Paul's teaching is that salvation is by faith plus nothing, whereas earlier Old Testament teachings required faith plus sacrifices or works.
Les Feldick shows from Romans 4 that Paul points back to Abraham as the epitome of faith—Abraham believed God and was justified without law, sacrifice, or circumcision. During the Old Testament economy, a person's faith had to be accompanied by the prescribed sacrifice; it was faith plus works. Paul's gospel returns to the Abrahamic basis: faith alone, with works following as evidence of a changed life.
Romans 3:28 — Paul's clearest statement that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 4:1-3 — Paul uses Abraham's faith to demonstrate that justification is by faith alone, not by works.
Paul makes a direct statement in Romans 3:28: "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." He then turns to Abraham in Romans 4. Romans 4:1 asks, "What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?" and verse 3 answers, "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." In Romans 4:13 Paul says the promise to Abraham "was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith." Scripture thus links Abraham's justification with faith itself, not with deeds of the law.
Les explains that Paul's gospel goes back to Abraham and proclaims salvation by faith plus nothing. Abraham did not sacrifice, practice circumcision, or live under the law—he simply believed what God told him, and that was counted for righteousness. Paul uses Abraham over and over because Abraham is the perfect example of being justified by faith alone (clips 2, 4, 5). The Old Testament economy was different. Although faith was the foundation, those who sinned were required to follow their faith with works—especially bringing the prescribed sacrifice to the temple. Les says their salvation was "faith plus, bring me that sacrifice." Abraham had no such requirement; his saving faith is described simply as believing, plus nothing (clips 1, 7). Paul's language in Romans 3 contrasts a law of works with a law of faith. Works cannot earn salvation; they follow genuine salvation. Les says a true salvation will show a changed lifestyle and changed heart attitudes immediately, as it did with Abraham (clips 0, 6).
Les says Abraham entered in by faith and faith alone based solely on what God told him—leave Ur. He was already a believer before he left the city and was already declared righteous because he believed God. Abraham did not sacrifice, did not practice circumcision, and had no law; he simply did what God said. Les describes him as elevated from idolatry, meriting nothing, and yet justified by faith alone (clips 0, 2, 5).
Les says that through the Old Testament, no one came into a saving relationship with God apart from some kind of works. They brought a sacrifice and worshiped at the temple. It was based on faith first, but it was not faith plus nothing—it was faith plus the required sacrifice. A person who had sinned could not tell God he saw no need to bring his best lamb and still be accepted. This is the contrast Paul makes with the age of grace (clips 1, 7).
Les points to Paul's question in Romans 3:27: is salvation by a law of works or by the law of faith? Paul answers that it is by the law of faith, without works. Les clarifies that this is "faith plus nothing" until salvation, and then works follow. He also notes that genuine faith will always result in a changed lifestyle (clips 0, 6).
Abraham Believed Before He Left Ur
Les stresses that Abraham was declared righteous when he believed God, before he left Ur; leaving Ur was not the saving work, and genuine salvation will show itself in a changed life.
Old Testament Faith Was Faith Plus Sacrifice
Les explains that throughout the Old Testament, salvation was based on faith but with required works—bringing a sacrifice and temple worship—unlike Paul's "faith plus nothing."
Abraham Saved Without Law, Sacrifice, or Circumcision
Les shows why Paul uses Abraham: Abraham was saved by faith plus nothing, without sacrifice, circumcision, or law, just as believers today enter by faith alone.
Justification by Faith: What Does It Really Mean?
Now that's faith, and you can't add anything to it, and we're going to see that now in these next few moments. All right, read it again. You are not under the law, but under grace. Now if you'll come back with me, we'll try to stay in Romans at least for a little bit, come back with me to Romans chapter 3.
Paul Uses Abraham as the Example
Les points to Romans 4:1 where Paul uses Abraham's faith as the pattern of taking God at His Word with nothing added.
Abraham Justified by Doing Nothing
Les describes Abraham as justified by doing nothing and meriting nothing; he was an idolater whom God called, making him the perfect example of justification by faith alone.
The Law of Faith vs. the Law of Works
Les distinguishes Paul's "law of faith" from a law of works: we are saved by faith plus nothing, and good works follow salvation rather than earning it.
Abraham's Faith Was Simply Believing
Les repeats that Abraham had no required works after his faith; believers in this age of grace connect to Abraham only by faith and faith alone.
Romans 3:27: Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Paul asks whether boasting is excluded by a law of works or by the law of faith—the passage Les uses to explain the difference.
Romans 3:28: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
This is Paul's direct statement that justification is by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 4:1: What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
Paul introduces the question of what Abraham found by the flesh.
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 show Abraham's faith was counted for righteousness.
Romans 4:13: For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Paul connects the promise to Abraham with the righteousness of faith, not the law.
Paul taught that a person is saved by faith plus nothing. In the Old Testament economy, faith was foundational, but it had to be followed by required works such as bringing a sacrifice to the temple. Les Feldick says it was "faith plus, bring me that sacrifice," whereas Paul's gospel returns to the Abrahamic pattern of faith alone.
Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. He did not sacrifice, practice circumcision, or have the law, so he is the clearest example of being justified by faith alone. Paul uses Abraham to show that believers in this age of grace enter into a relationship with God the same way.
No. Les explains that faith is without works until salvation, but genuine salvation will always be followed by works. A real salvation brings a change in lifestyle and heart attitudes, just as Abraham experienced when he believed and then obeyed God.
Watch the Teaching: Justified by Faith Alone — What Romans 4 Really Teaches