The Old Man Is Dead: Episode 8

Summary

Andrew Wommack teaches from Romans 6 that Christians should understand themselves as having a new identity in Christ, rather than as people with two competing natures. In his interpretation, the “old man” was crucified with Christ and is gone. Believers may still struggle with sinful behavior, but he attributes those patterns to ways of thinking and responding learned before conversion—not to an unchanged sinful nature. He says renewing the mind with the truth of Scripture helps those patterns change.

Main Ideas

• Grace, not performance, is the basis of a believer’s relationship with God. Wommack distinguishes grace—receiving through what Jesus has done—from law, which he describes as relating to God on the basis of personal performance. He argues that the two cannot be combined as the basis for acceptance.
• The same principle applies after conversion. Wommack says Christians often treat salvation as a gift of grace but then assume that answered prayer, healing, or God’s favor must be earned through good behavior. He sees this as mixing grace and law.
• The law does not free people from sin. Citing several biblical passages, Wommack argues that the law exposes and intensifies sin, brings condemnation, and shows people that they cannot establish their own righteousness. In his view, it was meant to lead people to rely on God’s mercy.
• Freedom from condemnation changes how believers see themselves. He describes condemnation as feeling unfit for God’s use and doubting that God will act on one’s behalf—not necessarily doubting God’s existence or power.
• Grace is not permission to live in sin. Wommack addresses the question raised in Romans 6: If believers are not under the law, does that mean they can continue sinning? He emphasizes Paul’s answer, “God forbid,” and gives two reasons Christians should pursue holy living:
  1. Their nature has changed. A person who is born again has a new nature and, Wommack says, a changed desire or “want to.” Learning what is already theirs in Christ helps that change show in their actions.
  2. Sin has harmful consequences. Wommack says yielding to sin gives Satan an opening to bring destruction and harm into a person’s life.
• Knowledge and acknowledgment matter. Wommack says believers need to learn and acknowledge what they have in Christ. He uses Philemon 1:6 and John 8:32 to support the idea that recognizing the truth helps produce change and freedom.

Teaching Sequence

1. Understand Romans 6 as saying the old sinful nature was crucified with Christ.
2. Distinguish the new nature from old habits and thought patterns.
3. Relate to God on the basis of Jesus’ work, rather than trying to earn acceptance through performance.
4. Renew the mind by learning and acknowledging what Scripture says is true of a believer.
5. Reject sin—not to earn God’s favor, but because of the believer’s changed nature and because sin can bring destructive consequences.

The program also includes announcements promoting Wommack’s podcast and teaching materials, followed by a brief preview of Andrew’s Classics.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Andrew Wommack — Main teacher and presenter.
• Promotional announcer — Directs viewers to the teaching materials.
• Mike Pickett and Carrie Pickett — Appear in a promotional preview for Andrew’s Classics.
• Dean Saxton — Quoted by Wommack; not otherwise heard in the excerpt.
• Biblical passages cited by Wommack: Romans 6:1–16; Romans 7; Romans 8:1; Romans 11:6; Romans 4; 1 Corinthians 15:56; 2 Corinthians 3:7, 9; Colossians 2:6; Hebrews 9:12–15 and 10:10, 14; Philemon 1:6; Proverbs 23:7; John 8:32 and 10:10.