Yes, the crucifixion of Christ is directly and personally relevant to every believer today, because God saw every believer in Christ as He hung on the cross.
The believer's old Adam, or old sinful nature, was crucified with Christ. This means that when Christ died, God considered the believer's old nature dead and put it out of commission, freeing the believer from its dominion. This identification is not limited by time because God is eternal; to Him, two thousand years is like a snap of the finger (2 Peter 3:8 is referenced conceptually but not quoted).
Romans 6:6 — This verse explicitly states that our old man was crucified with Christ, directly addressing the question of the crucifixion's relevance to believers.
Romans chapter 6, verse 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." This verse reveals that the believer's old sinful nature, the "old Adam," was crucified together with Christ. The purpose was to destroy the body of sin so that believers would no longer serve sin. Furthermore, verse 8 says, "Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him," indicating that death with Christ is the basis for future resurrection life. Galatians 2:20 provides a personal confession: "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." These verses show that the crucifixion is not just a past event but a present reality for believers, affecting their relationship to sin and their new life in Christ.
Les Feldick teaches that the crucifixion of Christ is directly relevant to believers today because their old Adam, or old man, was crucified with Christ. He emphasizes that when Christ hung on the cross, God saw every true believer in Him, and that this identification is not limited by time because God is eternal (Clip 2, Clip 4). This means that old Adam is dead, his power broken, and the believer is freed from sin's dominion (Clip 3, Clip 6, Clip 7). However, Les clarifies that while God reckons old Adam as dead, experientially there is still a struggle with the old nature's influence (Clip 2, Clip 6, Clip 7). The crucifixion is part of the larger scriptural pattern of death, burial, and resurrection, which God has saturated nature with as a constant reminder (Clip 0). This truth is foundational to the believer's new life and victory over sin.
According to Les Feldick, as Christ hung on the cross, God saw every true believer in Him. He also saw them in Christ in the grave and in His resurrection, so believers are also resurrected to newness of life (Clip 2). This is possible because God is omnipotent and omniscient, and with Him nothing is impossible (Clip 7). Time means nothing to God; 2,000 years is like a snap of the finger, so the death of Christ on the cross is as relevant to believers today as it was to those in Paul's day (Clip 4).
Les teaches that the moment a person believes the Gospel, God reckons old Adam as dead and crucified (Clip 5). The crucifixion kills the old man, putting him out of commission, so that the body of sin might be destroyed (Clip 3). This means that the power of the old nature over daily behavior is broken (Clip 6). However, even though God declares old Adam dead, experientially the believer still has to wrestle with its influence, but it is defeated and under subjection to the new nature (Clip 2, Clip 6, Clip 7). This is part of the power of God exercised in saving salvation; it is not something a person works to attain (Clip 1).
Les Feldick points out that if we are dead with Christ by identification with His crucifixion, we believe that we shall also live with Him (Clip 1). This is why the resurrection is fundamental to our faith. The same pattern of death, burial, and resurrection is seen throughout nature—such as a kernel of wheat dying and producing many more, or the seasons of winter and spring—as a constant reminder of this truth (Clip 0). As Christ was buried, believers were buried with Him, and as He rose in resurrection power, believers are resurrected to newness of life (Clip 2).
Death, Burial, and Resurrection Pattern in Nature
Les explains that God has saturated nature with reminders of death, burial, and resurrection, such as the change of seasons, to help believers understand this spiritual truth.
Dead to Old Adam and the Power of God
Les teaches that believers who let old Adam be crucified are dead to its desires, and this is accomplished by the power of God in salvation, not by human effort. He also connects death with Christ to the certainty of living with Him.
God Saw Every Believer in Christ
Les explains that God saw every true believer in Christ as He hung on the cross, was buried, and rose again, so believers are identified with Him in death, burial, and resurrection. He also clarifies that while old Adam is declared dead, its influence remains a struggle.
Old Man Crucified With Christ
Les connects Romans 6:6 to the old Adam, stating that the old man is crucified with Christ, and this crucifies the body of sin so that believers no longer serve sin.
Time Means Nothing to God
Les explains that even though the crucifixion was 2,000 years ago, it has effect on believers today because God is eternal and time means nothing to Him. Believers identify with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
Dead to Old Adam
Les clarifies that believers are dead to old Adam, and that at the moment of belief, God reckons him dead, citing Galatians 2:20 for the personal identification with Christ's crucifixion.
Crucified With Christ: Old Adam Dead
Les emphasizes that old Adam has been put to death and his power broken, yet experientially the believer still lives in the flesh, relying on the faithfulness of Christ.
Old Adam Crucified but Remains an Influence
Les explains that old Adam is crucified and declared dead in the mind of God, but it remains an influence in the believer's life. He also stresses that God saw believers in Christ on the cross, which is possible because nothing is impossible with 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.
This verse directly states that the believer's old nature was crucified with Christ, making the crucifixion personally relevant.
Romans 6:8: Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
This verse connects death with Christ to the promise of resurrection life, showing the pattern of death and life.
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 being crucified with Christ shows that the crucifixion is not just an event of the past but a present reality for believers.
According to Les Feldick, the crucifixion is directly relevant because your old Adam, or old sinful nature, was crucified with Christ. God saw you in Christ when He died, so your old nature is declared dead and its power broken, freeing you from sin's dominion.
Les Feldick explains that while God reckons old Adam as dead, experientially it remains an influence in the believer's life. It has been defeated and placed under subjection to the new nature, but believers still must wrestle against it.
Yes, because God is eternal and time means nothing to Him. Les Feldick says that 2,000 years is like a snap of the finger to God, so the death of Christ is just as effective for believers today as it was for first-century believers.
Watch the Teaching: Romans 6 & The Old Man Crucified With Christ — Finally Explained