Being crucified with Christ puts the old sin nature to death, freeing the believer from its dominion, though it still remains present experientially.
Les Feldick teaches that the old man—the old Adam, the sin nature we are born with—was crucified with Christ the moment we believed. God reckons that old nature dead and out of commission. At the same time, the old Adam is still present in the flesh experientially and can trip us up, so the believer must reckon it dead and live by the faithfulness of Christ.
Romans 6:6 — This verse directly states that our old man is crucified with Christ so the body of sin might be destroyed.
Galatians 2:20 — Paul applies the crucifixion personally, saying he is crucified with Christ and yet lives by Christ in him.
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 very next verse adds, "For he that is dead is freed from sin" (Romans 6:7). Paul makes it personal in Galatians 2:20: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Then Paul summarizes the outcome in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Les defines the "old man" as old Adam—the sin nature every person is born with, the nature that was disobedient and under the control of sin. When a person believes the gospel, God reckons that old Adam crucified with Christ. Les emphasizes that crucifixion kills; old Adam is put out of commission and his power over daily behavior is broken. Yet Les is careful to show that God does not remove the believer from the world. The old Adam is still present experientially and can still trip us up. That is why Paul says we are dead to old Adam and must now live by the faithfulness of Christ. In place of the old nature, God imparts a new divine nature that cannot sin, so the believer is never left empty.
Les consistently equates the biblical "old man" with "old Adam"—the sin nature we are born with. He points to Ephesians 2, where we are described as those who were by nature disobedient and under the control of the sin nature. When we believed the gospel, this old Adam was crucified with Christ, just as Romans 6:6 states.
Yes, experientially. Les says God reckons the old Adam dead, but "old Adam is still in force, experientially." We still live in the flesh and the old nature can still trip us up. The believer's position before God is that the old man is dead, but the daily walk requires reckoning it dead and trusting in Christ who lives in us.
When old Adam dies, Les explains, God imparts a new divine nature that is in consort with the eternal God. This new nature cannot sin and begins to have an effect on the body, producing growth in grace. Paul describes this as becoming a new creation—old things pass away and all things become new. Les also connects the righteousness of God through faith in Christ with the covering God provided in the Garden, showing that the believer is clothed with Christ's righteousness.
Clothed With God's Righteousness by Faith
Les ties the righteousness of God revealed in Romans 3:22 to the skins that covered Adam, explaining that believers are clothed with righteousness through faith in Christ.
Old Man Defined as the Sin Nature
Les identifies the 'old man' as old Adam, the sin nature we are born with, and says this old Adam was crucified with Christ when we believed.
Crucifixion Kills Old Adam
Les explains that crucifixion kills; God kills old Adam, puts him out of commission, and frees the believer from serving sin.
God Reckons Old Adam Dead, but He Remains Experientially
Les says God reckons old Adam dead, yet we still live in the flesh and must contend with old Adam experientially; the life we now live is by the faithfulness of Christ.
Old Sin Nature Becomes New Divine Nature
Les describes how the old sin nature becomes a new divine nature that is in consort with God and begins to affect the believer's walk and growth.
Crucified With Him at Christ's Cross
Les stresses the phrase 'with him' — our old nature was crucified when Christ was crucified — and again defines the old man as old Adam.
Dead to Old Adam by Reckoning
Les clarifies Romans 6:2 as 'dead to old Adam'—when we believe, God reckons the old Adam dead and crucified.
New Creation, New Divine Nature, Old Flesh Remains
Les teaches that when old Adam dies, God imparts a new divine nature that cannot sin, while the old flesh remains and can still trip us up.
Romans 6:2: God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Paul's opening question that frames the whole passage on death to sin.
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 central verse on the old man being crucified with Christ.
Romans 6:7: For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Shows the result of that crucifixion — freedom from sin's dominion.
Romans 6:11: Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The believer's responsibility to reckon the old nature dead.
Galatians 2:20: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Paul's personal testimony of living out the crucified-with-Christ reality.
2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Describes the new creation that results from the death of the old man.
God reckons it dead—crucified with Christ—but Les says old Adam is still in force experientially and can still trip us up. The believer has a new divine nature that cannot sin.
Les teaches that Paul means dead to old Adam. The moment we believe, God reckons the old Adam dead and crucified, so the believer should no longer live in that old nature.
The old life is over; the believer is a new creation, old things pass away, and the new divine nature begins to influence the body and the daily Christian walk.
Watch the Teaching: Redemption Explained: From Law to Grace (Romans 3 & 6)