Yes — God's grace is always greater than human sin.
Human sin is real and universal, but God's grace reaches down to save sinners exactly where they are. Scripture and Les Feldick both show that no matter how vile the sinner, grace can save him and make him a trophy of God's grace. God loved us while we were yet sinners, so grace does not wait for human improvement.
Romans 5:20 — This verse directly answers the question: where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.
Titus 2:11 — It shows that saving grace has appeared to all people, matching the teaching that no one is beyond grace.
Scripture places human sin and divine grace side by side in Romans 5:20: "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." The law was never the remedy for sin; it was the instrument that showed sin's true awfulness, and grace is the power that overflows beyond every increase of sin. Paul also writes in Romans 5:8 that "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." This places God's love and grace before any human effort to become better. Titus 2:11 says "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men," and Romans 6:14 promises "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." God's grace is universal in its offer and breaks sin's rule over the believer.
Les Feldick teaches that God's grace is always greater and will always go further than man's greatest sin. He points to Romans 5:20: where sin abounded, grace did much more abound, and says there is no sinner so vile that God will not save in a minute and make him a trophy of grace. He emphasizes that God saves everyone just exactly where they are — He does not expect people to clean up their lives or break habits before coming to Him. Grace, according to Les, is the attribute of God that reaches down to a fallen, condemned person and saves him on the basis of believing the gospel plus nothing. He also notes that grace is not license; it is God's willingness to forgive and cleanse the vilest believer. Grace was never absent from God's dealings, but with Paul it takes preeminence in Scripture.
Romans 5:20 says, "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." Les Feldick explains this as the law exposing sin's awfulness rather than making people worse. Even when people in the biblical record fell as low as possible, the grace of God was able to go beyond that fall.
Les is clear that God does not expect people to straighten up and clean up their lives before approaching Him for salvation. He has heard people say, "If I can just clean up my life and get rid of this habit, then I'll get saved," but he says that is not how God works. God saves everybody just exactly where they are.
Les says most people understand that grace is unmerited favor, but few go beyond that definition. Grace is that attribute of God that can take a person who realizes he is nothing more than a fallen creature under sin and condemnation, with nothing he can do, and reach down and save him on the basis of believing the gospel plus nothing.
Les pairs the greatness of grace with a warning: grace is not license. It is the attribute of God that is capable of absolutely forgiving, cleansing, and calling righteous the most vile sinner that will believe the gospel.
Les says the phrase "age of grace" does not mean grace was unknown until Paul. Grace was evident in the Garden, when Israel made the golden calf, and when the nation rejected and crucified the Messiah. God has also forestalled destroying the human race by His grace. At the same time, it is with Paul's epistles that grace takes the preeminence in Scripture.
Les teaches that the grace of God that bringeth salvation has appeared to every human being in one way or another. Even those who have never heard the literal Word of God can see the Creator through nature and are without excuse, while the way back to God has been made available for every human being.
God Saves Sinners as They Are
Les explains that God does not expect people to clean up their lives before salvation; He saves everyone exactly where they are.
No Sinner Beyond Grace
Les says there is no person so steeped in sin that God will not save in a minute, cleanse them, and make them a trophy of grace.
Grace Defined
Les defines grace as God reaching down to a condemned, fallen person and saving him on the basis of believing the gospel plus nothing.
Grace Greater than Any Sin
Les says grace is that attribute of God that is always greater and goes further than man's greatest sin — but it is not license.
Where Sin Abounded, Grace Abounded More
Les reads Romans 5:20 to show that even the lowest falls are covered by the greater grace of God.
Grace Evident from the Garden
Les shows that God's grace has been evident since the Garden and has restrained His judgment throughout history.
Grace Appeared to All Men
Les references Titus 2:11 and natural revelation to show the grace of God has appeared to every human being.
Grace Takes Preeminence with Paul
Les notes that grace is mentioned throughout Scripture, but beginning with Paul it takes preeminence.
Romans 5:20: Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
This is the central text for the comparison: grace always exceeds sin.
Romans 5:8: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
God showed love and grace toward us before we improved.
Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Grace, not law, breaks sin's dominion over the believer.
Titus 2:11: For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Salvation by grace is offered to everyone.
Romans 1:20: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Even those without Scripture can see the Creator through creation, showing grace's universal reach.
No. Les Feldick teaches that grace is not license. Grace is God's attribute that is capable of absolutely forgiving and cleansing the most vile sinner who believes the gospel. It does not give permission to sin.
No. Les teaches that God does not expect people to straighten up and clean up their lives before approaching Him. God saves everyone just exactly where they are, and then He does the work in them.
The Law was given so that sin could be seen for all of its awfulness. As Romans 5:20 says, where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. The Law exposed sin; it did not make sin worse.
Yes. Les says grace was already evident in the Garden, when Israel worshiped the golden calf, and when they rejected the Messiah. However, with Paul's epistles, grace takes the preeminence in Scripture.
Watch the Teaching: How Can You Know You're Saved? The Plan of Salvation in Scripture