It means the old Adamic nature is crucified with Christ in God's sight, yet the believer continues to live because Christ now lives in them.
According to Les Feldick, Paul was not physically crucified, but God saw him in Christ on the cross. The old Adam, the sin nature we are born with, was put to death and put out of commission. The believer is still alive, but the life now lived is Christ's life within.
Galatians 2:20 — This is the verse being asked about, where Paul directly declares 'I am crucified with Christ' and explains the resulting life of Christ in him.
Romans 6:6 — This verse reveals the same truth by connecting the crucifixion of the 'old man' with the destruction of the body of sin.
Galatians 2:20 states, '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.' This verse declares both a crucifixion and a continued life — the believer is crucified with Christ, yet Christ lives in the believer. Romans 6:2 asks, 'How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?' Romans 6:6 then explains, '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.' Romans 6:7 adds, 'For he that is dead is freed from sin.' These passages show that through Christ's death the old nature is crucified and the believer is freed from sin's dominion.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul was not literally nailed to a cross, but in the mind of God he was crucified with Christ. The 'old man' is the old Adamic nature with which every child of Adam is born. It is bent to rebellion and shows itself early in anger, lying, and bad language. At the moment a person believes the gospel, God reckons that old Adam crucified and dead. Crucifixion kills, and God puts the old Adam out of commission so the body of sin might be destroyed and believers no longer serve sin. This is not accomplished by human effort; a person cannot crucify himself. It is completely and wholly a work of God on our behalf. Nevertheless, the believer continues to live. Galatians 2:20 says, 'Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.' Les clarifies that old Adam, though declared dead in the mind of God, is still left as an influence even in the Christian life. God leaves believers in the world, and they live by the faithfulness of Christ and because of what Christ has accomplished.
No. Les Feldick points out that Paul was physically living and writing the book of Galatians when he said 'I am crucified with Christ.' He was not literally put on a cross and crucified, but in the mind of God he was. Likewise, the believer has been put to death in the mind of God on the cross of Calvary, yet remains alive on earth.
Les Feldick explains that the 'old man' of Scripture is the old Adam, the Adamic nature every child of Adam is born with. This nature is bent to rebellion and shows itself very early in life — in fits of anger, lying, bad language, and other behavior — even without being taught.
According to Les Feldick, the moment a person believes the gospel, God reckons the old Adam crucified and dead. God saw the believer in the person of Christ on the cross. This is not something the believer does for himself; it is totally, wholly, and completely a work of God on our behalf.
Les Feldick teaches that after salvation, old Adam is declared dead in the mind of God, but he is still left as an influence even in the Christian life. God kills the old Adam and puts him out of commission so that the body of sin might be destroyed, but believers still face the pressure of old Adam while living in the world.
Galatians 2:20 continues, 'Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.' Les Feldick explains that Christ lives in the believer. Though the old Adam has been crucified and declared dead in God's mind, the believer is alive, and Christ Himself now lives within him.
The Adamic Nature Shows Up Early
Les Feldick defines the old Adam as the sin nature every child is born with, demonstrating itself in children through anger, lying, and bad language without being taught.
Paul Was Crucified in God's Mind
Les Feldick uses Galatians 2:20 to show that Paul was not literally crucified; he was physically alive while writing, but in the mind of God he had been crucified with Christ.
Alive After Crucifixion
Les explains that believers have been put to death in the mind of God on the cross, yet they are alive and now have the duty to live in light of all God has done.
Dead to Old Adam at Belief
Les connects Romans 6 with Galatians 2:20: at the moment of believing, God reckoned old Adam crucified, and Christ lives in the believer.
Crucifixion Kills and Puts Out of Commission
Les teaches that crucifixion kills; God kills the old Adam and puts him out of commission so the body of sin might be destroyed and believers no longer serve sin.
The Old Man Is the Sin Nature
Les clarifies that the old man of Romans 6 is the old Adam, the sin nature, and that when we believed the gospel, that old Adam was crucified with Christ.
God Alone Crucifies Old Adam
Les uses the nature of crucifixion to show that a person cannot crucify himself; being crucified with Christ is completely a work of God on our behalf.
Old Adam Remains as an Influence
Les teaches that after believing, old Adam is crucified and declared dead in the mind of God, but he remains as an influence in the Christian 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.
This is the verse in question, declaring both the believer's crucifixion with Christ and Christ's indwelling life.
Romans 6:2: God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Paul's rhetorical question shows that being dead to sin means we should no longer continue in 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.
This verse directly connects the crucifixion of the old man with the destruction of the body of sin.
Romans 6:7: For he that is dead is freed from sin.
This verse gives the principle that death frees a person from sin's dominion.
No. Les Feldick says Paul was physically alive and writing the book of Galatians when he wrote 'I am crucified with Christ.' In the mind of God, Paul had been crucified with Christ, but he was not literally nailed to a Roman cross.
Les Feldick teaches that the old man is the old Adam, the Adamic nature every child of Adam is born with. It is bent to rebellion and reveals itself in anger, lying, bad language, and other sins without being taught.
Les Feldick explains that old Adam is declared dead in the mind of God at the moment of belief, but he is still left as an influence even in the Christian life. His power is broken and he is put out of commission, but believers still experience his presence.
No. Les Feldick points out that a person cannot drive nails into his own hands and lift himself onto a cross. Being crucified with Christ is totally, wholly, and completely a work of God on our behalf.
Watch the Teaching: What Does It Mean to Be Crucified With Christ?