Yes—through the power of God alone, by identification with Christ's crucifixion, and through prayer.
The answer is not self-effort but reliance on what God has done. Romans 6:6 says the old man was crucified with Christ so the body of sin would be destroyed, and Les Feldick emphasizes that only the power of God can break old Adam's control. Christ, the second Adam, has already covered every area of temptation, and believers also pray for one another as they face Satan's attacks.
Romans 6:6 — This verse names the death of the old man with Christ as the way the body of sin is put out of commission.
Romans 7:25 — This verse marks the point of deliverance: 'I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord' and declares which law the believer serves with the mind.
Paul writes in 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.' The believer's old self is identified with Christ's crucifixion, with the purpose that sin's dominion be broken. In Romans 7:21 Paul describes the believer's ongoing inner conflict: 'I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.' Yet he does not leave the believer without hope. Romans 7:25 declares, 'I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.'
Les Feldick teaches that the Christian life is not a religion or a self-improvement program. It is 'all accomplished by the grace of God and by His power, and that alone' (Clip 1). The old sin nature—what he calls 'old Adam'—is present in every person from birth, showing itself even in children through fits of anger, lying, and bad language (Clip 6). That old nature must die; it was crucified with Christ so that 'the controlling factor of old Adam might be destroyed, or put out of commission' (Clip 6). No human endeavor can break old Adam's control; only the power of God can do it (Clip 2). When old Adam is crucified, God replaces him with a new divine nature by a creative work (Clip 4). Believers nonetheless experience a constant conflict—'when I would do good, evil is present with me' (Clip 0)—and the more they try to please the Lord, the more Satan attacks. For that reason Les urges believers to constantly pray for one another (Clip 0). Christ, as the second Adam, withstood every temptation and has covered every area of temptation believers face (Clip 3). Deliverance is through Jesus Christ the Lord, just as Paul declares in Romans 7:25 (Clip 4).
Les Feldick says the old Adamic nature is not removed at salvation. It shows up in children almost immediately—'fits of anger' and lying—before any teaching. Even after God saves a person and gives the Holy Spirit, the believer still constantly gives in to the old sin nature. Les calls the presence of evil when we want to do good 'a fact of life' that all believers experience.
No. Les states plainly, 'No human endeavor can do that.' Good parents and a godly home can restrain behavior, but at some point the best person gives in to the control of old Adam. The only way out from under that control is for Adam to be crucified. Romans 6:6 says the old man was crucified with Christ so that the body of sin might be destroyed.
Victory begins with what Christ has already done. Les says God replaces old Adam with a new divine nature by a creative work when a person is saved. Christ, the second Adam, did not succumb to Satan's temptations, and so He has covered every area of temptation believers face. Paul's conclusion in Romans 7:25 points to deliverance through Jesus Christ our Lord. Les also stresses prayer: believers face an adversary who opposes anything done for God, so they need to pray constantly for one another.
The Believer's Daily Conflict
Les shows that sin's influence remains a fact of life for believers; the more they seek to do good, the more Satan attacks, which is why Christians must pray for one another.
Overcoming Old Adam
Les introduces the subject of Romans 6 as how believers overcome old Adam and enter new life, emphasizing it is accomplished entirely by God's grace and power.
No Human Solution
Les teaches that no human effort, parenting, or self-discipline can break the control of the old Adamic nature; Adam must be crucified, and only the power of God can do that.
Christ the Second Adam
Les points to Christ, the second Adam, who withstood every attack of Satan and thereby covered every area of temptation believers face.
New Nature Replaces Old Adam
Les explains that when old Adam is crucified, God replaces him with a new divine nature, and the Christian life is the conflict between these two.
New Divine Nature Generated
Les describes the old sin nature becoming a new divine nature in the believer, and he insists we must identify with what Christ accomplished on the cross.
Old Man Crucified
Les illustrates how the old Adamic nature shows up in children's anger and lying, then applies Romans 6:6: the old man was crucified with Christ so the body of sin might be put out of commission.
Still Giving In
Les acknowledges that even saved people with the Holy Spirit and every spiritual gift still constantly give in to the old sin nature, showing the ongoing reality of the conflict.
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.
Les points to this verse to explain that the old man was crucified with Christ so the body of sin could be destroyed.
Romans 7:21: I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Paul describes the law of sin he experiences whenever he tries to do good.
Romans 7:25: I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Paul thanks God for deliverance through Christ and states that the believer serves God's law with the mind.
No. Les says no human endeavor can break the control of old Adam; even a good parent can only teach children to restrain themselves up to a point. The old nature has to be crucified, and only the power of God can do that.
Les acknowledges that believers still find themselves giving in to the old sin nature. He calls the ongoing inner conflict 'a fact of life' that every believer experiences, even after salvation.
The Bible says, 'I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.' Les agrees and explains that God replaces old Adam with a new divine nature, and Christ, the second Adam, has covered every area of temptation.
Watch the Teaching: Why Every Believer Still Struggles With Sin — Romans 7:15-25