Crucifying the old Adam means the old sin nature is put to death spiritually through being crucified with Christ.
Les Feldick teaches that the old Adam is the sin nature we are born with. Romans 6:6 says our old man is crucified with Him, so that the body of sin might be destroyed and we should no longer serve sin. This does not mean annihilation; it means the old Adam is defeated and loses its power over the believer. It is God's work through the cross, not human effort.
Romans 6:6 — This is the verse Paul uses to state that our old man is crucified with Christ—the exact meaning of crucifying the old Adam.
Romans 6:6 says, "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 purpose is clear: the old man is put to death with Christ so that the body of sin loses its power and the believer no longer serves sin. Verse 7 continues, "For he that is dead is freed from sin." In Galatians 2:20 Paul applies this personally: "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." So Scripture connects crucifixion of the old self directly to Christ's cross, resulting in freedom from sin's dominion.
Les Feldick identifies the "old man" in Romans 6:6 as "that sin nature" — "the old Adam, that nature that we're born with." In Ephesians 2, he notes, we were dead in trespasses and sins because we were under the control of that sin nature. According to Les, when we believe the gospel, that old Adam is crucified with Christ. He emphasizes "with him" as the crucial phrase: "That's when our old Adam was crucified, when Christ was." God sees our old Adam as on the cross. Crucifixion kills. It puts the old Adam out of commission. But "destroyed" in Romans 6:6 does not mean annihilated; instead, the old Adam is defeated, knocked out of commission, and has lost his power — like pulling the main fuse at the fuse box. Even so, old Adam can still be experienced in this life. God reckons him dead, and his power over daily behavior is broken. That death is God's work, not human effort; only the power of God can break the control of our old Adamic nature.
Les says the "old man" of Romans 6:6 is "that sin nature" — "the old Adam, that nature that we're born with" (Clip 1). In Ephesians 2, believers were "dead in trespass and sins" because of the old Adam they were born with (Clip 2). The old Adam is the invisible inner self that lives within the body and controls the unbeliever.
Les stresses the phrase "with him": "That's when our old Adam was crucified, when Christ was" (Clip 3). When someone believes the gospel, that old Adam is crucified (Clip 1). Crucifixion kills, and God kills the old Adam and "puts him out of commission" (Clip 2). This is a substitutionary work — "God now, in a substitutionary manner, died my death, He died your death, in your place" (Clip 7).
No. Les teaches that the word "destroyed" in Romans 6:6 "does not mean removed and annihilated, it means knocked out of commission. It's lost its power." He compares it to pulling the main fuse: the power is still there but no longer available until someone flips it back on (Clips 4, 5). Old Adam is defeated, not eliminated; God sees him as on the cross (Clip 4).
No. Les says, "No human endeavor can do that. Only the power of God can break the control of our old Adamic nature." Even good parents and godly homes can teach kids inhibitions, but "there comes a point in the best person's life when they're still going to give in to the control of old Adam." The only way out is that "Adam has to die. Adam has to be crucified" (Clip 7).
Dead to the Law, Married to Christ — What Romans 7 Really Means
Acts 16, and come on down to verse 13. And here we have Paul and, I think it's still Barnabas, up in the city of Philippi, northern Greece, and they've gone out to a little riverside park. Evidently there was no synagogue in Philippi. And there he found a few Jewish women in a devotional time. They couldn't have full synagogue services, of course.
Old Adam Defined as the Sin Nature
Les identifies the 'old man' of Romans 6:6 as 'old Adam,' the sin nature everyone is born with, and says that when we believe the gospel, that old Adam is crucified.
The Killing Work of Crucifixion
Les shows that crucifixion kills—God kills the old Adam and puts him out of commission, citing Romans 6:6-7 so we no longer serve sin.
Crucified With Him
Les stresses 'with Him' as crucial: old Adam was crucified when Christ was, so the believer's old Adam is connected to Christ's cross.
Destroyed Means Defeated
Les explains that the body of sin's destruction is not annihilation; old Adam is defeated, and God sees our old Adam as on the cross.
Old Adam's Power Broken
Using the main fuse illustration, Les teaches that old Adam has lost his power and is knocked out of commission, so believers no longer serve him.
God Reckons Him Dead
Les says old Adam has been put to death and his power over daily behavior is broken, though experientially he still presses in; God reckons him dead.
God's Work, Not Human Effort
Les insists no human endeavor can break old Adam's control; only God's power can, with Adam put to death in a substitutionary way.
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 is the central verse showing that the old man is crucified with Christ and its purpose is freedom from serving sin.
Romans 6:7: For he that is dead is freed from sin.
This explains the result of the crucifixion of the old man: death brings freedom from sin.
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, which Les cites to show the believer's new life after old Adam is put to death.
Les says the old man is the old Adam, the sin nature with which we are born. It is the nature that Ephesians 2 says was disobedient and under sin's control.
No. Les teaches the Greek word for destroyed means knocked out of commission, not annihilated. Old Adam loses his power, like a main fuse that is pulled, but he is still present experientially.
No. Les says no human endeavor can break old Adam's control. Good parents and godly homes can teach inhibitions, but only the power of God can break the control of our old Adamic nature.
Les stresses 'with him.' The old Adam was crucified when Christ was. When someone believes the gospel, God counts that as true for them.
Watch the Teaching: Dead to the Law, Married to Christ — What Romans 7 Really Means