Yes — when you believe the gospel, God reckons your old sin nature (the old Adam) as crucified with Christ and put out of commission.
The gospel is Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Romans 6:6 says our old man is crucified with Christ so that the body of sin might be destroyed. Les Feldick explains this means old Adam is killed and loses his power, not that the old nature is annihilated or removed.
Romans 6:6 — This is the verse Les uses to show that the old sin nature (old man) is crucified with Christ and the body of sin is rendered powerless.
Romans 6:6 speaks directly to this question: '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 old man is the person we were in Adam, and his death with Christ breaks the body of sin's hold. Verse 7 adds, 'For he that is dead is freed from sin.' Paul personalizes this in Galatians 2:20: 'I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.' The Scripture therefore attaches the believer's old identity to the cross, and it connects that crucifixion with being freed from sin's mastery.
Les defines the old man as the old Adam — the Adamic nature every child of Adam is born with. He says it is the nature that is bent to rebellion and is the source of all our problems. In salvation God kills that old Adam; crucifixion does what it does — it kills. Les describes this as God putting old Adam 'out of commission.' Les is careful to explain what 'destroyed' means. The Greek word does not mean removed and annihilated; it means knocked out of commission. He compares it to pulling the main fuse: the power is still there, but the lights go out. Old Adam has lost his power, so the believer no longer has to serve him. Les stresses that this crucifixion happened 'with him' — when Christ was crucified, God considered our old Adam crucified too. By faith we identify with what Christ accomplished. God reckons old Adam dead, but experientially the believer still wrestles with old Adam and must keep the body under control. Meanwhile, the old sin nature becomes a new divine nature that begins to work with God and brings the believer into growth in grace.
Les says the 'old man' in Romans 6:6 is the old Adam — the old Adamic nature that every son of Adam is born with. It is the nature that is bent to rebellion. Les illustrates this by noting that even a sweet newborn baby will sin as soon as they are able to show it. Old Adam is the source of all our problems.
No. Les explains that the word 'destroyed' in Romans 6:6 does not mean removed and annihilated. It means knocked out of commission. He uses the illustration of pulling the main fuse: all the lights go out, but the power is still there. The old Adam loses his power over the believer, but he is still present. Even after salvation, Paul says it is no more I that do wrong, but the old Adam who dwells in me.
Les calls the phrase 'with him' the crucial part of Romans 6:6. When Christ was crucified, God considered the believer's old Adam crucified too — even though Christ died long before we were born. This is not our experience at conversion; it is God's reckoning of what happened on the cross. Les shares that this was a specific question he was once asked, and he points to the 'with him' as the answer.
Because old Adam has been put to death and his power over daily behavior is broken, Paul says we are freed from sin. Yet Les is clear that God doesn't remove us from the world when He saves us; we must put up with the world's pressures and with old Adam, who is experientially still in force. The believer's responsibility is to keep the body under control and not give in to old Adam, while living by the faithfulness of Christ.
The Gospel Defined
Les shows the gospel is specifically Christ's death, burial, and resurrection — the message one receives and understands.
Crucifixion Kills the Old Man
When we are crucified with Christ, God kills the old Adam and puts him out of commission so we no longer serve sin.
What the Old Man Is
The old man is the old Adamic nature everyone is born with, and it is bent to rebellion from the moment a child can act.
The New Divine Nature in the Believer
The old sin nature gives way to a new divine nature that now works with God and starts to affect the body in the Christian walk.
Destroyed Means 'Put Out of Commission'
The word destroyed does not mean annihilated; old Adam loses his power, like a main fuse with the switch pulled, but the power is still there.
Crucified With Him
The crucial part is 'with him' — our old Adam was crucified when Christ was, even for people living today.
Old Adam Still Lives Experientially
Even after salvation, when a believer sins it is old Adam dwelling in him; the believer must keep the body under control.
God Reckons Him Dead; Christ Lives in Me
Old Adam has been put to death and his power over daily behavior is broken; God leaves us in the world, and we live by the faithfulness of Christ.
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 the old sin nature is crucified with Christ so its power is broken.
Romans 6:7: For he that is dead is freed from sin.
This explains the result of the old man's crucifixion: freedom from sin's dominion.
Romans 7:17: Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Paul describes the believer's ongoing conflict with the old sin nature that remains.
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 personalizes the crucifixion with Christ and the new life that results.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
This is the gospel message that must be believed and understood.
Les says no. The old Adam is not annihilated; he is 'knocked out of commission.' Romans 6:6 says the body of sin might be destroyed, but Les explains that word means old Adam has lost his power, not that he has been removed.
Les emphasizes the phrase 'with him' in Romans 6:6. God considers the believer's old Adam to have been on the cross with Christ. This is God's reckoning; when Christ was crucified, our old Adam was crucified too.
Les teaches the old man is the old Adam — the Adamic nature every person is born with. It is the nature bent to rebellion that causes even a newborn to show sin quickly. It is also called the old sin nature.
Les says old Adam has been put to death and his power over daily behavior has been broken, but he is still there experientially. The believer must keep the body under control, not give in to old Adam, and live by the faithfulness of Christ.