Yes — because God is eternal and was Himself on the cross, the death and resurrection of Christ are as personally relevant and effective today as they were 2,000 years ago.
Les Feldick teaches that with God, 2,000 years is like a snap of the finger, so the cross is almost contemporary with us. Every believer is identified with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, making that ancient event the very basis of present salvation and new life.
Romans 6:6 — This verse shows that the believer's 'old man' was crucified with Christ, directly connecting a 2,000-year-old event to the believer's present life.
1 Corinthians 1:18 — This verse defines the cross as the power of God to those who are saved, answering why a death so long ago still matters today.
Romans 6:6 declares that the believer's old man is crucified with Christ, so that the body of sin might be destroyed and the believer no longer serves sin. This shows that the death of Christ has a direct, present effect on the believer's relationship to sin. Romans 8:10 connects Christ's presence with life: if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. The work of Christ, then, brings present spiritual life to the believer. The cross itself is described in 1 Corinthians 1:18 as the power of God to those who are saved, though it is foolishness to those who perish. And 1 Corinthians 15:4 anchors the gospel in the historical facts: Christ was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
Les Feldick directly answers the question "What do I have to do with someone who died almost 2,000 years ago?" by pointing to the nature of God. He explains that God Himself was on the cross, and since God is eternal, 2,000 years is like a snap of the finger to Him. Therefore, as far as God is concerned, the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ are almost contemporary with us. When Christ died on the Roman cross, every believer of all the ages was seen by God in Christ. Les further teaches that this is not merely a past event. Because the believer is identified with Christ in His death and burial, and raised with Him, the result is new life. "Old Adam" is put to death and life really begins when we enter this new relationship with God. The world sees the cross as foolishness — why follow someone who lived and died 2,000 years ago? — but to those who are saved, the preaching of the cross is the power of God. The crucifixion was a singular event by a singular individual, and it has impacted the world ever since.
Les Feldick teaches that God's eternality collapses the distance of time. With God, 2,000 years is like a snap of the finger, so the death, burial, and resurrection are almost contemporary with us. He also explains that when we go from time to eternity, time is not relevant — even Adam, dead 6,000 years, will not realize that much time has elapsed when the events of eternity unfold. Because God is outside of time, the cross is not remote but present in its relevance.
Les uses the farmer's seed analogy: a seed must be buried in the soil before it produces new life. As Christ was placed in the earth in death and burial, believers are identified with Him. As He rose, believers rise to new life. Les teaches that when we believe the gospel, we identify with that death — old Adam is put to death, and life really begins. Romans 6:6 confirms this: our old man is crucified with Him.
Les explains that to the world, the idea that someone who died 2,000 years ago matters today is foolishness. Thousands were crucified by the Romans, but this was a singular individual whose crucifixion made a difference and has impacted the world ever since. He quotes 1 Corinthians 1:18: the preaching of the cross is foolishness to them that perish, but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. That is why good works never save anyone — the power is in the cross itself.
Les emphasizes that the resurrection proves the death was real and effective. Christ had to die to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that He was dead — three days and three nights in the tomb — and then He arose again the third day according to the Scriptures. The Sovereign God was in complete control. Because He rose, believers who are identified with His death also live with Him; the resurrection is what makes the new life real.
Identification With Christ's Death, Burial, and Resurrection
Using the farmer's seed analogy, Les shows that as a seed must be buried to produce new life, Christ's death, burial, and resurrection form the basis of our salvation — believers are identified with Him and raised to new life.
God's Eternity Makes the Cross Contemporary
Les directly answers the question: God Himself was on the cross, and since 2,000 years is like a snap of the finger to God, the cross is almost contemporary with us; every believer of all the ages was seen in Christ.
The Cross Is Not Foolishness to Believers
Les explains that while the world sees a 2,000-year-old crucifixion as foolish, this was a singular individual whose crucifixion made a difference and has impacted the world ever since.
Time to Eternity Perspective
Les teaches that in eternity, time is not relevant, so the gap between the cross and today does not diminish its present reality.
The Blood of Christ Brings Us Near
Les notes that the death, burial, and resurrection is what makes all the difference — those who were far off are made near by the blood of Christ.
Faith Identifies Us With Christ's Death
Les explains that when we believe the gospel, we identify with Christ's death; old Adam is put to death and life really begins.
The Cross Is the Power of God
Les quotes 1 Corinthians 1:18 and says the cross is everything to us today — good works never save; the power of God is in the preaching of the cross.
The Resurrection Verifies the Cross
Les teaches that Christ proved He was truly dead and rose the third day according to the Scriptures, showing the Sovereign God in complete control.
Romans 6:6: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
This verse directly connects the believer to Christ's death, showing its present effect on sin.
1 Corinthians 1:18: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
This is the key verse Les repeats to explain why the cross is powerful to believers and foolish to the world.
Romans 8:10: And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
This verse shows that Christ's work brings present spiritual life to the believer.
1 Corinthians 15:4: And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
This verse grounds the gospel in the actual burial and resurrection of Christ, reinforcing why the event matters.
Because God is eternal and was Himself on the cross. To God, 2,000 years is like a snap of the finger, so His death, burial, and resurrection are almost contemporary with us. Every believer of all the ages was seen by God in Christ.
Through faith in the gospel. When you believe, you are identified with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Old Adam is put to death and you have new life, just as a seed buried in the ground springs to new life.
Because it centers on someone who died 2,000 years ago. But 1 Corinthians 1:18 says the preaching of the cross is foolishness to them that perish, yet unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Watch the Teaching: Redemption Explained: From Law to Grace (Romans 3 & 6)