Yes—living in accordance with your position in Christ means recognizing that you are no longer in the flesh but in Him, and walking after the Spirit rather than Old Adam.
Scripture says the believer is not in the flesh but in the Spirit if the Spirit of God dwells in him (Romans 8:9). Les Feldick explains that this is a completed change of position: you are in Christ, a child of God. Practically, this means walking after the Spirit and through the Spirit putting to death the deeds of the old body, which is Old Adam.
Romans 8:9 — It states the believer's position has changed from flesh to Spirit, with the indwelling Holy Spirit as the defining evidence.
Romans 8:13 — It gives the practical condition for true life: through the Spirit you mortify the deeds of the body, rather than living after the flesh.
Galatians 2:20 — It describes the crucified-with-Christ position that makes the believer live by the faithfulness of Christ.
Romans 8:9 says, "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." The believer's position has changed from the flesh to the Spirit. Romans 8:12-14 then draws the practical conclusion: "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 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. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
Les Feldick teaches that salvation is a positional change. A believer is no longer in the flesh but in Christ: "Your position has changed. You're no longer in the flesh. You are now a child of God. You are in the body. You are in Christ" (Clip 1). This is not a moral upgrade of the old nature; it is a new standing before God, evidenced by the indwelling Holy Spirit (Clips 1, 7).
Les explains Paul's Romans 7:15 experience—"For that which I do I allow not"—as the conflict of two natures. Old Adam is still present experientially even though God has reckoned him crucified and dead. This is why a believer can want to do right and still find the old nature pulling against the Spirit. Old Adam is defeated, but he is still with us.
Les points to Romans 8:9 and says the believer is no longer in the flesh but in the Spirit. The position has changed: you are in Christ, in the body, a child of God. The proof of this changed position and of eternal life is the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Les teaches that the Spirit becomes our guideline for living. Instead of walking after the flesh or Old Adam, the believer walks after the Spirit. Through the Spirit we mortify the deeds of the body. This is not a matter of forcing yourself to give up things you love; as Les says, your appetites change so that the things you once loved you begin to hate, and vice versa.
Les warns that a mere outward form of religion is not enough. The proof is whether the Spirit of God dwells within you. Romans 8:9 says if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. Les adds that you cannot simply "dress it up" for an hour on Sunday and hope to spend eternity with the Creator; the indwelling Spirit must actually be present.
Two Natures in the Believer
Les uses Romans 7:15 to show that the believer's struggle with sin is the warfare between Old Adam and the new nature that came in by the power of God.
Position Changed to 'In Christ'
Les explains that a believer is no longer in the flesh but in Christ; the indwelling Holy Spirit is the proof of this changed position and of eternal life.
Mortify the Deeds of the Body
Les applies Romans 8:12-14: through the Spirit, believers put to death the deeds of the old body and live; being led by the Spirit is what sons of God do.
The Spirit as Guideline
Les teaches that walking after the Spirit rather than after Old Adam means the Spirit becomes the guideline for living; love for one's neighbor fulfills the Law.
Walk by Faith
Les reminds us that because the old body is still subject to death and sickness, we walk by faith, taking God at His Word.
Crucified With Christ
Les shows Paul's personal model: Old Adam is crucified and his power over daily behavior is broken, yet the believer still lives in the flesh by the faithfulness of Christ.
Change of Appetites
Les emphasizes that living by the Spirit involves discipline, but it is not forced self-denial; God changes your appetites so you stop loving what you once loved.
Spirit's Indwelling as Proof
Les says the indwelling Holy Spirit is the criteria and proof of being in Christ; without Him, no amount of Sunday religion is enough.
Romans 8:9: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
It directly states the positional change of the believer from flesh to Spirit.
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.
It gives the practical contrast between living after the flesh and living by the Spirit.
Romans 8:14: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
It shows that being led by the Spirit is the identifying mark of God's children.
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.
It describes the believer's position of crucifixion with Christ and living by His faithfulness.
Ephesians 2:5: Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
It shows that God made believers alive together with Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:7: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
It expresses the believer's daily walk as a faith-walk, not one based on visible circumstances.
Romans 13:10: Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
It shows that the Spirit-led life of love fulfills the Law.
Romans 7:15: For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
It explains the believer's struggle with the old Adamic nature.
No. Les Feldick points out that even the apostle Paul said, "For that which I do I allow not" (Romans 7:15). Old Adam is still present experientially, though God has reckoned him crucified and dead. Living in accordance with your position means walking after the Spirit, not living perfectly in the flesh.
Les teaches that you walk after the Spirit, making the Spirit your guideline for living. Through the Spirit you mortify the deeds of the body. He also says God changes your appetites, so you do not have to force yourself to give up things; you begin to hate what you once loved.
The indwelling Holy Spirit. Romans 8:9 says if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. Les Feldick emphasizes that this is the proof of salvation and eternal life, and that dressing up religion for an hour on Sunday is not enough.
No. Les warns that you cannot take these things in one ear and out the other or dress it up on Sunday morning for an hour and hope to spend eternity in the presence of your Creator. The Spirit of God must actually dwell in you.
Watch the Teaching: Why Every Believer Still Struggles With Sin — Romans 7:15-25