The old sin nature is crucified with Christ so the body of sin is destroyed and its power is broken, and God gives the believer a new nature in its place.
Romans 6:6 says knowing that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed. Les Feldick identifies the old man as the old Adam, the sin nature every person is born with, and explains that "destroyed" means knocked out of commission, not annihilated. At salvation God creates a new divine nature, yet in experience the believer still battles the old nature.
Romans 6:6 — This verse directly answers the question by showing the old man is crucified with Christ and the body of sin is destroyed.
Romans 6:6 (KJV) 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." This is the central verse in answer to the question; it attaches the death of the old man to Christ's crucifixion and identifies the purpose as the destruction of the body of sin so sin is no longer served. Hebrews 4:12 (KJV) adds that the word of God is able to divide between soul and spirit, showing that the inward parts of man are distinct and that the old nature operates in the deepest part of the human personality.
Les identifies the "old man" in Romans 6:6 as the old Adam, the sin nature every person is born with. He points out that even a newborn will sin "just as quick as they can" because the Adamic nature is bent to rebellion, and this nature shows itself in anger, lying, and bad language without anyone teaching it. Les also describes the old nature as the inward personality—the mind, will, and emotions—intertwined with the human spirit. Because this old nature has sinned, God’s decree is that it must die. Les says the "loophole" is that the old man is crucified with Christ. Paul's words "our old man is crucified with him" mean that when we believe the gospel, God considers the old Adam as having been put to death on the cross. This is not an annihilation. "Destroyed" means the old Adam is knocked out of commission—like pulling the main breaker in a fuse box—so it has lost its power and the believer no longer has to serve it. At the same time, God does not leave the believer empty. Immediately after old Adam's death is credited, God creates a new, divine nature to take over, and the new nature works together with the regenerated spirit to influence the body. Yet in daily experience the believer still has the old nature, so life becomes a royal battle between the two.
Every child of Adam is born with an Adamic nature already bent to rebellion. Les points out that children lie, show fits of anger, and use bad language without being taught, which proves the old nature is present from birth and has already sinned. Because it has sinned, God requires that it die. The fulfillment of that requirement is found in Romans 6:6: the old man is crucified with Christ so the body of sin is destroyed.
Les teaches that the word "destroyed" in Romans 6:6 does not mean annihilated or removed; it means knocked out of commission. He compares it to pulling the main fuse in a house: the power is still there, but it no longer controls the lights. In the same way, old Adam loses his power, and the believer is no longer obligated to serve him. God sees the believer's old Adam as on the cross, crucified with Christ.
When God credits old Adam as crucified, He immediately provides a new nature to take over. This is a divine nature created by God through regeneration, and it works with the regenerated spirit to influence the body. Yet in this present life the believer still experiences the old nature—Les says "I've still got mine"—so the Christian life becomes a royal battle between the old and new natures.
Dead to the Law, Married to Christ — What Romans 7 Really Means
the ones we just read about in 2 Corinthians 4. Her eyes were just as blinded by Satan as anybody else's. But when Paul came on the scene, the Lord opened her spiritual understanding. The Lord opened her heart, but that in itself didn't do it. She had to attend to the things that were spoken by Paul. And see, that's where you and I are as believers.
Crucified With Christ
Les shows that children's natural anger, lying, and bad language prove the Adamic sin nature is present from birth; because it has sinned it must die, and the biblical answer is that the old man is crucified with Christ.
Old Man Identified
Les states that the old man of Romans 6 is old Adam, the sin nature we are born with, and that when we believe the gospel that old Adam is crucified with Him.
Inward Personality
Les describes the old Adam as the inward personality—mind, will, and emotions—intertwined with the human spirit, and says Scripture divides soul and spirit.
Inherited Rebellion
Every child born of Adam is born with a nature bent to rebellion; even a sweet newborn sins as quickly as possible.
God's View of Old Adam
God considers the believer's old Adam as on the cross, and the body of sin is defeated rather than annihilated.
New Nature Given
When old Adam's death satisfies God's demand, God creates a new divine nature to take over, but the believer still has old Adam in daily experience and faces a royal battle.
Destroyed Means Defeated
Les explains the word "destroyed" as knocked out of commission—old Adam loses power like pulling a fuse, so the believer no longer has to serve it.
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 key verse directly stating that the old man is crucified with Christ and that the body of sin is destroyed.
Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Les uses this verse to show that the soul and spirit can be divided, helping explain where the old sin nature operates.
Ephesians 2:3: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Les refers to Ephesians 2's description of being by nature disobedient to identify the old Adamic nature.
No. Les teaches that "destroyed" means the old Adam is knocked out of commission. He is not annihilated; his power is broken so that believers do not have to serve him. The analogy of pulling a fuse shows the power is still present but inactive.
Yes, in experience. Even though God reckons the old Adam as crucified and dead, Les says he still has his old Adam. The old nature is defeated, but it remains a present reality in the believer's daily life.
Les identifies the old man as the old Adam, the sin nature every person is born with. It is that inborn disposition to rebellion that manifests early in anger, lying, and bad language.
According to Les, when a person believes the gospel, the old Adam is crucified with Christ. God considers him as on the cross, so the body of sin is destroyed and loses its power. God then creates a new, divine nature to take over.
Watch the Teaching: Dead to the Law, Married to Christ — What Romans 7 Really Means