We are saved by God's grace through faith—not by works—because salvation is a free gift.
Les Feldick teaches that grace is what makes salvation possible, while faith is the vehicle—simply believing. Good works, baptism, church membership, and repentance cannot save; as soon as works are attached, salvation is no longer a gift. God does everything that needs to be done once a person believes.
Ephesians 2:8-9 — This is the exact passage the question asks about; it directly states salvation is by grace through faith, a gift, not of works.
Ephesians 2:8 declares, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Verse 9 immediately follows, "Not of works, lest any man should boast." Verse 10 completes the thought: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." The text itself is unambiguous: salvation is a gift, not a wage. It is not from ourselves and it is not from works, so human effort has no part in earning salvation. The purpose of excluding works is clear—so that no one can boast.
Les Feldick emphasizes that "by grace are you saved through faith" means faith is believing—nothing else. He says that just as Israel could not cross the Red Sea by their own effort, we are hopeless and helpless; but when we believe, God does everything that needs to be done. Les describes grace as God's free gift: if a person works to earn a gift, it stops being a gift. Repentance, baptism, church membership, and good works are listed as things people trust in, but they do not save—they are the result, not the means, of salvation. After salvation, God makes the believer His workmanship, using the Greek word poema, from which we get "poem," forming a new person rather than leaving the old one unchanged.
Les Feldick teaches that "through faith" simply means believing—nothing else. He describes faith as the vehicle that receives what grace has made possible. In his words, we are not saved by joining churches or going through baptisms; we are saved when we simply receive the gift by believing, and then God does everything that needs to be done.
Les Feldick says that if you add works to salvation, it becomes worthless and is no longer a gift. He explains that people who think they must do something for their salvation are flying in the face of Scripture, because salvation is a gift that is not deserved, worked for, or merited. The reason Scripture says "not of works, lest any man should boast" is that works would give people a reason to brag for all eternity.
Les Feldick stresses that salvation is not the end. Immediately after explaining that we are saved by grace through faith, Ephesians 2:10 says we are His workmanship. Les shows that the Greek word is poema, from which we get "poem"—God is crafting the believer into something beautiful. He does not leave the saved person as a wreck; He makes the person a new personality, no longer the same old person.
God Imputes Righteousness Without Works
Les explains that God has wiped sin from the believer's ledger and put all of God's righteousness into the believer's account—so salvation rests entirely on grace, apart from works.
Grace Through Faith and God's Workmanship
Les walks through Ephesians 2:8-10, saying faith is believing and nothing else; we are saved as a gift, not of works, and then God makes us His workmanship.
Salvation Is a Gift You Cannot Work For
Les shows that a true gift cannot be worked for—as soon as you pay for it, it stops being a gift—so salvation must be received, not earned.
Works Cannot Be Added to Saving Faith
Les lists repentance, baptism, church membership, and good works as things people trust in, then shows the verses say "not of works"; attaching works makes salvation worthless.
Faith Is the Vehicle That Receives Grace
Les says grace makes salvation possible but faith is the vehicle; no amount of church attendance, baptisms, or other outward acts can replace believing and receiving the gift.
Righteousness Is Imputed Through Believing the Gospel
Les says God imputes His righteousness to us as a result of believing the gospel—nothing else—and that a person must know what he or she believes.
By Grace Are You Saved Through Faith
Les uses Ephesians 2:8 to show the contrast: we were dead in sins, but God made us alive together with Christ; grace saves us through faith, not by works.
Salvation Is a Gift You Cannot Merit
Les says anyone who thinks they must work for their salvation is flying in the face of the Book; gifts are not deserved, worked for, or merited.
Ephesians 2:8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
This is the core verse that tells how a person is saved: by grace through faith, not from yourself, and it is God's gift.
Ephesians 2:9: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
This verse explicitly removes works from the equation so that no one can boast in salvation.
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.
This passage shows that while works do not save, God makes believers His workmanship to walk in the good works He prepared.
Yes. Les Feldick teaches that faith is believing, nothing else. He says faith is the vehicle, while grace makes salvation possible. We are saved when we simply believe and receive the gift.
No. Les Feldick says grace is not license. After God saves us, He makes us His workmanship, so the believer is changed and is no longer the same old person.
No. Les describes these as things people trust in, but they are not in Ephesians 2:8-9. They are the result or reward of salvation, never the means of it.
So that no one can boast. Les says if salvation came through works, people would be bragging all over heaven for eternity. But because it is a gift, all the glory belongs to God.
Watch the Teaching: Why God Imputes Righteousness Without Works — Romans 4