If old Adam is crucified, why is he still present in the believer's experience?
Although old Adam is crucified and dead in God's eyes, he remains present in the believer's experience as a defeated foe. He is powerful and may come to the fore, but the indwelling Holy Spirit empowers the believer's spirit for victory and creates the warfare. If he stays uppermost, it is because the believer is not fighting the battle.
Les explains that just as soon as old Adam is crucified, in God's eyes he is completely dead and out of the picture, yet in our experience he is still here—but defeated. Old Adam does not have to remain uppermost; if he remains uppermost, it is because we are not fighting the battle. Old Adam is powerful and will come to the fore at times, and that is where the warfare exists. There would be no warfare, no battle line, were it not for the indwelling Holy Spirit. Otherwise we would not stand a chance against the forces of old Adam and Satan. The Holy Spirit works in consort with our spirit, enabling us to live victoriously. In the Greek, He is the Pneuma Hagion, the power from on high.