No — human works can neither justify a sinner nor crucify 'old Adam'; both are the work of God alone.
Scripture shows that the old man is crucified with Christ and that eternal life is a gift, not a wage earned by works. Les Feldick consistently teaches that no amount of human endeavor can break the power of the old Adamic nature, and that old Adam must be crucified and put to death by God Himself.
Romans 6:6 — This verse directly states that the believer's old man is crucified with Christ — an act God performs, not a human work.
Romans 6:14 — Paul contrasts being under law with being under grace, undercutting any idea that works or law-keeping justify.
Romans 6:23 — It names death as the wage of sin and eternal life as God's gift, making justification by works impossible.
Romans 6:6 declares, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” The crucifixion of the old man is something that happens with Christ; it is not something a person does to himself. Paul then states, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:23 sets out the only two alternatives: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” A wage is earned by human effort; a gift is received. Romans 3:23 adds, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” showing that the whole human race stands in need of the justification that only God can provide. Scripture never presents human works as the remedy for the old man.
Les Feldick interprets Romans 6 as Paul's explanation that believers are not under the legalistic system of Israel but under grace. He says the Ten Commandments are not removed, but they are not the criteria for salvation (Clip 0). When it comes to old Adam, Les consistently teaches that we cannot do anything in ourselves; old Adam has to be crucified and put to death, and that is entirely a work of God (Clips 1, 7). No human endeavor can break the power of our old Adamic nature; even the best home training can only produce outward inhibitions, and the only way out from under old Adam's control is for Adam to die (Clip 2). Using a dead-battery illustration, Les says the spiritually dead Adam needs an outside regenerating power, and good works cannot do it (Clip 3). When Paul writes that our old man is crucified with Christ, Les says crucifixion kills; God puts the body of sin out of commission (Clip 4), and God reckons the old Adam as crucified (Clip 5). The need for all of this began when Adam's fall brought sin and spiritual death to the human race; justification is by faith and faith alone (Clip 6). Finally, Les points to the nature of crucifixion itself: a person cannot crucify himself, which pictures the truth that this is totally, wholly, and completely God's work on our behalf (Clip 7).
Les uses a dead-battery illustration: you do not wash the outside of a dead battery; you bring outside power to regenerate it. Old Adam is spiritually dead and needs an outside power. No amount of human endeavor, self-help, or religious discipline can break his control. God must place old Adam on the cross and kill him.
Scripture says the old man is crucified with Christ so that the body of sin is destroyed, and henceforth we should not serve sin. In Les's words, crucifixion kills; God puts the old Adam out of commission and reckons him as crucified. Les adds that crucifixion was chosen because it is a death no man can inflict on himself — God alone performs it.
Paul asks whether we should let old Adam continue to rule because we are not under law but under grace, and the answer is “God forbid.” Les explains that this does not mean the Ten Commandments are cast aside, but they are not the criteria for salvation. Under grace, the response to God is totally different from Israel's legalistic system.
The need for justification began in the Garden when Adam fell and death came with sin. We are born spiritually dead, and as sons of Adam we are all sinners. The Holy Spirit opens our spiritual understanding to believe that Christ died our substitutionary death; God then reckons the old Adam as crucified.
Law Is Not a Criterion for Salvation
Les explains that being 'under grace' is totally different from Israel's legalistic system; the Ten Commandments are not the criterion for salvation, and continuing in sin under grace is unthinkable.
Old Adam Must Be Crucified by God
Les says we cannot do anything in ourselves to deal with old Adam; God must place him on the cross and put him to death.
No Human Endeavor Can Break Old Adam's Control
Only the power of God can break the control of the old Adamic nature; even the best upbringing only produces outward inhibition, and Adam has to die.
Outside Power Is Required
Using the dead battery illustration, Les says spiritually dead Adam needs an outside power to regenerate him, and good works cannot do this.
God Kills Old Adam in Crucifixion
Paul's phrase 'our old man is crucified with him' means God kills, destroys, and puts the body of sin out of commission so we no longer serve sin.
God Reckons Old Adam as Crucified
The Holy Spirit opens our understanding to believe Christ died for us, and God reckons the old Adam as crucified; putting him to death is the only remedy.
The Fall Created the Need
Justification by faith is needed because Adam's fall brought sin and spiritual death; the human race is born dead.
Crucifixion Shows We Cannot Do It Ourselves
Crucifixion is the death of choice because no one can crucify himself; being crucified with Christ is totally, wholly, and completely a work of God.
Romans 6:6: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Paul says the old man is crucified with Christ so that sin is no longer served.
Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Grace, not law-keeping, is the basis of freedom from sin's dominion.
Romans 6:15: What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
The thought of continuing in sin under grace is immediately rejected.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Shows the contrast between death as a wage and eternal life as a gift.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Explains the universal need for justification because all are sinners.
Les Feldick says they are not 'verboten' or cast aside, but they are not a criterion for salvation. Believers are not under the legalistic system of Israel's priesthood and sacrifices; they are under grace, which is as different from law as daylight is from dark.
Les teaches that man cannot crucify himself. Crucifixion requires someone else to drive the nails and raise the cross. This pictures the theme that being crucified with Christ is nothing we can do; it is totally, wholly, and completely a work of God on our behalf.
Only to a degree. Les says good parents and a godly home can teach inhibitions and good behavior, but even the best person will still give in to the control of old Adam. Adam has to die; only God's power can break that control.
Watch the Teaching: The Wages of Sin vs. the Gift of God — Romans 6:23 Explained