What is the difference between the law's work and the indwelling Holy Spirit's work?
The law’s work was like a mirror, showing man his utter sinfulness and helplessness, but the indwelling Holy Spirit is something totally different. God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to deal with the old Adam, condemning sin and the flesh at man’s level.
Les explains that the law was just the mirror that showed man his utter sinfulness and helplessness, but the indwelling Holy Spirit is something totally different. He then returns to verse 3 and mentions Ephesians 1, pointing to God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh. Les stresses that Jesus Christ was the Creator God of Genesis 1—the One who spoke and the universe came into being, and the One who spoke and Adam came up out of the dust. Jesus Christ is the likeness of sinful flesh, and for the sake of dealing with the old Adam, He condemned the old Adam and the flesh. Les says His whole purpose in coming was to get down at man’s level, in man’s frame of flesh, that He might condemn sin and the flesh.