Only the Creator, Savior, and Lord can help us deal with our sinful nature.
Our sinful nature, called 'old Adam,' is something inherited from Adam and is bent on rebellion against God. It is not something we can control or overcome through human effort. Only God's power, through the crucifixion of our old man with Christ, can break its dominion over our lives.
Romans 6:6 — This verse directly states that our old man (sinful nature) is crucified with Christ, which is the only way to deal with it.
Romans 7:17 — This verse explains that the power of sin in a believer is the old Adam within, not the new self in Christ.
The Bible teaches that all of us are born with a sinful nature inherited from Adam. In Romans 5:12, it says that sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. This nature is not just a tendency to do wrong; it is a state of being that is hostile to God and cannot please Him. In Romans 7, the apostle Paul describes his own struggle with this nature, saying, "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." He realizes that it is not his true self, the new creation in Christ, but the sin that dwells in him. The only remedy is that the old self, the old Adam, must be crucified with Christ. Romans 6:6 declares, "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 death is not something we do ourselves, but something God has done through Christ's substitutionary death. No amount of human effort, religious activity, or self-discipline can destroy this sinful nature. It must be put to death, and that only happens through identification with Christ's death and resurrection.
Les Feldick emphasizes that our sinful nature, which he calls "old Adam," is a real and powerful force within every descendant of Adam. This nature is not something we can see or handle physically; it is a spiritual problem that separates us from God. Human effort, even of well-meaning and disciplined people, is utterly ineffective in dealing with this nature. Just as a well-trained horse can appear controlled until an outside force triggers its true disposition, people can appear respectable and successful while old Adam still lurks beneath the surface. Joining a church, keeping commandments, or performing good works does nothing to solve the underlying issue. Les explains that the only way to have the power of this old Adamic nature broken is through the power of God alone. God has done this in a substitutionary manner: Christ died our death, and our old man was crucified with Him. This is not about improving ourselves but about reckoning that old man as dead and yielding to the new life in Christ. Even after salvation, believers still struggle with old Adam, but we are no longer under its dominion; we have the power to keep it under control through the Spirit.
Les teaches that our sinful nature is called "old Adam" and is the source of all our problems (Clip 1). It is the nature we are born with, bent to rebellion against God (Clip 5). Even a newborn shows this nature by sinning as soon as possible, such as displaying anger, lying, or using bad language without being taught (Clip 2). This nature has already sinned before we even know what is right or wrong (Clip 2).
Les makes it clear that no human endeavor can break the control of our old Adamic nature (Clip 4). Even good parents and godly homes can only teach a certain amount of inhibitions; at some point, even the best person will give in to old Adam (Clip 4). The law cannot help either. Paul thought he knew the law perfectly, but when confronted with the ascended Lord, he realized he was the biggest lawbreaker of all (Clip 0). Merely being disciplined, trained, or respectable does not address the root problem.
Les emphasizes that the power of old Adam must be totally broken, and that can only happen through the power of God (Clip 4). The old man must be crucified with Christ, which is what the Scripture means by "our old man is crucified" (Clip 2, 4, 7). This is a substitutionary death: God died our death in our place (Clip 4). It is not something we achieve through our own efforts; it is all accomplished by the grace and power of God (Clip 7).
Yes, Les teaches that old Adam never quits working in believers (Clip 6). Even as believers, we are guilty in our thought processes within minutes of waking up (Clip 6). Old Adam is the part that gets greedy, envious, and covetous (Clip 6). Paul himself described this struggle in Romans 7, saying that when he does what he knows is wrong, it is not his true self in Christ but old Adam who dwells in him (Clip 1). We must not give in to old Adam but keep him under control, as Paul said, "I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection" (Clip 1).
Paul's Realization Through the Law
Paul thought he knew the law, but the law showed him he was a sinner, needing a Savior.
Old Adam in Believers
Even believers struggle, but the true self is in Christ; old Adam is the source of sin.
Need for Crucifixion
Old Adam must die; God demands death, but we are crucified with Christ.
Inherited Sin Nature
We are sinners by birth; the sin nature is contrary to God, like a horse that can be controlled until provoked.
Breaking the Power
Only God's power can break the control of old Adam; we can't do it ourselves.
What Is Old Adam?
Old Adam is the Adamic nature we are born with, bent to rebellion.
Old Adam's Ongoing Work
Old Adam never stops working in believers, causing greed, envy, and covetousness.
Overcoming by Grace
Overcoming the old nature is accomplished by God's grace and power, not works.
Romans 5:12: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Shows that we have a sinful nature inherited from Adam, which is the root of our problem.
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.
The key verse teaching that the old sinful nature must be crucified with Christ.
Romans 7:17: Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Paul describes the struggle; it is the old sinful nature within, not the new self in Christ.
Romans 7:20: Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Further emphasizes the old Adam as the culprit in the believer's life.
Romans 7:25: I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Paul declares that Jesus Christ is the one who delivers from the body of this death.
No. Les teaches that no human endeavor can break the control of our old Adamic nature. Even good parenting or self-discipline is not enough; only the power of God can break its control.
Old Adam is the sinful nature we are born with as descendants of Adam. It is bent to rebellion against God and is the source of all our sins. It must be crucified with Christ.
God deals with it through the crucifixion of our old man with Christ. In a substitutionary manner, Christ died our death, and the controlling power of old Adam is broken. This is accomplished by God's grace and power.
No, not completely. Les explains that old Adam never quits working in believers, and we will struggle until we leave this life. But we are no longer under its dominion and can keep it under control as Paul did.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Law Can't Save You — Romans 3:19-20 Explained