What two forces does Paul teach are working within believers?
Paul teaches that two forces work within believers: the Old Adam, which is reckoned dead by God but still present in experience, and the new nature, energized by the Holy Spirit. The Old Adam stirs thoughts and weaknesses, while the new nature opposes it, though Satan's attacks are also real.
Les explains that this is Paul's whole thrust of teaching: now as believers we have two forces working within us. The Old Adam is reckoned by God to be absolutely dead, yet in experience he is still there. Les says he does not mind the attacks of Satan half as much as the attacks of his Old Adam. Throughout a week of life, where do we run into most difficulty? Not Satanic as much as Old Adam. The Old Adam pops thoughts into our minds and catches us in moments of weakness. Les does not take away from Satan's power, but says it is the Old Adam that constantly confronts us to go the direction of the Old Adamic nature. Opposite it is the new nature, energized by the Holy Spirit. Paul's own Damascus road experience illustrates this: Saul died, crucified in the Old Adam, and immediately became a new man, a new creation.