What is the theme of Romans according to Les?
The theme of Romans is dealing with the old sin nature, often called old Adam, which continually makes man rebel against the very tenets of God. That sin nature must die, and it cannot be handled through fleshly effort or merely by joining a church.
Les explains that the theme of Romans is to deal with the old sin nature that constantly makes man rebel against the tenets of God. Using Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus road, Les shows that when the ascended Lord confronted him, the law meant what it said; Saul realized he was the biggest lawbreaker, had persecuted believers, and concluded, "I died." That death was not physical but the old Adam, for old Adam has to die. Les stresses this cannot be done in the energy of the flesh; no one can deal with old Adam in the flesh. His horse illustration pictures a trained animal that, when an outside source of energy exploded, showed itself cantankerous and able to buck like the worst bronc. That is where old Adam is, and joining a church is not what gets one right with God; Les clarifies he is not against the church but uses it as an example.