No — no one can earn favor with God through deeds; Abraham was counted righteous simply by believing God, not by working.
Scripture says that if Abraham were justified by works he would have reason to glory, but not before God. Instead, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. Les Feldick emphasizes that works are anything done in the flesh — joining a church, getting baptized — while faith is beyond the flesh. No amount of human effort, even doing one's best, can solve the real problem of old Adam.
Romans 4:2 — Abraham, the great man of faith, could not glory before God even if he were justified by works.
Romans 4:4 — If salvation were by works, the reward would be a debt owed to the worker, not a gift of grace.
Romans 4:5 — The one who does not work but believes on God is counted righteous.
Romans 4:2–3 asks what Abraham found as pertaining to the flesh and answers: 'For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.' Verse 4 then states the principle: 'Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.' And verse 5 gives the alternative: 'But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.' John 5:29 speaks of those who have done good coming to the resurrection of life, and 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.' The consistent Scriptural message is that favor with God comes through faith, not through earned debt.
Les begins with the problem of old Adam. He says old Adam is in the realm of the invisible, and only the Creator Himself can deal with the depths of the human spirit. People may say, 'I'm doing the best I can. I think I'll make it,' but Les makes clear that this self-assessment misses the actual problem. He distinguishes works from faith: works are things like joining a church or getting baptized — anything we do in the flesh — while faith is something beyond the flesh. Abraham is his test case: 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.' Abraham did nothing but believe; he did not repent, get baptized, join something, or grovel in the dirt. Les also stresses the boasting issue: if Abraham were justified by works, he could glory — but never before God. In heaven, nobody will be rehearsing all they did to get there. Working for salvation is really an attempt to make God a debtor, which God will never allow. Even Abraham failed while waiting, proving that God's favor is not based on human effort.
Les defines works as anything we do in the flesh — simply deciding to do a thing: 'I guess I'll go join that church. I guess I'll go get baptized.' Faith is something beyond the flesh, so there is no physical action that can merit favor like Abraham's. Abraham's response was just to believe God, and that believing was counted as righteousness.
Scripture says that if Abraham were justified by works he could glory, but not before God. Les explains that heaven will not be full of people proudly listing everything they did to get in. Instead, God will never let anyone brag to Him, and trying to work for salvation is an attempt to put God in debt — something He will never allow.
Taken by itself, John 5:29 can sound like a reward for good behavior. Les points out that the whole of Scripture must be considered: the only way to please God is by faith. Hebrews 11:6 confirms that without faith it is impossible to please Him. So Jesus' phrase 'they that have done good' refers to those who have become people of faith, not to earning favor by deeds.
The Problem of Old Adam
Les explains that old Adam is in the invisible realm and only the Creator can deal with him; saying 'I'm doing the best I can' doesn't fix the real problem.
Abraham's Boasting Excluded
He shows that Abraham could boast to people about his works, but never to God; heaven won't be a place where everyone recites what they did.
Believing Is the Only Response
He demonstrates that Abraham simply believed God, and God counted it as righteousness — no physical deed can merit such a gift.
Works Defined and Rejected
He defines works as anything done in the flesh, such as joining a church or being baptized, and contrasts that with faith, which is beyond the flesh.
Abraham Simply Believed
He drives home that Abraham did nothing but believe — he didn't repent, get baptized, join something, or grovel in the dirt.
No One Will Brag to God
He notes that if Abraham were justified by works he could brag, but God will never let anyone brag before Him; Abraham even failed while waiting.
Working for Salvation Makes God a Debtor
He warns that working for salvation makes God a debtor; God will never let anyone be a debtor to Him.
'Done Good' Means People of Faith
He says John 5:29 cannot be taken alone; all Scripture shows the only way to please God is by believing His Word.
Romans 4:2: For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Shows that even Abraham could not boast before God if his standing were based on works.
Romans 4:3: For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
States the exact basis of Abraham's righteousness: believing God, not doing works.
Romans 4:4: Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Reveals that a works-based approach turns grace into an earned obligation.
Romans 4:5: But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Contrasts the one who works with the one who simply believes on God.
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.
A verse that can sound like good deeds earn life, but must be understood in light of the whole of Scripture.
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.
Confirms that the only way to please God is faith, not works.
No. Les says that a person who says 'I'm doing the best I can. I think I'll make it' is still dealing with old Adam in the flesh. Old Adam is in the invisible realm, and only the Creator can deal with it. Doing one's best or keeping commandments does not solve the real problem.
According to Scripture, he simply believed God. Les emphasizes that Abraham did not repent, get baptized, join something, or grovel in the dirt — he believed, and God counted it to him for righteousness.
Les says that verse cannot be taken alone. When all Scripture is studied, there is only one way we can please God, and that is by faith. Without faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6), so 'done good' means those who have become people of faith.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Law Can't Save You — Romans 3:19-20 Explained