Yes, Paul presents two distinct choices for life.
According to Paul, the two choices are either serving old Adam, the fallen human nature, which leads to death, or responding obediently to God's grace, being set free from old Adam, and becoming a servant of righteousness, which leads to eternal life. This is an either-or decision with no third option. Les Feldick emphasizes this in his teaching on Romans 6, showing that believers must choose which master to serve.
Romans 6:16 — Paul directly states that we are servants to whom we obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness.
Romans 8:13 — Paul contrasts living after the flesh (death) with mortifying the deeds of the body (life).
Romans 6:16 (KJV) says, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey? whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" This verse encapsulates the two choices: yielding to sin which leads to death, or yielding to obedience which leads to righteousness. Romans 8:13 (KJV) further clarifies, "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." Thus, the Bible presents a clear dichotomy: serving sin and the flesh results in death, while serving righteousness and the Spirit results in life.
Les Feldick explains that Paul's teaching in Romans 6 and 8 presents two exclusive choices: either let old Adam rule supreme in your life, or let the grace of God overwhelm old Adam and rule supreme. He emphasizes that this is a matter of choice—God does not force anyone. The believer must consciously decide to 'let not old Adam continue to reign' (Romans 6:12). Les also clarifies that no human effort, such as works, church membership, or baptism, can achieve the death of old Adam; only God's power can break his control. When a person obeys from the heart the doctrine delivered (Paul's gospel), they become a servant of righteousness, not old Adam.
Serving old Adam means giving obedience to the fallen human nature inherited from Adam. Les Feldick notes that old Adam is under Satan's control and leads to spiritual death and eternal doom. Paul teaches that if we let old Adam reign in our mortal body, we experience misery and death. This is not a forced condition but a deliberate choice, as the word 'let' implies choice. The believer must 'reckon' old Adam dead and not yield to his control.
The alternative choice is to respond obediently to God's invitation and grace, turning one's back on old Adam and being made free from him. This results in becoming a servant of righteousness, which means right standing with God for eternity. Les emphasizes that this righteousness is not earned by works but is the work of Creator God Himself. Those who have obeyed the gospel are to thank God, not take credit themselves.
Les Feldick teaches that no amount of human endeavor—works, church membership, baptism, sacraments—can put old Adam to death or effect justification by faith. Only the power of God can break the control of the old Adamic nature. In Clip 0, Les states that these human efforts cannot do what is accomplished in Romans 6. This change must be the work of Creator God alone.
Serving old Adam leads to spiritual death and eternal doom. Serving righteousness leads to God's righteousness, bliss, and heaven for eternity. Les Feldick, in Clip 3 and Clip 4, connects this to Romans 8:13, where living after the flesh results in death, but mortifying the deeds of the body through the Spirit results in life.
Human Endeavor Cannot Achieve Justification
Les explains that no amount of works, church membership, baptism, or sacraments can accomplish what Paul describes in Romans 6—the death of old Adam and justification by faith.
The Choice of Letting Old Adam Reign
Les emphasizes that the word 'let' implies choice, and believers must choose not to let old Adam reign in their mortal bodies. This choice determines their experience of life or misery.
What Does It Mean to Be Crucified With Christ?
Because old Adam has been put to death. He's crucified. His power over our daily behavior has been broken. And he's dead. And that's what Paul experienced. And he says, I have been crucified with Christ, yet nevertheless I live. Not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life which I now live, in the flesh, day by day, week in and week out. See, God doesn't take us out when He saves us.
Two Rulers: Old Adam or Grace
Les presents the two options: let old Adam rule supreme or let God's grace rule supreme. He stresses that God does not force anyone; the choice is ours.
Life Through the Spirit vs. Death Through Flesh
Les connects Romans 8:13 to the two choices: living after the flesh leads to death, but putting to death the deeds of the body through the Spirit leads to life.
Why Every Believer Still Struggles With Sin — Romans 7:15-25
Now as we come into verse 15, these are sometimes verses hard to comprehend, but maybe it will help if you understand that now Paul is writing, I think, as the believer, who now has reckoned old Adam as he's been teaching, crucified, dead, but he is still left as an influence even in our Christian life.
Redemption Explained: From Law to Grace (Romans 3 & 6)
And then Paul can go on and teach throughout the book of Romans that now since the old Adam is dead, we don't have to let him rule and reign in our lives. We reckon him dead. But all right, let's go back to Ephesians 4 and come in again to those verses we looked at last week. Verse 22, that you put off concerning the former manner of living or conversation, the old man, that old Adam, Ephesians 4.
Only God Can Break Old Adam's Control
Les states that no human endeavor can break the control of the old Adamic nature; only the power of God can, through the substitutionary death of Christ.
Romans 6:16: Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey? whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
This verse directly presents the two choices: serving sin unto death or obedience unto righteousness.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
This verse summarizes the outcomes of the two choices: death for sin, eternal life for God's gift.
Romans 8:13: For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Paul contrasts living after the flesh (death) with mortifying the body's deeds through the Spirit (life).
Yes, Paul in Romans 6:16 presents two choices: yielding to sin which leads to death, or yielding to obedience which leads to righteousness. There is no third alternative.
Serving old Adam means giving obedience to the fallen human nature inherited from Adam. This leads to spiritual death and eternal doom, as taught in Romans 8:13.
Serving righteousness involves turning one's back on old Adam and being made free from him, resulting in right standing with God and eternal life.
No. Les Feldick teaches that no amount of human endeavor, such as works or church membership, can put old Adam to death or achieve justification by faith. Only God's power can.
Watch the Teaching: The Wages of Sin vs. the Gift of God — Romans 6:23 Explained