No — Scripture and Les Feldick teach that only those whose faith rests on Jesus Christ and His finished work are in Christ, not all monotheistic religions.
Les Feldick is emphatic that 'anything short of the finished work of the cross' leaves people 'doomed to a lost eternity.' While he never points a finger at individuals, he insists that unless Jesus Christ and His finished work is the foundation of a person's faith, they are on shaky ground. He agrees the Bible is narrow and exclusivist, citing Acts 4:12 that there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Religions that claim later prophets or further revelation are building on something other than the one foundation Paul laid.
1 Corinthians 3:11 — This verse states that no other foundation can be laid than Jesus Christ, directly answering whether any other religious system can be the basis for being in Christ.
Acts 4:12 — This verse declares that salvation is found in no other name, showing that being in Christ is not a generic monotheism but specific faith in Jesus.
1 Corinthians 3:10 — Paul, as a wise masterbuilder, laid a foundation, and that foundation is the finished work of Christ—highlighting the exclusive starting point for salvation.
The Scripture passages cited in these lessons are direct and exclusive. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 3:10–11, 'According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.' The one foundation for the church and for salvation is Jesus Christ. No alternative foundation exists. Acts 4:12 reinforces this: 'Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.' The Bible does not present the worship of one God as sufficient; it requires the specific name of Jesus Christ.
Les Feldick answers with an emphatic no. In 1 Corinthians 3, he explains that Paul laid a foundation for the church age, and that foundation is Jesus Christ crucified, buried, and risen. He says, 'other foundation can no man lay… which is Jesus Christ.' He then warns that 'anything short of the finished work of the cross, I'm afraid people are doomed to a lost eternity' (Clip 2). So a person is not in Christ simply because they believe in one God; they must be resting on the finished work of Christ. Les acknowledges that this position is disputed: 'the world just can't accept that. You know, they call it exclusivism, and it is exclusivist' (Clip 3). But he insists, 'There is no such thing' as salvation outside of faith in the Gospel of Christ (Clip 5). The Bible is a narrow book, he says, and so is the way of salvation. He also addresses religions that claim a later prophet or further revelation: Paul's foundation was the finished work of the cross, and 'no one can add to it' (Clip 4). He is careful, however, not to judge individuals. 'I'll never look at someone and say, hey, you're lost. That's not my prerogative,' but he will say that without Christ as the foundation, a person is 'in pretty shaky ground' (Clip 2).
Les addresses the existence of cults and religions that claim to have further revelation and that their prophet came later than Jesus. He says this contradicts 1 Corinthians 3:11. When Paul laid the foundation for the church, it was the finished work of the cross. That foundation is final; no one can add to it or replace it.
Les admits that the exclusive nature of the Gospel is a narrow concept, but the Bible itself is narrow. He rejects the idea that people can be saved outside of faith in the Gospel of Christ, calling that a departure from the truth of Scripture. He says, 'There is no such thing according to Scripture.' In context, he points to Acts 4 and the principle that there is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved.
Les clarifies that Paul is not the foundation. Paul is the wise masterbuilder who laid the foundation, but the foundation itself is Jesus Christ. Paul says, 'For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.' The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to claim this role, and his writings are trustworthy. Everything for the church age—doctrine and practice—is built on Christ.
The Righteousness of God Without the Law Explained
the one everybody likes to push back in the corner. They don't want to fool with Paul, but it's to that apostle that all these great truths of salvation are now revealed. And that's why he says then in verse 21 here, "...but now, as a result of the ascended Lord revealing to him that the finished work of the cross did something for the human race." It did the things that man can't do.
Christ, Not Paul, Is the Foundation
Les explains that the foundation is Jesus Christ, not Paul. Paul and other apostles built upon that one foundation, and all their teaching fits together for God's eternal purpose.
Finished Work of the Cross as the Only Foundation
Les teaches that the foundation of the Christian faith is Christ's death and resurrection. Anything short of that finished work leaves people doomed to a lost eternity, and without it their faith is on shaky ground.
Exclusivism Is Biblical
Les says the world calls the Gospel 'exclusivism,' and he agrees it is exclusive, because there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Faith must rest on Christ crucified, buried, and risen—Jesus plus nothing.
No Further Revelation Beyond Paul's Foundation
Les warns that religions claiming a later prophet or further revelation are trying to add to the one foundation. When Paul laid the foundation, it was the finished work of the cross, and no one can add to it.
No Salvation Outside Faith in Christ
Les insists that there is no salvation outside faith in the Gospel of Christ. He acknowledges it is a narrow concept, but the Bible is a narrow book, and there is no other way.
Paul Laid the Foundation; Christ Is the Foundation
Les reads 1 Corinthians 3:10–11 to show that Paul, as a masterbuilder, laid a foundation that is Jesus Christ. Everything we believe and hope for is in Christ and His finished work.
Paul's Apostolic Authority and the Foundation
Les shows that the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to claim he laid the foundation as a wise masterbuilder, but Paul never claimed to be the foundation. Christ alone holds that place.
1 Corinthians 3:10: According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
Paul is the masterbuilder who laid the foundation, but the foundation itself is Jesus Christ, making the basis of salvation exclusive.
1 Corinthians 3:11: For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
This is the key verse that no other religious system or foundation can replace Jesus Christ as the basis for being in Him.
Acts 4:12: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
This verse reinforces that salvation is not found in any generic monotheism but specifically in the name of Jesus Christ.
No. He says the foundation for anyone going to heaven is Jesus Christ and His finished work. Anything short of that leaves people doomed to a lost eternity (Clip 2).
Because there is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). He says the world calls it exclusivism, but it is exclusive because Jesus is the only foundation (Clip 3).
Les says such religions claim further revelation, but the foundation Paul laid was the finished work of the cross, and no one can add to it (Clip 4).
Watch the Teaching: The Righteousness of God Without the Law Explained