No — good deeds and religious practices are not enough to be accepted by God; acceptance comes only through faith plus nothing.
Les Feldick teaches that God says we can do nothing to merit favor with Him. Works religion is doomed to failure because human effort cannot touch the invisible part of a man's makeup that must be changed. Even religious practices such as baptism, church membership, visiting the sick, and giving to the poor are works that God will not recognize when done to gain salvation.
Romans 3:20 — States plainly that by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in God's sight.
Hebrews 11:6 — Declares that without faith it is impossible to please God, which is the standard for all good works.
Proverbs 14:12 — Warns that a way that seems right to man ends in death, exposing the error of self-chosen religious efforts.
The Bible teaches that human good deeds cannot earn acceptance with God. Romans 3:20 says, "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." The law reveals sin; it does not justify. Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Without faith, even good deeds cannot please God. Proverbs 14:12 warns, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." A person may think his good behavior and religious practices are enough, but that path leads to death. John 5:29 mentions that those who have done good will come to the resurrection of life, but this must be understood in light of the whole of Scripture: the only way to do good in God's eyes is by faith. Thus, good deeds are not the basis of acceptance; faith is.
Les Feldick teaches that no one can approach God on the merit of what they have done. God says we can do nothing to merit favor with Him, regardless of what denominations or theologians teach. Works like baptism, church membership, visiting the sick, giving to the poor — all done in the energy of the flesh — will not be recognized by God when done for salvation. Justification is by faith plus nothing. Les uses Adam and Eve's fig leaves as an example of man's rationalization: they thought covering their nakedness would make God accept them, just as people today think their good deeds and religious practices will make God accept them. He also uses Cain, who rationalized that God should accept the offering of his own choosing rather than what God required. God rejected Cain because he did not do it by faith. Les emphasizes that works religion is doomed because human effort cannot change the invisible part of a person; only God can. Unless God sees faith and the shed blood, He cannot redeem.
Good deeds are not enough because they are done in the energy of the flesh. Les says that baptism, church membership, visiting the sick, and giving to the poor are all works, and when the world tries to do them for salvation, "it won't work" — God will not recognize them. The scriptural premise is that justification is by faith plus nothing. Good works are valid only after salvation, not as a means to earn acceptance. Without faith it is impossible to please God, so good deeds done without faith cannot be considered good in God's eyes.
Religion is man's attempt to merit favor with God through self-made solutions. Adam and Eve's fig leaves are the first example: they rationally thought covering their nakedness would make God accept them. Cain similarly thought God should accept what he chose to bring rather than what God required. Les says people today still rationalize: "If I do this or that, surely God will accept me," but God will not accept them any more than He did Cain. It must be God's way, and it must be by faith.
Yes. Les says that good deeds in their own respective places, after salvation, are fine and are what God expects. The problem is when people try to do them for salvation. Works done in the energy of the flesh, even baptism, will not be recognized by God as a means of salvation. But after faith, good works are the appropriate response to what God has done.
Man's Rationalization: Fig Leaves
Les explains that Adam and Eve's fig leaves represent man's rationalization — trying to cover their sin with their own effort rather than trusting God's provision. It shows that self-made religious attempts never solve the real problem.
Going Through the Motions Without Faith
Les teaches that a person can go through all the religious motions, but if it is not done by faith according to God's instructions, it will not be accepted. He uses the example of a man bringing a sacrifice just because his neighbor did.
Works Cannot Save
Les lists baptism, church membership, visiting the sick, and giving to the poor as works that cannot gain salvation. They are acceptable after salvation but not as a means of being accepted by God.
Good Deeds Must Be Done by Faith
Les clarifies that those who do good in God's eyes are those who have faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God, so 'doing good' in Scripture refers to a life of faith, not mere works.
Works Religion Is Doomed
Les compares works religion to trying to charge a battery by washing it — no amount of human effort can fix the inner man. Only God can change the invisible part of a person.
Rationalizing That God Will Accept Me
Les shows that mankind still says, 'If I do this or that, surely God will accept me,' but God will not accept anyone unless He sees faith and the shed blood. God's hands are tied without these.
No Merit in What We Have Done
Les insists that you cannot approach God on the merit of what you have done. No matter what denominations or theologians teach, God says we can do nothing to merit favor with Him. Abraham was counted righteous because he believed God.
Cain's Rationalization Rejected
Les uses Cain to show that God will not accept a person who rationalizes and lives by a behavior pattern, expecting acceptance. It must be God's way, and it must be by faith. God rejected Cain's self-chosen offering.
Proverbs 14:12: There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Les quotes this to show that man's rationalized approach to God, thinking good deeds and religious practices are enough, leads to death.
Romans 3:20: Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
This verse is the core scriptural proof that keeping the law and doing good deeds cannot justify anyone before God.
Hebrews 11:6: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Les refers to this to establish that the only way to do good in God's eyes is by faith, not by works.
John 5:29: And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Les cautions that this verse alone could be misinterpreted to mean works save, but the whole of Scripture shows that those who do good are those who have faith.
Genesis 3:7: And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
This verse is the basis for Les's teaching that Adam and Eve's fig leaves were a self-made religious covering, an attempt to solve their problem their own way.
Genesis 4:5: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
This event shows that God rejected Cain's offering because he did not bring it by faith according to what God required, illustrating that religious practices done man's way are not accepted.
No. The Bible says by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified, and Les Feldick teaches that no one can approach God on the merit of what they have done. Good deeds are only acceptable to God when they flow from faith.
No. Les says these are works done in the energy of the flesh. They are fine after salvation, but when done to gain salvation, God will not recognize them. Salvation is by faith plus nothing.
Religion is man's attempt to merit favor with God. The fig leaves of Adam and Eve and Cain's offering are examples of religion — self-made efforts to cover sin and gain acceptance.
No. Sincere good deeds without faith are still not enough. Hebrews 11:6 says without faith it is impossible to please God. Les teaches that God will not accept a person any more than He accepted Cain, no matter how sincere.
Yes. Les says good deeds in their own respective places, after salvation, are fine and are what God expects. But they are not the basis of salvation; they are the result of faith.
Watch the Teaching: The Moment Death Entered the World: Genesis 3 & Romans 5 Explained