God has done everything needed to make salvation available, but salvation is not automatic — each person must choose to believe.
Scripture shows that although Adam's offense brought death, God's grace through Christ has abounded unto many, and believers are justified freely. Les Feldick teaches that God has laid salvation right in front of every human being and has done everything possible to keep people from condemnation. Yet human will remains involved, because salvation is based on choice and every person can either believe or reject the gift.
Romans 5:17 — This verse contrasts the reign of death through Adam with the reign of life for those who receive God's grace, showing that God's provision must be received.
Romans 10:14 — Paul's question shows that calling on the Lord depends on believing, which comes through hearing the message proclaimed by human beings — a personal response is required.
Romans 5:15 and Romans 5:17 contrast the offense of Adam with the free gift through Christ. Paul writes that 'much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many,' and that those 'which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.' Romans 3:24 adds that believers are 'justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.' Romans 10:14 then asks, 'How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?' and 1 Corinthians 1:18 says the preaching of the cross is 'the power of God' to those who are saved.
Les Feldick emphasizes that God has made the way back for every human being without requiring any effort. He says God laid salvation 'right out in front of every human being,' and that Christ paid the sin debt, suffered our punishment, and opened the windows of heaven. At the same time, Les is emphatic that this does not mean everyone is automatically saved: 'It isn't automatic. That's universalism, and we have to reject that.' He teaches that Christ restored what Adam lost, but it is based on choice. God has done everything possible and made salvation available; all a person has to do is believe, and that 'doesn't take anything.' Les also notes that those who are lost have chosen not to be, and that God uses human beings to promote His salvation so people can hear and believe.
Scripture says that through one man, Jesus Christ, God's grace and the gift by grace have abounded unto many (Romans 5:15), and that believers are justified freely by His grace (Romans 3:24). Les Feldick teaches that God made the way back for every human being without lifting a finger and laid it right out in front of every human being. He also says Christ paid the sin debt, suffered our punishment, and opened the windows of heaven if we will believe it.
No. Les Feldick rejects universalism: 'It isn't automatic.' He explains that just as Adam precipitated death upon the human race, Christ came back and restored all that, 'but it's based on choice.' He also says Scripture makes it plain that all have had their opportunity, and those who are lost 'have chosen not to be.' God has done everything that could possibly be done to keep people from the lake of fire, and 'all we have to do is believe, and that doesn't take anything.' Romans 5:17 uses the word 'receive,' pointing to an individual response to God's grace.
Les Feldick says, 'Nothing can be done to get us into heaven.' He teaches that salvation is a gift — you don't deserve it, work for it, or merit it. God must take the sinner where he is and perform the miracle of salvation, because if a person does something first, he is no longer in the area of faith plus nothing. Salvation has to be an exercise of the sovereign power of an Almighty God, and all God looks for is faith. Romans 3:24 confirms that justification is 'freely by his grace,' not by human effort.
Les Feldick teaches that God has ordained from the beginning of the human race to use human beings to promote His salvation. He says God did not leave it in the hands of angels but in the hands of fellow human beings. This connects to Romans 10:14: 'How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?' People must hear the message, believe it, and call on the Lord — each person still makes a personal response.
God makes salvation accessible
Les teaches that God made a way back for every human being without human effort, laying salvation right in front of every person so no one has to work to obtain it.
Choice, not universalism
Les teaches that while Christ restored what Adam lost, salvation is not automatic; it is based on choice, and every person has full opportunity to choose salvation freely.
Faith rests on God's work
Les teaches that believers can only claim what God has done, and nothing can be done to get to heaven; the first step of faith is acknowledging that we are sinners and that God freely justifies us.
Gift, not works
Les teaches that lost people have chosen not to be saved and all have had their opportunity. Salvation is a gift that cannot be earned, merited, or deserved.
Salvation is God's work
Les teaches that God must take the sinner as he is and perform the miracle of salvation; no one can act first, because salvation is totally God's work and He only looks for faith.
God uses human messengers
Les teaches that God has ordained human beings to promote His salvation and seldom brings someone to salvation without another human being, showing the complementary role of human witness.
God does everything possible
Les teaches that God has done everything possible to keep every person from condemnation and has made salvation so available that all anyone must do is believe, which takes no effort.
Sovereign power of God
Les teaches that Christ paid the sin debt and opened the windows of heaven; salvation is an exercise of God's sovereign power because only God can bring about spiritual salvation, so human works are excluded.
Romans 5:15: But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
Shows that God's grace in Christ is greater than Adam's offense, and it is offered to many.
Romans 5:17: For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Uses the word 'receive,' indicating that salvation involves an individual response to God's freely offered grace.
Romans 3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Confirms that justification is by God's grace alone, not by human works or effort.
Romans 10:14: How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Shows that calling on the Lord is connected to believing, and believing comes through hearing the message proclaimed by people.
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.
Reveals that the message of the cross is God's power to save those who believe.
Les Feldick teaches that salvation is based on choice and is not automatic. God has done everything possible to keep people from condemnation, but those who are lost have chosen not to be. All have had their opportunity, and salvation is free for the asking.
No. Les Feldick says nothing can be done to get us into heaven. Salvation is a gift that God has done out of the goodness of His heart, and the only thing He looks for from us is faith.
Yes. He says Scripture makes it plain that all have had their opportunity and that those who are lost have chosen not to be. God has made salvation available, but it is based on the individual's choice to believe or refuse.
Watch the Teaching: Why Grace Always Wins Over Sin — Romans 5:15-20 Explained