No — the Bible does not teach that everyone automatically goes to heaven.
Romans 3:23 says every person has sinned and come short of the glory of God, so no one enters God's heaven on his own merit. God offers justification freely through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, but this gift must be received by believing what God has done. Les Feldick emphasizes that every person has already been pardoned through the cross, but that pardon must be appropriated by faith.
Romans 3:23 — It directly states that every person has sinned and falls short of God's glory, making automatic entrance into heaven impossible.
Romans 3:24 — It shows the only way to be made right with God is being justified freely by His grace through Christ, not by human works.
Hebrews 11:6 — It reveals that faith is the one way to please God, countering the idea of automatic, works-based salvation.
The Bible is clear that no one enters heaven automatically. Romans 3:23 says, 'For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.' Because every human being is a sinner, no one can merit favor with God on his own or meet God's standard of glory. Yet Romans 3:24 immediately adds, 'Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.' Justification is not earned; it is freely given through Christ's redemption. Scripture also teaches that faith is the one way to please God. 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 Bible therefore presents heaven as something God provides, but that must be received by faith rather than something every person receives automatically.
Les teaches that every child of Adam is under God's decree of condemnation. In Romans 3, he says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and no one who has ever lived can merit favor with God on his own. He stresses that people are not sinners merely because they break the law; they are sinners because they are sons of Adam, and every human being in his natural state is separated from God. Les also teaches that God has done everything necessary to save the whole human race. He maintains that every person has already been pardoned by the work of the cross, but that pardon only becomes effective when a person believes it and appropriates it by faith. Nothing a person does can get him into heaven; believers rest on the fact that they are sinners and that God justifies them freely through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Les uses examples like Saul of Tarsus to show that even a religious and moral person must recognize he is a sinner. He also speaks of 'good people' who will come before the great white throne and be condemned because their sin is unbelief. So for Les, heaven is not automatic; it is God's free gift received by faith.
Les says emphatically that it is not what he does that will get a believer to heaven; nothing can be done to get us into heaven. He points out that even 'good people' who appear before the great white throne will be condemned, and their sin will be unbelief. The reason is that the only way to please God is by faith, not by moral or religious works.
According to Les, the very first step of faith on the road to salvation is to recognize that in ourselves we are lost, like sheep without a shepherd. Then a person must believe and appropriate what God has done through the cross. Les says every human being has already been pardoned by virtue of the work of the cross, but the pardon must be received by faith — that is what it means to 'cash in' on it.
No. Les teaches that God has accomplished reconciliation for every person, and all they have to do is believe it and appropriate it. He also says millions of 'good people' will be at the great white throne and their sin is unbelief. Therefore, universal salvation is not taught in the Bible; people can reject the pardon God has provided through unbelief.
Sinners by Birth, Justified Freely
Les says every child of Adam is under the decree that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; we are sinners because we are sons of Adam, not because we first broke the law, and yet justification is offered freely.
Nothing We Do Can Get Us to Heaven
Les says believers rest on the fact that they are sinners, and the first step of faith is to believe what God says about us; God declares believers justified freely with no strings attached.
First Step of Faith: Recognize We Are Lost
Les says people overlook Romans 3 when they give reasons God should let them into heaven; the first step is recognizing that, because of Adam's fall, we are lost and cannot enter God's heaven unless God does something.
Reconciliation Is Accomplished; It Must Be Appropriated
Les explains that God has accomplished reconciliation for every person, but they must believe it and appropriate it; even the religious Saul of Tarsus had to be shown he was a sinner.
Doing Good Means Living by Faith
Les clarifies that when Scripture speaks of those who 'done good,' it means those who have become people of faith; without faith it is impossible to please God.
Pardon Is Purchased; It Must Be Cashed In
Les says the most vile sinner already has his pardon; God has purchased salvation for all, but individuals must believe it and cash it in to receive it.
Every Human Is Separated From God
Les says every human being in his natural state is separated from God because he falls short of God's standard, but everyone is not left with hopelessness because God has provided a way.
Unbelief, Not Works, Determines Condemnation
Les says millions of good people will come before the great white throne and their sin will be unbelief; everyone has already been pardoned by the cross, but only those who appropriate it by faith receive it.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
This verse establishes the universal need; no one is excluded from sin and no one can claim merit before God.
Romans 3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
This verse explains how God can justly save sinners — freely, by His grace, through the redemption accomplished by Christ.
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.
This verse defines the kind of faith required to please God, showing that acceptable behavior before God flows from faith, not automatic universal salvation.
No. The Bible says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and Les teaches that every human being has been pardoned by the cross but must appropriate that pardon by faith. Automatic universal salvation is not taught in Scripture.
No. Les says nothing we do can get us into heaven; even good people at the great white throne are condemned for unbelief. The Bible says without faith it is impossible to please God, and justification is freely given through Christ's redemption.
The first step of faith is to believe what God says about you — that you are a sinner and a son of Adam. Then you must believe and appropriate the pardon God accomplished in the cross of Christ.
Watch the Teaching: Romans 3: Why No One Can Be Saved by the Law