What is the theme of the book of Romans according to Les?
The theme of Romans is dealing with the old sin nature—the old Adam—that constantly makes man rebel against God's tenets. This sin nature cannot be handled in the energy of the flesh, by church membership, or human effort; it must be confronted and put to death.
Les explains that the theme of the book of Romans is to deal with the old sin nature, the old Adam, which is constantly making man rebel against the very tenets of God. He illustrates this from Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus: when the ascended Lord confronted him, the law suddenly meant what it said, and Saul realized he was the biggest lawbreaker of all. He had persecuted believers, but when the law got hold of him, he recognized he was nothing and said, "I died." Les clarifies this was not physical death but the death of old Adam—old Adam has to die. Les uses the example of a trained horse that one day exploded with an outside source of energy and showed itself just as cantankerous as the worst bronc, showing that old Adam cannot be dealt with in the energy of the flesh. He emphasizes that you cannot get right with God by joining a church or human effort; you have to come to grips with that old Adam.