No, absolutely nothing can separate believers from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.
According to Romans 8, neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature can separate us from God's love in Christ. Les Feldick emphasizes this security comes from being under the blood of Christ, not from our own merit or works.
Romans 8:38-39 — This is the key passage where Paul explicitly lists things that cannot separate us from the love of God.
Romans 8:35 asks, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" and lists tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword. Paul then declares in verses 38-39 that he is persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Additionally, II Timothy 1:9 states that God has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace.
Les Feldick teaches that the believer's security is based solely on the finished work of Christ and being under His blood. He emphasizes that no power, whether demonic or angelic, can remove us from that place of safety. He often illustrates this with the analogy of the Israelites in Egypt, who were safe under the blood of the Passover lamb. Les also stresses that this security is not a license to sin; grace is not license. Furthermore, he points out that our salvation and calling are not according to our works but according to God's own purpose and grace, which was established before the world began. This understanding should bring believers to a place of trust and assurance, not fear or perpetual insecurity.
According to Les Feldick, the reason nothing can separate us is that we are 'under the blood' of Christ. Just as the Israelites were safe in Egypt because of the blood of the Passover lamb, believers are safe today because of the blood of Christ. No power on earth or in heaven can take us from under that blood protection (Clip 1). Additionally, the security is grounded in the fact that God's purpose and grace were given us in Christ Jesus before the world began (II Timothy 1:9), and we were called according to His purpose, not our works (Clip 3).
Les Feldick emphatically teaches that grace is not license. He says that God does not hamstring us, but it is not a license to sin. Believers are called with a holy calling (II Timothy 1:9), and the assurance of security is not permission to do wrong. This balance is crucial to understanding the doctrine of eternal security (Clip 2).
Our security is not based on who we are or what we have done. Les Feldick states that we never maintain our assurance of salvation because of our own merit. It is only because of what Christ has done on the cross. We were saved and called according to God's own purpose and grace (II Timothy 1:9), and we were already in the mind of God before He created Adam (Clip 3).
Does God Harden Hearts? Romans 9:18-24 and the Potter's Clay
Everything began with Him, everything is in His control even today. Ephesians 1, verse 11, "...in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated," same thing as elected or called, "...being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things, after the counsel of..." Whose will? His. See that? Now, everything comes together according to His design.
Under the Blood
Les teaches that believers are under the blood of Christ, and just as the Israelites were safe in Egypt, no power can take us from that protection.
Grace Is Not License
Les clarifies that the security of the believer does not give a license to sin; grace is not a license.
Called According to God's Purpose
Les explains that we are saved and called not according to our works but according to God's own purpose, and we were in His mind before creation.
Nothing in Creation Can Separate
Les emphasizes that nothing in all creation, whether demonic or angelic, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Noah's Example
Les uses Noah finding grace as an example of God's love bringing about a place of safety, just as He has done for believers.
Security Not Based on Our Merit
Les stresses that our security is because of the work of the cross, not because of what we have done or our merit.
Perpetual Insecurity vs. Promises
Les contrasts living in perpetual insecurity with the promises of Scripture, showing that justification is God's work, not our own.
Romans 8:38-39: For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul's definitive statement that nothing in all creation can separate believers from God's love in Christ.
Romans 8:35: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
The rhetorical question that sets up the list of potential separators, all of which are insufficient.
II Timothy 1:9: Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Grounds our security in God's eternal purpose and grace, not our works.
According to Les Feldick, sin does not remove a believer from the body of Christ or from God's love, because our security is based on the work of Christ, not our performance. However, this is not a license to sin; grace is not license. Believers are called to a holy calling.
No. Les teaches that neither tribulation nor persecution nor any other circumstance can force a believer out of their place in the body of Christ. God guarantees our security because of the work of the cross, not because of what we have done.
Watch the Teaching: Does God Harden Hearts? Romans 9:18-24 and the Potter's Clay