We are justified by faith—not by works or by the deeds of the law—because God credits His righteousness to everyone who believes in Jesus.
Scripture is explicit: a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law (Romans 3:28). Les Feldick summarizes this as faith plus nothing for salvation, adding that anything done in the energy of the flesh cannot contribute. Because justification rests entirely on Christ's finished work, boasting is excluded and the believer has peace with God.
Romans 3:28 — This verse directly states that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law, the core answer to the question.
Romans 5:1 — It shows the result of justification by faith—peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9 — Salvation is by grace through faith and not of works, so no one can boast.
The Apostle Paul concludes that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law (Romans 3:28). He asks where boasting is and answers that it is excluded by the law of faith, not by the law of works (Romans 3:27). God set forth Christ as a propitiation through faith in His blood in order to be just and the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus (Romans 3:24–26). Being justified by faith, the believer has peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). Scripture also states that salvation is by grace through faith, not of works, so that no one can boast; believers are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:8–10).
Les Feldick stresses that justification is not something we do; it is something God does for us. In Romans, Paul says over and over that we are justified by faith because God wants it driven home that you are not justified by what you do. Les defines works in this context as anything you can do in the energy of the flesh (Clip 1). He summarizes the gospel as faith plus nothing for salvation; that is what makes God the justifier of the one who believes (Clip 2). Les also teaches that a person is justified by faith without the deeds of the law (Clip 3), and that there is no room for boasting because righteousness is imputed to the believer's account by God as a result of faith, apart from works (Clip 4). He explains that even though works do not save, they are not dismissed after salvation: when God saves a person He makes a new creature, and life changes follow naturally as a result of faith (Clips 0, 4). Justification is free—no strings attached—since all of salvation was accomplished by God in Christ while the believer contributed no energy of his own (Clips 6, 7). God can be just in justifying sinners because Christ paid the total price for sin; God is not winking at sin (Clip 5).
Because the gospel excludes works as the basis of salvation. Paul asks “Where is boasting then?” and immediately answers that boasting is excluded by the law of faith (Romans 3:27). Les explains that when Scripture speaks of works in relation to salvation, it means anything done in the energy of the flesh. Since salvation has all been accomplished by Christ's work of the cross, no human effort can be added to it. Justification, therefore, cannot come by works—otherwise those works would become the source of pride and would contradict the clear statement that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Les uses the phrase “faith plus nothing” to describe salvation. He stresses that as soon as a person asks what he must do to be saved, the answer is that salvation is faith plus nothing. He points to Romans 3:28, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” This is not his own addition; it is what Scripture declares. Works are not discarded after salvation, but they are never allowed into the act of justification.
God set forth Christ as a propitiation through faith in His blood to declare His righteousness (Romans 3:25–26). Les says God is not cutting corners or winking at sin; the total price for sin has been paid by Christ. Because the payment is complete, God is absolutely just in being the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus. Justification rests on what God accomplished, not on anything the sinner contributes.
Les teaches that once justification takes place, things start happening—life changes and a new personality appear. He refers to the truth that believers are God's workmanship: when God saves a person, He makes a new creation. These works do not help save the person; they come naturally as a result of faith. The believer is not left as a wreck but is remade into a new creature, and good works follow because of what God has already done.
Life Changes Follow Justification
Les teaches that after believing, life changes and a new personality come naturally; no one has to add works to faith to be saved.
Not Justified by What You Do
Les emphasizes Paul's repeated phrase “being justified by faith” to show salvation is not based on works; works in salvation means anything done in the energy of the flesh.
Faith Plus Nothing
Salvation requires faith plus nothing; God can be the justifier of the person who simply believes in Jesus.
Justified Without the Deeds of the Law
Les highlights Romans 3:28 to conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds or works of the law.
Righteousness Imputed, Then We Are His Workmanship
Les teaches that God imputes His righteousness to the believer by faith, apart from works, so no one can boast; after salvation, works appear because the believer is God's new workmanship.
God Is Just in Justifying Sinners
Les explains that God can be just in justifying believers because Christ paid the full price for sin; God is not winking at sin.
Justified by Faith That Is Not Worked At
Justification is based on faith, which is invisible and not worked at; the believer rests in what God accomplished through Christ's death and resurrection.
Justified Freely, No Strings Attached
Les teaches that God declares sinners justified freely; the only thing believers can claim is trust in what God has done, not their own doing.
Romans 3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Paul states that justification is freely given by God's grace through Christ's redemption, not earned.
Romans 3:25: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Christ is set forth as the propitiation through faith in His blood, which is why God can justify believers.
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.
God is both just and the justifier of the person who believes in Jesus.
Romans 3:27: Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Boasting is excluded because justification is by faith, not by works.
Romans 3:28: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
This is the key conclusion: justification is by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
Romans 5:1: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Being justified by faith results in peace with God through Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Salvation is by grace through faith and is the gift of God.
Ephesians 2:9: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Salvation is not of works so no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
After salvation, believers are God's workmanship created for good works—works follow salvation rather than cause it.
Yes. Scripture says a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law (Romans 3:28). Les Feldick sums it up as faith plus nothing for salvation—salvation rests completely on what God has done for us.
Les teaches that works are not the cause of salvation but follow naturally as a result of faith. When God saves someone, He makes that person His workmanship, and life changes become evident. The order is clear: first faith alone, then works follow.
Because justification is not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:9). Les explains that no one can take credit for salvation because God did it all through Christ's finished work.
God can remain absolutely just while declaring sinners righteous because Christ paid the full price for sin. As Les puts it, God is not cutting corners or winking at sin; the payment has been fully made, and justification is freely given to everyone who believes.
Watch the Teaching: What Is Propitiation? Romans 3:25-31 Finally Explained