Les Feldick Bible Study

Are we justified by faith or by works of the law?

A man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the law. Justification means being made just as if he had never sinned. Salvation is therefore faith plus nothing; it is not by works or deeds of the law, and there is no room for argument.

Les explains that the conclusion is settled: a man is justified by faith, and the next phrase is “without the deeds of the law.” He reminds listeners that justified means made just as if we’d never sinned. He illustrates with a lady in one of his classes, possibly at Macalester, who painted an odd-looking character with a quizzical look and captioned it “faith plus nothing, perfect.” People hear that it is faith plus nothing and ask whether they must do this or that, but Les says no, not for salvation. It is faith plus nothing, even if hard to swallow, because that is what the book teaches. Therefore, we are justified by faith without the law.

Romans 3:28

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

More Questions

How is a person justified according to Romans 3:28?

According to Romans 3:28, a person is justified by faith apart from the deeds or works of the law—not by works.