Yes — the Holy Spirit is the One who opens our understanding and convicts us of sin so we can see our need for Christ's substitutionary death.
Les Feldick teaches that by nature we have only body and soul with an old sin nature, and the spirit is dead and cannot believe anything. The Holy Spirit 'lights a spark' in a person and first convinces them from Romans 3:23 that they are a sinner in need of salvation. He then opens their understanding to the Gospel — that Christ died that death in their place — and when they believe, He regenerates the dead spirit.
Romans 3:23 — This is the verse Les points to when explaining the Holy Spirit's first work — convincing everyone that they are a sinner.
Romans 6:6 — It shows that the old man (old Adam) is crucified, which is what the Holy Spirit opens our understanding to see.
Romans 3:23 declares, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." This reveals the universal problem: every person born into the human race is a sinner. The Bible also speaks of the death that sin requires. As Ezekiel 18:4 states, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." In Romans 6:6, believers are told that "our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." Scripture makes it clear that a sinner is under the sentence of death, and it is the Holy Spirit who takes these truths and makes them real to the individual.
Les Feldick explains that when we are born as sons of Adam, we are nothing more than body and soul, and that soul has an old sin nature. The spirit is spiritually dead, and dead people cannot believe anything. Therefore, God the Holy Spirit must begin a work within the heart of an individual before salvation can take place.
Les Feldick teaches that the first work of the Holy Spirit is to convince a person that they are a sinner. He points to Romans 3:23 and says the Holy Spirit makes us aware that all have sinned and come short of God's glory. Les adds that we are 'not as good as we think we are.'
According to Les, our spirit is dead and dead people can't believe anything. So the Holy Spirit has to 'light a spark' within an individual. It may take time, but the Spirit opens up understanding so a person can truly see the gospel and respond to it.
The Holy Spirit enlightens our understanding so that we realize Christ died for us — in our place. Les explains that the old Adam was crucified and placed on the cross in the mind of God. When we believe, the Holy Spirit regenerates the dead spirit, restores fellowship, and comes to dwell in the person.
The Universal Need of Adam's Race
Les says that when we are born of the Son of Adam, we are nothing more than body and soul, and that soul has an old sin nature — so something must happen to restore our relationship with God.
The Holy Spirit Convicting Sinners
The Spirit convicts us that we are sinners and have broken God's Law; God has provided someone who died that death in our place.
Enlightening and Regenerating the Dead Spirit
The Holy Spirit enlightens our understanding so we see that Christ died for us, and then He regenerates the dead spirit, restores fellowship, and indwells the believer.
Substitutionary Death and the Old Adam
God's loophole is that we do not have to die in ourselves — Christ's death takes our place, and the old Adam must be crucified.
First Step: Conviction of Sin from Romans 3:23
The Holy Spirit first makes us aware that we are sinners: 'all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.'
Opening Understanding to the Gospel
Until God opens up some understanding, we cannot see the gospel; the Spirit begins this work so a person can realize Christ died for our sins.
The Spirit Is Dead; the Holy Spirit Lights a Spark
Dead spirits can't believe anything, so the Holy Spirit must light a spark within an individual to bring them to the place of believing.
Moving Upon the Population
The Holy Spirit moves upon people, convicting them by the Law of their need because they cannot do it on their own.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
This is the foundational truth the Holy Spirit uses to show every person their need for salvation.
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 connects the believer's death to Christ's crucifixion, which Les calls the crucifixion of the old Adam.
Romans 6:7: For he that is dead is freed from sin.
This shows that death is God's way of dealing with the old sin nature.
Ezekiel 18:4: Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
This is the 'first law' Les refers to — the sinner must die.
No. Les teaches that the Holy Spirit begins to work on the dead spirit before faith, convicting us of sin and opening our understanding. Once we believe, He regenerates the spirit and comes to dwell in the believer.
Because the Holy Spirit first makes us aware that all have sinned and come short of God's glory. This shows us that we are not as good as we think we are and that we need God's salvation.
Les explains that because we are sinners, the old Adam had to be put to death. In the mind of God, the old Adam was placed on the cross with Christ, so Christ's death takes our place.
Watch the Teaching: Redemption Explained: From Law to Grace (Romans 3 & 6)