Yes — because the Holy Spirit is the answer to the believer's dilemma described in Romans 7.
Les Feldick teaches that in the first seven chapters of Romans, the Holy Spirit is mentioned only once, leaving Paul in a dilemma about how to overcome the old nature. When Romans 8 begins, the Holy Spirit is named 19 times, showing that the Spirit is the remedy for the conflict of chapter 7. The indwelling Holy Spirit is the means by which the believer is set free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:2 — This verse introduces the 'Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus' which sets the believer free from the law of sin and death — the central remedy Paul presents in Romans 8.
Romans 8 opens with no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, and verse 2 declares that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made believers free from the law of sin and death. The chapter repeatedly emphasizes the Spirit's role: those who are after the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:5), and to be spiritually minded is life and peace (Romans 8:6). The Spirit is called the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ, and the apostle writes that if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in the believer, He will also quicken mortal bodies (Romans 8:11). Verse 14 states that as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. The Spirit also bears witness with the believer's spirit that he is a child of God (Romans 8:16), helps our infirmities in prayer, and makes intercession according to the will of God (Romans 8:26–27). Scripture plainly shows the Holy Spirit is central in this chapter, providing the answer to the moral struggle described in Romans 7.
Les Feldick points out a striking contrast in Paul's letter to the Romans: the Holy Spirit is almost absent from the first seven chapters, mentioned once in Romans 5, and then appears 19 times in Romans 8. He teaches this is no accident — Paul spent all of Romans 7 asking how a believer can do what the new nature wants while the old nature keeps pulling him down. The breakthrough comes in Romans 8, which is 'filled with' the Holy Spirit, because the Spirit is the answer to the dilemma of the old Adam. Les also connects this with the 'law of sin and death' that has operated since Adam ate. Sin and death have been tied together ever since Adam took the first bite, and the only remedy is the Gospel — Christ died, was buried, and rose again. For the believer, the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus supersedes the old law of sin and death. The indwelling Holy Spirit, which every believer receives when they believe the Gospel, becomes the controlling factor that sets them free from the dominion of the old nature. Les says the whole chapter shows that the Holy Spirit is the answer for all the dilemmas of chapter 7.
Les Feldick observes that the Holy Spirit is never mentioned in Romans 7. Paul is almost overwhelmed with the internal conflict — 'the good that I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do.' He is asking how he can do what the new nature wants when the old nature keeps tipping the balances. The Holy Spirit is not introduced as the answer until Romans 8.
In Romans 8:2, Paul describes the 'law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus' that frees the believer from the 'law of sin and death.' Les explains that sin and death have been tied together since Adam ate — the moment he sinned, death came, and that law has been with mankind ever since. The law of the Spirit of life is the fact of life that believers can experience every day, totally setting them apart from the fact of life which is sin and death. The only remedy for sin and death is the Gospel, and the Spirit of life is what breaks the old law's hold.
Les says, 'Nineteen times, if I'm not mistaken. Nineteen times the Holy Spirit is referred to in Romans chapter 8, and only once before in the previous seven chapters, and that's in Romans chapter 5.' He encourages readers to 'sit up and take attention' at this remarkable emphasis, because the presence of the Spirit in every part of the chapter signals that He is the remedy for the believer's struggle.
Les Feldick teaches that if you have believed the Gospel, the Holy Spirit is in you, and if the Holy Spirit is in you, you are a believer — the two conclusions are flip sides of the same coin. Because the Spirit indwells the believer, 'There is now no condemnation,' sins are forgiven, and the believer is a new creation. The Spirit is the evidence that you are no longer in the flesh but in the Spirit, and therefore in Christ.
The Law of the Spirit of Life vs. Sin and Death
Les teaches that since Adam ate, sin and death have been tied together, and the only remedy is the Gospel; the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus sets the believer free from that old law.
19 Mentions Only in Romans 8
Les highlights the sudden explosion of Holy Spirit references — 19 times in Romans 8 compared with only one mention in the previous seven chapters — signaling the Spirit's importance.
The Remedy for Romans 7
Les explains that Romans 7 describes Paul's dilemma — doing what he doesn't want to do — and Romans 8 answers it with the Holy Spirit, mentioned 19 times in one chapter.
Romans 7 Has No Holy Spirit
Les notes there is no mention of the Holy Spirit in all of Romans 7, leaving Paul wrestling with the old nature, which sets up the Spirit's entrance in chapter 8.
Old Nature vs. New Nature Struggle
Les shows that Romans 7:19 pictures a believer torn between the old and new natures, and that chapter 8 immediately provides the Spirit as the answer.
What the Bible Really Says About the Old Sin Nature
The Holy Spirit is just moving upon the population, convicting men by the Law, as we saw in the earlier program, of their need of something, because they can't do it on their own. So along comes the Apostle Paul, and he lays it out so plainly, and that's why we're going to take our time coming through these books of Romans and Ephesians especially.
What Paul Teaches That You Won't Find in the Gospels
Let�s turn a few pages and come to Romans chapter 8, and I�m just going to drop all the way down to verse 11. This is what you�re not going to see back there in the Gospels, not even in John. Romans 8. Romans 8.
Indwelling Spirit Confirms Believers
Les teaches that the indwelling Holy Spirit is the proof of belief in the Gospel, leading to no condemnation, forgiveness, and new creation — all tied to Romans 8.
Romans 8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
This opening verse sets the theme that those in Christ are free from condemnation, a truth made possible by the Spirit's work.
Romans 8:2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
This is the key verse Les uses to show the Spirit breaking the old law of sin and death.
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.
Les quotes this verse to show the contrast between flesh and Spirit that Romans 8 develops.
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.
This verse teaches that the indwelling Holy Spirit is the mark of a true believer.
Romans 8:11: But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Paul shows the Spirit's power — the same power that raised Christ — is at work in the believer; Les points to this as distinctively Pauline teaching.
Romans 8:14: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
This verse ties being led by the Spirit to the believer's identity as a son of God.
Romans 8:16: The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Paul says the internal witness of the Spirit confirms the believer's adoption, a theme Les emphasizes.
Romans 8:26: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
This verse shows the Spirit's ongoing ministry of helping believers in prayer, fitting the chapter's emphasis on the Spirit.
According to Les Feldick, the Holy Spirit is referred to 19 times in Romans chapter 8. He often says '19 times, if I'm not mistaken' and 'if I've counted correctly,' but he consistently uses the number 19.
Les Feldick points out that the Holy Spirit is never mentioned in Romans 7. Paul is wrestling with the old nature and the inability to do what he wants, and the Holy Spirit is not brought in until Romans 8, where He is introduced as the remedy for that dilemma.
Les Feldick teaches that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is the fact of life that believers can experience every day, and it totally sets them apart from the other fact of life which is sin and death. It is the counteracting law that supersedes the law of sin and death that has been with mankind since Adam ate.
Watch the Teaching: Romans 8:2 Explained — Free from the Law of Sin and Death