; 28:18) or to examine something carefully (i.e., the Scriptures, cf. Acts 17:11; food, cf. 1 Cor. 10:25,27). This same word occurs twice more in 1 Cor. 2:15.
Believers endued with the Spirit are able to judge appropriately the things in both the physical and spiritual realms (cf. 1 Cor. 1:22-25 and 2:2, also note 14:29 and 1 Thess. 5:20-21). However, the unspiritual of 1 Cor. 2:14 cannot properly discern spiritual things, spiritual truths, or spiritual people.
2:15 "yet he himself is appraised by no one" This, of course, is the generic MASCULINE form. Believers cannot be judged, yea even truly understood, by unbelievers (cf. 1 Cor. 4:3-4). This may be a reference to some of Paul's enemies at Corinth (cf. 1 Cor. 9:3). It is the indwelling Spirit who brings light through the gospel to reality, not this age's reality or physical reality, but God's reality!
2:16 This is an allusion to Isa. 40:13 in the Septuagint. In Isa. 40:3 the term "Lord" is the Divine name YHWH, but here Paul uses the quote to refer to Jesus (also note Rom. 10:13 and Phil. 2:10-11).
This continues the contextual emphasis on the need of the Spirit for humans to "hear" the gospel and to understand spiritual truth. This context and John 14-16 are crucial in understanding the work of the Spirit of God.
Without the Spirit fallen humanity engages in speculations, myths, even demonically inspired false truths! Oh, the tragedy of world religions and human philosophy.
"But we have the mind of Christ" The PRONOUN "we" is emphatic! This could refer to
Paul and his companions
Christian preachers
mature Christians
This does not mean believers know everything Christ knows, but that the Spirit has opened our minds to His perspective, His priorities, His heart (cf. Rom. 12:2; Phil 2:5).
Did I respond to your question in a way that is clear and coherent? Not dry and stale?