Yes — Jesus came as the true Light so that all men, not just a few, might believe through Him.
John's Gospel records that John the Baptist was sent to bear witness of the Light 'that all men through him might believe' (John 1:7), and it calls Jesus 'the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world' (John 1:9). Les Feldick stresses that no one will ever be able to say, 'I never had a chance.' Yet believing is still required — God is the justifier of the sinner who believeth in Jesus.
John 1:7 — This is the verse most directly on point: John the Baptist was sent as a witness 'that all men through him might believe' — answering the question with an emphatic 'all.'
John 1:9 — Identifies Christ as the true Light that enlightens every man coming into the world, showing the universal reach of His coming.
John's Gospel, chapter 1, introduces John the Baptist as 'a man sent from God.' He 'came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.' John himself 'was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.' Then the Gospel states: 'That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world' (John 1:6-9). The Scripture also records the confirming answer Jesus gave when John the Baptist questioned whether He was the Christ: 'Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them' (Matthew 11:4-5). And in Romans 3:26, God is declared to be 'just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus' — the one who believes is the one justified.
Les Feldick emphasizes the word 'all' in John 1:7. John the Baptist came for a witness to bear witness of the Light, 'that all men through him might believe' — and Les points out this means 'not just a few' (Clip 1). He then takes his students to John 1:9: 'That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.' He calls it 'a frightening statement' because it means no one will ever be able to say, 'I never had a chance' (Clip 6). Les applies this directly to the question of people who have never heard the gospel. He is often asked about those in 'the dark parts of Africa' or 'the enlightened areas of South America,' and he answers that they are lost — but they are lost because the Book says every man that comes into this world has been enlightened (Clip 3). He knew that Romans 1:18 says they are without excuse, but John 1:9 is why they are without excuse (Clip 2). God is never unfair, and He is absolutely just in everything He does (Clips 2, 4). Yet the universal light does not mean universal salvation. Les consistently teaches that salvation is by believing — 'faith plus nothing.' God is the justifier of him who believeth in Jesus (Clip 4), and the gospel preached through the foolishness of preaching transforms those who believe (Clip 7). Les also balances this with election using his door illustration: the invitation reads 'Whosoever will may come,' and those who respond discover they were 'chosen from before the foundation of the world.' He warns against the trap of thinking, 'if it's all up to my being elected, then why should I worry about it?' (Clip 0).
John the Baptist was sent from God as a witness to the Light — his purpose was 'that all men through him might believe' (John 1:7). John himself was not that Light; he was only sent to bear witness of it. Les underscores that the word is 'all' — not just a few. The true Light is Jesus of Nazareth, born of Bethlehem, 'which lighteth every man that cometh into the world' (John 1:9).
Les Feldick is often asked about people who have never heard the gospel — those in 'the dark parts of Africa' or 'the enlightened areas of South America.' His answer: 'Are they lost? Of course they're lost.' But they are not lost because they had no chance. He knew the Bible says in Romans 1:18 that they are without excuse, and he says John 1:9 is why: every man that comes into this world has been enlightened by the true Light. He admits he cannot explain it logically, but the Sovereign God has said it, and He is never unfair. The bottom line: no one will ever be able to say, 'I never had a chance.'
No. Les teaches that salvation comes by believing — 'faith plus nothing.' God is the justifier of the sinner who believeth in Jesus (Romans 3:26). The one who died 2,000 years ago is the answer to the sin problem and imparts eternal life, and the gospel preached transforms those who believe. Nothing else does. So the light enlightens every man, but the sinner who believes is the one who is justified.
Les pictures mankind moving down the river of life with doors of opportunity on both banks. Over each door is written, 'Whosoever will may come.' But as soon as a person responds and steps through, he looks back at the headpiece and reads, 'Chosen from before the foundation of the world.' Les acknowledges these verses in Romans 9 are 'mighty hard to swallow' because people fall into the trap of saying, 'if it's all up to my being elected, then why should I worry about it?' His answer is that the invitation is real — whosoever will may come.
When John the Baptist, from prison, sent friends to ask whether Jesus was the Christ or whether they should look for another, Jesus answered, 'Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them' (Matthew 11:4-5). Les notes this was to 'reinforce, reinforce' John's knowledge that Jesus is who He said He is.
Whosoever Will May Come
Les explains that the universal invitation — 'Whosoever will may come' — is how people enter salvation; only after responding does the believer learn he was chosen before the foundation of the world, so election is not an excuse to do nothing.
All Men Through Him Might Believe
Les highlights John 1:7 to show John the Baptist was sent so that all men — not just a few — might believe through the Light.
The True Light Answers the 'Never Heard' Question
Les reveals that John 1:9 is his answer to the question about people who have never heard the gospel: the true light lightens every man, and that is why they are without excuse.
Every Man Is Enlightened
Les shows that even people in the dark parts of Africa or South America are lost because the Book says every man has been enlightened by the true Light.
Faith Plus Nothing
Les demonstrates that God is absolutely just and that salvation comes by believing — faith plus nothing — as the justifier of the sinner who believes in Jesus.
Go Tell John Again
Les shows that Jesus answered John the Baptist's doubt by pointing to the miracles and the gospel being preached to the poor, reinforcing that Jesus is the Christ.
No One Can Say 'I Never Had a Chance'
Les calls John 1:9 'a frightening statement': because the true Light lights every man, no one will ever be able to say, 'I never had a chance.'
The Gospel Transforms Those Who Believe
Les teaches that the gospel, preached through the foolishness of preaching, transforms those who believe — faith plus nothing — because the crucified One is the answer to the sin problem.
John 1:6-8: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
John the Baptist's witness was given so that all men — not a limited few — might believe in the Light, Christ.
John 1:9: That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Identifies Christ as the true Light who enlightens every person, which Les uses to answer the question of those who have never heard.
Romans 3:26: To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Shows that God justifies the sinner who believes in Jesus — salvation by faith plus nothing.
Matthew 11:4-5: Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Jesus answered John the Baptist's question with the works of the kingdom, confirming He is the Christ.
Yes. John's Gospel says John the Baptist was sent to bear witness of the Light 'that all men through him might believe' (John 1:7). The true Light, Jesus Christ, lighteth every man that cometh into the world (John 1:9).
Les Feldick teaches they are lost, but they are without excuse — because every man that comes into this world has been enlightened by the true Light. No one will ever be able to say, 'I never had a chance.'
The true Light is Jesus of Nazareth, born of Bethlehem. John the Baptist was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of it. This Light lights every man that comes into the world.
Les uses the door illustration: the invitation reads 'Whosoever will may come.' Those who respond discover they were chosen from before the foundation of the world. He warns against using election as an excuse to ignore the invitation.
Watch the Teaching: Does God Choose Who Gets Saved? Romans 9 & Election Explained