Yes — believers still struggle with sin because, although God reckons the old Adamic nature as dead, in daily experience that old nature is still present and actively opposing the new divine nature.
At salvation, God gives the believer a new divine nature that cannot sin. But the old Adamic nature — the 'sin' of Romans 6 and 7 — remains in the flesh and constantly works to get the believer to do what is contrary to God's will. The Christian life therefore becomes a battle between the two natures. Les points out that grace is not a license to sin, and believers are to keep old Adam in subjection through the Spirit.
Romans 7:17-18 — Paul explains that the believer's wrong actions come from the sin that dwells in him, and that nothing good dwells in his flesh.
Romans 6:14 — Paul promises that the old Adamic sin nature does not have to have dominion over the believer under grace.
Romans 8:13 — Paul shows that the believer must, through the Spirit, put to death the deeds of the body.
Romans 6:14 says, 'For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.' In Romans 7:17, Paul describes his own experience: 'Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.' And in Romans 7:18 he continues: 'For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing.' Paul then distinguishes those who live after the flesh from those who live after the Spirit in Romans 8:5, and in Romans 8:13 he states, '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.'
Les explains that the struggle continues because the believer now has two natures. At salvation, God performs a creative act and places a new divine nature in the believer that works in consort with the regenerated spirit ([Clip 2], [Clip 6]). This new nature is divine and cannot sin. But the old Adamic nature — the 'old Adam' — is still present in the flesh, and it is the source of all the believer's problems ([Clip 0], [Clip 1]). Les stresses that God reckons old Adam as dead and defeated because Christ fulfilled the death penalty, but in daily experience old Adam is still very active, 'at our throat' before the day is over ([Clip 0], [Clip 6]). That is why in the believer's flesh dwells no good thing, and why Paul says it is no longer the true self in Christ that does the sin but the old Adam inside ([Clip 0]). Nevertheless, Les is emphatic that grace is not a license. The believer is not supposed to sin; the goal is to keep old Adam in subjection and feed the new nature. Through the Spirit, believers are to put to death the deeds of the body, and because their appetites have been changed, the things they once loved they now hate ([Clip 1], [Clip 4], [Clip 7]).
Les teaches that the word 'sin' in Romans, when used in the singular, is not talking about acts of sin such as theft or adultery. It speaks of the old Adamic nature — the old sin nature that every person is born with. That nature shows itself in a child just as soon as the child is able. It is the flesh side of the believer, and in it dwells no good thing ([Clip 0], [Clip 5]).
The new nature is divine and cannot sin. The problem is that old Adam is still right there opposite the new nature, working on the believer constantly to sin — and he succeeds too often. This leaves the believer with a royal battle: God reckons old Adam as crucified and dead, but in experience the believer still has that old nature ([Clip 1], [Clip 6]).
Les answers directly: No, it is not possible to live a sinless life. Not because the new nature can sin — it cannot — but because the old Adam is constantly working against it. However, grace is not a license. Les repeatedly says believers are not supposed to sin; they are to keep old Adam in subjection and feed the new divine nature ([Clip 1]).
Les points to Romans 8:13: through the Spirit, the believer is to put to death, or mortify, the deeds of the body. The Christian life does involve discipline. But he also emphasizes that the believer's appetites change — the things he once loved he now hates, and the things he once hated he now loves. As a result, it is not so much a matter of giving things up as having a change of appetites, while walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit ([Clip 4], [Clip 7]).
Old Adam Is the Source of the Believer's Problems
Les teaches that when a believer does wrong, it is the old Adamic nature — not the true self in Christ — that does it, and that in the believer's flesh dwells no good thing because old Adam is the source of all our problems.
Why Sinless Perfection Is Impossible
Les teaches that living without sin is impossible, not because the new divine nature can sin, but because old Adam is constantly working on the believer to sin — and he succeeds too often.
The New Nature and Identification with Christ
Les explains that at salvation the believer's spirit is regenerated and a new divine nature comes into consort with God, and that believers must identify with what Christ accomplished on the cross.
Saved Yet Still Giving In to Sin
Les points out that even after God saves us and gives us the Holy Spirit, believers find themselves constantly giving in to the old sin nature.
Walking After the Spirit, Not the Flesh
Les shows that salvation changes a person's desires — what he once loved he now hates — and that the believer walks not after the flesh but after the Spirit.
Biblical Meaning of 'Sin' in Romans
Les clarifies that the singular word 'sin' in Romans means the old Adamic nature we are born with, which shows itself in children as soon as they can show it.
The Royal Battle of the Two Natures
Les describes the believer's experience as a royal battle: God reckons old Adam as crucified and dead, but in experience the old nature is still present and active.
Mortifying the Deeds of the Body
Les teaches that the Christian life involves discipline — through the Spirit, mortifying the deeds of the body — but that the believer's appetites are changed so the things once loved are now hated.
Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Paul's promise that the old Adamic sin nature need not control the believer.
Romans 7:17: Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Paul locates the believer's wrong actions in the sin dwelling in him, not in his new self in Christ.
Romans 7:18: For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Paul shows that the flesh side of the believer — the old Adamic nature — contains nothing good.
Romans 8:5: For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Paul contrasts those who live after the flesh with those who live after the Spirit.
Romans 8:12: Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Paul reminds believers they are not obligated to live according to the flesh.
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.
The believer is to put to death the deeds of the body through the Spirit.
No. Les teaches that it is not possible to live without sin in this life. The new nature is divine and cannot sin, but the old Adam is constantly working against it and succeeds too often. Grace is not a license, but believers still find themselves giving in to the old sin nature.
God reckons old Adam as crucified and dead, and believers are to reckon him that way. But in daily experience, old Adam is still present and will be at the believer's throat before the day is over. This is the royal battle of the Christian life.
No. Les points out that even though God has saved us and given us the Holy Spirit, believers find themselves constantly giving in to the old sin nature. At the same time, salvation should produce a real change in desires, so that the things a person once loved he now hates.
Keep old Adam in subjection, feed the new divine nature, and through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body. Because the believer's appetites are changed, the things he once loved he now hates, so it is a change of appetites rather than simply giving things up.
Watch the Teaching: Why Every Believer Still Struggles With Sin — Romans 7:15-25