We are tied to Abraham through faith: like him, we are brought into a right relationship with God by believing God — faith alone, plus nothing.
Les Feldick teaches that the only real connection is faith — Abraham was saved by faith plus nothing, without sacrifice, circumcision, or law, and believers today enter in the same way. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness, and Paul applies that same principle to us in Romans 4. The tie does not make us physical sons of Abraham; it is entirely a matter of faith.
Genesis 15:6 — The foundational declaration that Abraham's belief was counted to him as righteousness.
Romans 4:3 — Paul's direct citation showing Abraham's justification was by faith, not by works.
Galatians 3:8 — Shows the gospel promise that God would justify the heathen through faith was preached to Abraham beforehand.
Hebrews 11:8 — Records that Abraham's departure from Ur was an act of faith in what God told him.
Two key Old Testament passages establish Abraham as the man of faith. Genesis 15:6 says, 'And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.' Centuries later, Hebrews 11:8 records, 'By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.' The New Testament carries the same truth. Romans 4:3 asks, 'For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness,' and Romans 4:5 states the principle plainly: 'But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.' Galatians 3:8 then connects the promise to the Gentiles: 'And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.'
Les Feldick teaches that the only real connection between a believer today and Abraham is faith — faith plus nothing. He repeatedly points out that Abraham did not bring a sacrifice, did not practice circumcision, and did not have the law; Abraham simply did what God said to do. He believed God, and God counted it to him as righteousness (Clips 2, 3, 4, 7). Les says this is exactly where we come in: 'as he was brought into a relationship by faith and faith alone, so am I' (Clip 1). If you want to mentally connect yourself to Abraham, that is the only way to do it — and that is where the connection stops, because we do not physically become sons of Abraham in the flesh (Clips 1, 5). The Old Testament generally attached sacrifices and temple worship to a person's faith, but Abraham's is an example of faith plus nothing (Clip 5). Les also contrasts believing God with merely believing in God. Abraham, steeped in idolatry in Ur, believed God when He commanded him to leave, and Paul uses Abraham over and over because his example proves that God justifies the non-Jew through faith — the gospel that was preached beforehand (Clips 0, 3, 6).
No. Les Feldick points out that all the references to Abraham's saving faith show that he 'believed, plus nothing.' Hebrews 11 says that by faith Abraham left Ur when God told him to — and it says nothing about Abraham offering sacrifices or entering the covenant of circumcision; those all came later. As Les puts it, 'all God looks for is our faith, our believing.'
Les says the vast difference is that believing God becomes faith — taking God at His Word — while believing in God is only a recognition that He is out there somewhere. Abraham, steeped in idolatry in Ur, believed God when He told him to leave his family and go to a place He would show him, and Paul builds the case that Abraham was declared righteous only because he believed God.
Paul writes in Galatians 3:8 that God would justify the heathen through faith, 'which was preached before the gospel' to Abraham — 'In thee shall all nations be blessed.' Les notes that Paul's exact words 'but now' in Ephesians 2:13 show this was before the full plan of redemption as we know it was revealed. The justification of non-Jews through faith was in view from the very promise to Abraham.
No. Les says the connection is not physical: 'we do not physically become a son of Abraham in the flesh.' You do not become a Jew at salvation. But we do have an affinity to Abraham: as he was brought into a relationship with God by faith and faith alone, so are we.
The Gospel Preached Beforehand to Abraham
Les explains Galatians 3:8 — God would justify the heathen through faith, and this was preached beforehand; Paul's 'but now' shows this was before the full plan of redemption was revealed.
Our Only Connection Is Faith
Les says the only way to connect ourselves to Abraham is that, as he was brought into a relationship with God by faith and faith alone, so are we — and that is where it stops, since we do not physically become sons of Abraham.
Abraham Believed God
Les applies Romans 4: Abraham was saved not by works but by faith; he believed God and God accounted it to him as righteousness.
Saved by Faith Plus Nothing
Les teaches that Abraham was saved by faith plus nothing — no sacrifice, no circumcision, no law — and that is exactly where we stand; that is why Paul uses Abraham over and over.
God Counts Faith as Righteousness
Les stresses that Scripture says Abraham believed God and God counted it for righteousness — believing involves no physical work, and all God looks for is our faith.
The Affinity, Not Physical Descent
Les says we do not become Jews at salvation, but we have an affinity to Abraham — while the Old Testament connected faith with sacrifices, Abraham's faith was plus nothing.
Believing God vs. Believing in God
Les contrasts believing God (which becomes faith) with merely believing in God (a distant recognition), using Abraham, fresh from idolatry in Ur, who believed God when told to leave and was declared righteous.
By Faith Abraham Left Ur
Les shows from Hebrews 11 that God called Abraham righteous because he believed what God said — nothing is mentioned about sacrifices or circumcision, which came later.
Genesis 15:6: And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
This is the foundational verse establishing that Abraham was declared righteous solely by believing God.
Romans 4:3: For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Paul quotes Genesis 15:6 to prove Abraham's righteousness was credited by faith, not works.
Romans 4:5: But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Paul states the principle that righteousness is counted to the one who believes rather than works.
Galatians 3:8: And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
This verse shows the gospel promise of justification for the Gentile was given to Abraham beforehand.
Hebrews 11:8: By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
This verse shows Abraham's obedience in leaving Ur was the fruit of his faith.
No. Les Feldick teaches that we do not physically become a son of Abraham in the flesh. The only connection is that, as Abraham was brought into a relationship with God by faith alone, so are believers today. You do not become a Jew at salvation.
No. Abraham did not bring a sacrifice, practice circumcision, or keep the law. He simply did what God said — he believed God, and God counted it to him as righteousness. His faith was 'plus nothing.'
Believing God means taking Him at His Word, and that becomes faith that God counts as righteousness. Believing in God is only a recognition that He is out there someplace, without a personal relationship. Abraham believed God, and it was counted for righteousness.
Watch the Teaching: Justified by Faith Alone — What Romans 4 Really Teaches