The Old Man is Dead: Episode 3

Summary

Andrew Wommack argues that Christians should not live in sin—not because they must fear losing salvation or God’s acceptance, but because, in his reading of Romans 6, their old sinful nature has died and they have been given new life in Christ.

Main Ideas

• Grace is not permission to sin. Wommack begins with Paul’s question in Romans 6:1—whether people should continue sinning so grace may abound—and the answer, “God forbid.” He says that teaching grace fully may prompt this question, but the answer is no.
• Holiness should not be motivated by fear of rejection. He criticizes teachings that suggest sin will make God reject someone, withdraw love, refuse prayer, or withhold salvation’s benefits. Instead, he says believers should understand what has happened to them through Christ.
• Believers are “dead to sin” through union with Christ. Wommack interprets Romans 6:3–6 as describing a spiritual reality accomplished when someone is born again: the old person was buried with Christ, and the believer is meant to walk in newness of life. He emphasizes that this change does not automatically determine a person’s thoughts and actions; its effects become evident as the person understands and believes the truth.
• The baptism in Romans 6 is not water baptism. He distinguishes water baptism from the Holy Spirit’s baptism of believers into Christ’s body. In his interpretation, Romans 6 refers to that spiritual union, not the outward act of water baptism. He says water baptism is a commanded expression of faith that follows belief.
• The “old man” is dead; sin does not mean the old nature has returned. Wommack says that believers may still sin, but this does not mean their former sinful nature has come back. He attributes continued sinful behavior to an unrenewed mind and to the body and soul not having been transformed in the same way as the spirit.
• The new spirit is righteous and, in his interpretation, cannot sin. He reads 1 John 3:9 as referring to the born-again spirit, rather than claiming that Christians’ physical actions are sinless. He argues that the spirit is made new and is united with Christ.
• Believers should adopt a new identity. Rather than identifying as “an old sinner saved by grace,” Wommack encourages Christians to regard their former self as dead and to identify their born-again spirit as righteous in Christ.
• He distinguishes God-given righteousness from self-righteousness. He interprets biblical descriptions of human righteousness as “filthy rags” as referring to people’s own efforts and conduct, not the righteousness received through faith. He says Christ becomes the believer’s righteousness, while personal conduct still matters in everyday life.

Sources and Speaker

• Speaker: Andrew Wommack.
• Biblical sources cited by Wommack: Romans 6:1–6; Mark 7:13; Hebrews 6; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2; Acts 8; Galatians 4:16; Matthew 28:19–20; John 8:32; 1 Corinthians 6:17; 1 John 4:17; 1 John 3:9; Ephesians 4:24; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Isaiah 64:6; and Philippians 3.