No — a person does not need to understand deep doctrinal truths in order to be saved.
Les Feldick teaches that salvation is an event that begins with genuine faith in the gospel, and that deep understanding of Scripture comes afterward through the Holy Spirit's work in the believer. New believers begin as 'babes in Christ' and grow in understanding over time. The deeper truths of the Christian life are for those who have already become children of God, not a requirement for salvation.
1 Corinthians 2:14 — Shows that the natural man cannot receive spiritual truth before the Spirit works in him.
1 Corinthians 15:2 — Identifies the basic gospel as the message by which believers are saved.
1 Corinthians 15:3 — Defines the core content of the gospel as Christ's death for our sins.
The Apostle Paul says that the natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God: they are foolishness unto him, and he cannot know them because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). Paul also says that he speaks these things not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:13). Paul further writes that the gospel he delivered — first of all, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures — is the message by which believers are saved, if they keep in memory what he preached (1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Corinthians 15:2). The Bible also declares that there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).
Les Feldick says that a person who has genuinely believed the gospel is a child of God and always will be, and that Scripture declares no condemnation for such a person (Clip 1). He is blunt with people who cannot understand his teaching: they need to come to know the Lord first, because comprehension of Scripture follows a salvation experience (Clip 3). Deep understanding is not a prerequisite; it comes from the Holy Spirit's enlightenment after salvation. Les describes salvation as an event, while the Christian experience — sanctification — is a process that takes place over time. Believers do not suddenly become mature; they begin as newborn babes in Christ (Clip 4). God expects new believers to grow in grace, knowledge, and wisdom (Clip 5). Even the most infantile believer can understand spiritual things, and understanding grows as the believer grows in Christian experience (Clip 6). Les also stresses that a person must know and understand the basic gospel — what Paul delivered — lest he or she believe in vain (Clip 7). This is foundational gospel truth, not deep doctrine. People under his teaching are urged to come to a true knowledge of salvation, not to master theology first (Clip 2).
Les says that when people tell him they cannot understand what he teaches, he tells them they will understand once they come to know the Lord. He explains that most people who get nothing out of the Word are still in the natural state — living under old Adam — and cannot comprehend Scripture until they enter into a relationship with Christ through salvation (Clip 3). The Bible says the natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). Even the most infantile believer can understand, and understanding grows with Christian experience (Clip 6).
Salvation itself is an event. After salvation, the Christian experience — what Scripture calls sanctification — is a process that covers time. Les says no one suddenly becomes a mature believer; everyone must begin as a newborn babe in Christ (Clip 4). God does not expect a new believer to stay that way; He expects the believer to grow in grace, knowledge, and wisdom (Clip 5). This is why deep doctrinal teaching is for those who are already saved and growing, not a condition for becoming saved.
Les does make a distinction: while deep doctrine is not required, a person must know and understand the basic gospel. He points to Paul's words that believers are saved by the gospel, and that they must keep in memory what Paul preached 'lest ye have believed in vain' (1 Corinthians 15:2). The gospel Paul delivered is that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3). That is foundational truth — not the deep doctrinal system that believers are taught after salvation.
Does the Holy Spirit Live in You? Romans 8:9 Explained
we have so much that is fundamental for us as Gentiles. And so this is the only reason that we teach, as I've stressed so often. I do not do this for any kind of monetary gain, and we don't certainly hope to be famous. That would be the last thing I'd want.
Genuine Faith Secures the Believer
Les maintains that a person who genuinely believes the gospel with all his heart is a child of God and always will be, with no condemnation.
Teaching Cannot Replace Salvation
Les prays that no one will sit under his teaching without coming to a true knowledge of salvation, showing that doctrine is for those who are already saved.
Salvation Precedes Spiritual Understanding
Les tells people who cannot understand the Word that they will understand once they come to know the Lord; comprehension comes after salvation, not before it.
Salvation Is an Event, Growth Is a Process
Les explains that salvation happens at a point in time, while sanctification and spiritual growth are a process that follows the new birth.
New Believers Are Expected to Grow
God does not expect a new believer to remain a spiritual infant; He expects him or her to grow in grace, knowledge, and wisdom.
Even Infantile Believers Can Understand
Even the most infantile believer finds spiritual truth understandable, and understanding increases as the believer grows in Christian experience.
The Basic Gospel Must Be Understood
Les says a person must understand what the gospel is about — the message Paul delivered — so that he or she does not believe in vain.
Romans 8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Les refers to this when he says a genuine believer is a child of God and always will be.
1 Corinthians 2:13: Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Shows that spiritual truth is taught by the Holy Spirit, not by human wisdom.
1 Corinthians 2:14: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Explains why an unsaved person cannot comprehend deep spiritual truth.
1 Corinthians 15:2: By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
Shows that salvation is connected to believing the gospel Paul preached.
1 Corinthians 15:3: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
Defines the foundational gospel message that must be understood.
No. Les Feldick says deep understanding comes after a person has a salvation experience. Salvation is an event, and growth in doctrine is a process that follows it.
You need to understand and believe the basic gospel — that Christ died for your sins according to the scriptures. Les says you must know what you believe so that you do not believe in vain.
The Bible says the natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit because they are spiritually discerned. Les tells people who cannot understand the Word that they need first to come to know the Lord.
Watch the Teaching: Does the Holy Spirit Live in You? Romans 8:9 Explained