Yes — righteousness and justification come through faith in Jesus' shed blood, not merely through believing who He is.
The Bible says believers are now justified by His blood (Romans 5:9) and that God set forth Christ as a propitiation through faith in His blood to declare His righteousness (Romans 3:25). Les Feldick teaches that this blood-centered faith is the essential saving truth of the gospel for the age of grace. It is not enough simply to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; faith in His shed blood is what puts the believer in a righteous, justified standing.
Romans 3:25 — Shows that God set forth Christ as a propitiation through faith in His blood to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins.
Romans 5:9 — States plainly that believers are now justified by His blood and saved from wrath through Him.
Romans 3:25-26 tells us that God set forth Christ as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, and that He might be just and the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus. Scripture also says, "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him" (Romans 5:9). Romans 5:18 makes the same connection through the righteousness of one: "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." The biblical pattern is clear — God ties righteousness and justification to the shed blood of His Son and to faith in that blood.
Les Feldick emphasizes two absolutes he says you cannot go around: without the shedding of blood there is no remission, and without faith it is impossible to please God. He brings these together in Romans 3:25, where God has made Christ a propitiation through faith in His blood. Les teaches that believing Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, is foundational, but in itself it is not enough — the cross and the shed blood must also be believed. He explains that being justified by His blood means by faith the power of Christ's shed blood is applied to our need. It does not mean drinking the literal blood of Christ. On the basis of that finished work, God can be just in justifying the believer because the total price for sin has been paid. Les's constant refrain is that salvation is all based on the finished work of the cross and faith in His blood.
Les points out that John's Gospel tells us these things are written that you might believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. He calls that foundational — something we must believe — but says in itself it is not enough. The further truth is that Christ went to the cross and shed His blood, and that is the faith that justifies. Romans 5:9 says we are justified by His blood.
God set forth Christ as a propitiation through faith in His blood so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who believes. Les says God is absolutely fair — He is not cutting corners and He is not winking at man's sin. The total price for sin has been paid, so God can justly justify the believer without compromising His justice.
Les repeats two absolutes of Scripture: without the shedding of blood there is no remission, and without faith it is impossible to please God. He says you cannot shortcut them or detour around them. Redemption comes when we believe what God says about the shed blood of Christ — His death, His burial, and His resurrection.
Les clarifies that he does not ascribe to the teaching that we must drink the literal blood of Christ. Instead, he says that by faith we have the power of His shed blood applied to our need. This means justification is received by faith in His blood, not by any physical act.
Foundation vs. Sufficient Faith
Les shows from John's Gospel that believing Jesus is the Christ is foundational, but faith in His cross and shed blood is the essential further truth.
Propitiation Through Faith in His Blood
Les connects the propitiation of Christ with faith in His blood, showing how God can be just and the justifier of believers.
Justified by His Blood
Les applies Romans 5:9, explaining that justification is by His blood and the believer is declared just as if he or she had never sinned.
God Demanded Shed Blood
Les stresses that God has demanded shed blood for the remission of sin and that Christ is the propitiation when we place faith in His blood.
Faith Applies the Blood
Les clarifies that 'justified by His blood' means by faith the power of Christ's shed blood is applied to our need, not by drinking literal blood.
Faith and Blood Together
Les highlights that Romans 3:25 contains both faith and blood, showing that faith is specifically directed toward Christ's blood for propitiation.
Two Absolutes of Scripture
Les presents the two absolutes — shed blood for remission and faith to please God — and ties redemption to believing in Christ's shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection.
God Justly Justifies
Les explains that God is just in justifying believers because the full price for sin was paid at the cross; He is not cutting corners.
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;
This verse directly ties faith in Jesus' blood to the declaration of God's righteousness.
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.
Explains why God can be both just and the one who justifies the believer.
Romans 5:9: Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
States plainly that justification is by the blood of Christ.
Romans 5:18: Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
Shows how the righteousness of one brings justification of life.
No. Les Feldick says he does not ascribe to drinking the literal blood of Christ. Faith applies the power of Christ's shed blood to our need, so justification is received by faith, not by a physical act.
Les says that is foundational and must be believed, but in itself it is not enough. The essential further truth for the age of grace is that Christ went to the cross and shed His blood, and we place our faith in that blood for justification.
God set forth Christ as a propitiation through faith in His blood. Les explains that God is not cutting corners and is not winking at sin; the total price was paid, so He is just in justifying the one who believes.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Gospel Changes After the Cross — Romans 3 Explained