No—during the temple period, a Jew could not be saved by faith alone; faith had to be accompanied by the prescribed sacrifices and works required under the law.
Les Feldick teaches that during the Old Testament economy—including the temple period—no one came into a salvation relationship with God apart from some kind of works. Faith was first and foremost, but it was not faith plus nothing; a Jew who sinned had to bring the required sacrifice. Abraham alone is the example of faith plus nothing, and that same faith-alone truth applies to believers today.
Romans 3:28 — Paul's conclusion that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law provides the scriptural anchor for the faith-versus-works contrast in this answer.
Romans 4:1-3 — Paul uses Abraham as the example of a man whose faith was counted as righteousness, which Les contrasts with the faith-plus-works requirement of the temple period.
Genesis 12:3 — The promise that all nations would be blessed through Abraham is the starting point Les uses to show how salvation by faith began before the law and temple.
Paul's conclusion in Romans 3:28 is that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. He then asks in Romans 4:1 what Abraham our father found as pertaining to the flesh, and answers that if Abraham were justified by works, he would have reason to boast—but not before God. Scripture says Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness (Romans 4:2-3). In Ephesians 2:13, Paul writes, "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ," using the phrase "but now" to mark a point in time when a change took place.
Les teaches that all through the Old Testament—and therefore during the temple period—no one came into a salvation relationship with God apart from some kind of works. Faith was first and foremost, but it was faith plus the required sacrifice, not faith plus nothing. If an Israelite who had sinned said he saw no need to bring his best lamb, he would not have been accepted; he had to follow his faith with the works required. Abraham did no such thing—he simply believed God and left Ur. Les applies this same faith-plus-nothing principle to believers today, while describing the period between Abraham and Paul as faith plus works.
Yes. Les Feldick emphasizes that Abraham was saved by faith plus nothing. Abraham did not sacrifice, practice circumcision, or have law; he simply did what God said when he was told to leave Ur. Paul uses Abraham as the example, concluding that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Les Feldick says that throughout the Old Testament, no one came into a salvation relationship with God apart from some kind of works. They brought a sacrifice and worshiped at the temple, and these were connected to their faith. If an Israelite had sinned and tried to tell God he saw no need to bring the required sacrifice, he would not have been accepted. He had to follow his faith with the works that were required.
Les explains that believers today are children of Abraham spiritually, not physically, because both Abraham and the believer in this age of grace enter by faith plus nothing. The idea of faith plus nothing began with Abraham, and that is the spiritual connection. However, becoming a child of God does not make a person a Jew; a Jew is a Jew and a Gentile is a Gentile.
Abraham's Faith Alone
Les shows that Abraham entered into salvation by faith alone when he believed God's command to leave Ur, and that the gospel was "preached before" in Genesis 12:3.
Old Testament Faith Plus Works
Les states that throughout the Old Testament, including the temple period, no one was saved by faith alone; they had to bring the required sacrifice and perform the prescribed works.
Abraham's Faith Plus Nothing
Les explains that Abraham was saved by faith plus nothing—no sacrifice, circumcision, or law—and that this is the same way believers today enter by faith alone.
Personal Faith Under the Covenant
Les notes that even though Israel was under the covenant promises of Abraham, each Jew still needed a personal faith for genuine salvation, not just descent from Abraham.
Justification by Faith: What Does It Really Mean?
Now that's faith, and you can't add anything to it, and we're going to see that now in these next few moments. All right, read it again. You are not under the law, but under grace. Now if you'll come back with me, we'll try to stay in Romans at least for a little bit, come back with me to Romans chapter 3.
Faith Had to Be Followed by Works
Les clarifies that in the Old Testament economy a person had to follow his faith with the works required by God, such as bringing the sacrifice, which he says Abraham did not do.
Justified by Faith Without Works
Les emphasizes Paul's conclusion that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law, showing that in the present age salvation is by faith plus nothing.
Spiritual Connection to Abraham
Les teaches that believers become children of Abraham spiritually because both are saved by faith plus nothing, but this does not make a believer a Jew.
Genesis 12:3: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
God's promise to Abraham that all families of the earth would be blessed through him, the verse Les connects to the gospel preached beforehand.
Romans 3:28: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Paul's conclusion that justification is by faith, not by works of the law, which Les uses to define faith plus nothing.
Romans 4:1: What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
Paul's opening question about what Abraham found, setting up the argument that he was justified by faith.
Romans 4:2: For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Paul's argument that Abraham cannot boast before God if justification were by works.
Romans 4:3: For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
The definitive statement that Abraham's faith was credited as righteousness.
Ephesians 2:13: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Paul's "but now" marks a change from the former dispensation, which Les uses to show salvation had not always been by faith plus nothing.
Yes. Les Feldick says Abraham was saved by faith plus nothing. Abraham did not sacrifice, practice circumcision, or have the law; he simply did what God said and believed the promise that all nations would be blessed through him.
Les explains that faith was the foundation of salvation in the Old Testament economy, but it was not faith plus nothing. The required sacrifices and works had to accompany that faith. A Jew who sinned had to bring the prescribed sacrifice; saying he did not need it would not have been accepted.
No. Les teaches that a believer becomes a child of Abraham spiritually because both are saved by faith plus nothing, but becoming a child of God does not make a person a Jew. A Jew is a Jew and a Gentile is a Gentile.
Watch the Teaching: Justified by Faith Alone — What Romans 4 Really Teaches