What happens after we identify with Christ's death?
Upon identifying with Christ's death, the Holy Spirit regenerates the dead spirit by outside power, restoring fellowship with God. The old sin nature becomes a new divine nature, and the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within. This new life then affects the body, launching the Christian walk of growing in grace and knowledge.
Les explains that when the Holy Spirit enlightens our understanding and regenerates the old dead spirit, we realize we have died—the ego, the “I,” the old Adam was crucified. It was placed on the cross in the mind of God because God did it on our behalf. As soon as we agree, He regenerates our spirit by outside power, fellowship is restored, and He comes to dwell in the person of the Holy Spirit. The old sin nature becomes a new divine nature, now in consort with the eternal God. This begins to have its effect on the body, starting our Christian walk, where we grow in grace and knowledge. Les also points to Romans 6, where Paul makes plain that we must identify with what Christ accomplished on our behalf on the cross, fulfilling God’s demand that the soul that sinneth must surely die—He died my death.