Yes — God's grace that brings salvation has already appeared to all men.
Titus 2:11 states that the grace of God hath appeared unto all men, and John 1:9 says the true Light lighteth every man that cometh into the world. Les Feldick emphasizes that the Scripture does not lie and that no one will be able to say, "Lord, I never heard."
Titus 2:11 — States directly that the grace of God that bringeth salvation has appeared to all men.
John 1:9 — Identifies Christ as the true Light that gives light to every man coming into the world.
Romans 1:20 — Shows that God's invisible attributes are clearly seen in creation, leaving men without excuse.
Titus 2:11 declares, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men." The wording "hath appeared" states this as something that has already happened. It is not limited to a select group; it is all men. John 1:7 says John the Baptist came "to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe." John 1:9 then says of Jesus, "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." Every person entering the world is included. Romans 1:20 adds that "the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse."
Les Feldick repeatedly anchors this question in Titus 2:11. He stresses that the word "hath" is past tense — it has already been done — and that the grace of God that bringeth salvation has appeared unto "all men." He adds, "the Scripture does not lie," and says no one will ever be able to say, "But Lord, I never heard." Les also draws attention to John 1:9. He says the true Light "lighteth every man that cometh into the world." He acknowledges the difficulty of understanding how this reaches people in places like the Amazon Valley or other spiritually dark places, but he concludes that the Sovereign God is never unfair and that people are without excuse because God has revealed Himself through creation. According to Les, God's grace is not a new invention of the church age. Grace was evident in the Garden of Eden, in Noah's day, at the golden calf, and after Israel rejected the Messiah. God's grace has forestalled the destruction of the whole human race. This grace makes salvation accessible to every human being, but the door of access is faith.
Les raises the question of people in the Amazon Valley and other spiritually dark places who have never heard the gospel. He says we cannot comprehend a righteous God sending them to an eternal lake of fire. But he points to John 1:9 — Christ is the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world — and to Romans 1:20, where creation makes God's power and Godhead evident. Because of this, Les says they are without excuse; God is sovereign and never unfair.
No. Les teaches that God's unmerited favor has opened the windows of heaven and made salvation accessible to every human being, anywhere and everywhere. But there has to be a door of access, and that door is faith. Believers are given access into this grace by faith. So the appearance of grace to all men means salvation is universally available, not universally applied.
Les says that when he calls this the age of grace, he never implies God's grace was unknown until Paul. Grace was evident in the Garden when God went to find Adam and Eve; it was present when Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord; it preserved Israel after the golden calf; and it kept God from wiping Israel off the map after the crucifixion. The whole human race today deserves judgment, but God has forestalled it by His grace.
Romans 1:20 says the invisible things of God are clearly seen in creation. Les says people should be able to look into the starry expanse and realize there is a Creator to deal with. John 1:9 adds that the true Light gives light to every man. Because of this, Les concludes that no one will be able to say "Lord, I never heard."
The True Light Lights Every Man
Les highlights John 1:9—the true Light lights every man—and admits this challenges the question of those in dark places who never heard the gospel.
Grace Appeared to Every Human Being
Les says the grace of God, through the working of the Holy Spirit, has appeared to every human being in one way or another, and Romans 1 shows even pagans see God through creation.
Titus 2:11 — Hath Appeared unto All Men
Les quotes Titus 2:11 and stresses that the grace of God has "hath appeared unto all men" — it is already done and the Scripture does not lie.
The Door of Access Is Faith
Les says God's unmerited favor has made salvation accessible to every human being, but the door of access is faith.
No One Can Say 'I Never Heard'
Les quotes Titus 2:11 again and says no one will ever be able to say, "But Lord, I never heard."
Grace From the Garden to Today
Les teaches that grace is an attribute of God from the Garden onward, and God's grace is what has forestalled the destruction of humanity.
God Is Sovereign and Never Unfair
Les repeats John 1:9 and says even though he cannot explain it logically, the Sovereign God has said the true Light lights every man and He is never unfair.
Noah Found Grace — God Is Always Gracious
Les points to Noah finding grace and says God has been a God of grace from day one, even in the Garden after sin.
Titus 2:11: For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
This is the key verse Les cites to show that God's grace has already appeared to all men.
John 1:9: That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Identifies Christ as the true Light that gives light to every man entering the world.
John 1:7: The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
Shows that even John the Baptist's witness pointed to the Light so that all men might believe.
Romans 1:20: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Creation itself reveals God's eternal power and Godhead, leaving men without excuse.
Genesis 6:8: But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
Shows grace was operating in Noah's day, which Les uses to show grace is an eternal attribute of God.
Romans 5:2: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Describes access by faith into this grace, which is the door of access Les says everyone must enter.
Yes. Scripture says in Titus 2:11 that the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, and Les Feldick emphasizes this is an accomplished fact. John 1:9 adds that the true Light lights every man who comes into the world.
Les Feldick points to John 1:9 and Romans 1:20. He admits it is hard for us to understand how God reaches people in dark places, but he trusts the Sovereign God who is never unfair. No one will be able to say "Lord, I never heard."
No. Les teaches that God's grace has made salvation accessible to every human being, but the door of access is faith. Without faith, a person does not enter into that grace.
No. Les explains that grace has been an attribute of God from the beginning—seen in the Garden, in Noah's day, and in Israel's history. The church age is called the age of grace, but grace itself has always been God's character.
Watch the Teaching: Does God Choose Who Gets Saved? Romans 9 & Election Explained