Yes — understanding justification is meant to change the way a believer lives each day.
Les Feldick teaches that believers are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. He shows from Abraham and Jacob that being declared just as if you never sinned has a real effect on conduct. Scripture also pairs justification by faith with the good works God prepared for believers to walk in.
Ephesians 2:10 — This is the key verse behind Les’s teaching that believers are created in Christ Jesus for good works.
Romans 5:1 — Shows the result of justification by faith — peace with God.
Romans 3:24 — Reveals justification as a free gift of God’s grace through redemption in Christ.
Ephesians 2:10 states, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” This connects the new creation in Christ to a life of good works. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” and Romans 3:24 says, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” Together these verses show that justification is presented in Scripture as a free act of God’s grace that brings peace with God and a walk in the good works God prepared.
Les Feldick emphasizes that justification is a judicial act of God whereby He declares the sinner who believes just as if he had never sinned (Clips 2–6). Paul repeats this truth over and over because justification is not by anything we do; in salvation, works are anything done in the energy of the flesh (Clip 1). Once a person is justified, God sees him or her as if he had never sinned — even though the believer is still prone to fall and sin (Clips 3–4). Paul’s teaching in Romans then progresses to the verdict that believers have peace with God through faith (Clip 7). Les also points out that believers are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works; Abraham was well spoken of, and Jacob, formerly a cheat, was marked by an exemplary life after meeting the Lord at Peniel (Clip 0). Thus, justification is not the end of conduct but the foundation for the good works God has planned.
Les shows from Ephesians that believers are God’s workmanship, recreated in Christ Jesus for good works. God foreordained that His believers should maintain good works. He points to Abraham, who was well spoken of, and to Jacob, whose reputation changed completely after meeting the Lord at Peniel. Understanding that God now sees us as if we had never sinned should be reflected in the way believers let the world feel and understand where they are coming from.
No. Les emphasizes that Paul repeats justification by faith over and over because it must be driven home that we are not justified by what we do. Works, in the context of salvation, are anything done in the energy of the flesh. Instead, justification is a judicial act of God, declared when a person believes the gospel. It comes freely by His grace, with no cause or cost involved.
Les explains that even after we have been justified, we are still prone to fall and to sin. Yet God’s declaration does not change: He sees us as justified, as if we had never sinned — just as He saw Adam before the fall. The believer’s standing before God is therefore based on God’s judicial declaration, not on present performance.
Created for Good Works in Christ Jesus
Les teaches that believers are God’s workmanship recreated in Christ Jesus for good works, and uses Abraham and Jacob as examples of lives transformed after a right relationship with God.
Justification Is Not by Works
Les explains why Paul repeats justification by faith: it must be driven home that a person is not justified by what he does — works, in salvation, are anything done in the energy of the flesh.
God’s Judicial Declaration
Les defines justification as the judicial act of God by which He declares the sinner just as if he had never sinned — the way God now sees the believer.
Still Prone to Sin, Yet Justified
Les says that after justification believers still fall into sin, yet God declares them justified and sees them as if they had never sinned.
Freely Justified Without a Cause
Les stresses that God justifies the believing sinner freely, without a cause, and sees him as He saw Adam before the fall.
The Judge Declares the Guilty Just
Les pictures the courtroom scene: God, as judge, declares the guilty sinner who believes the gospel just as if he had never sinned.
Justified Freely by His Grace
Les explains that justification is freely by God’s grace, without a cause, without cost, and without a penny involved.
Romans’ Journey from Guilt to Justification
Les traces the movement of Romans from the indictment of all humanity to justification by faith, peace with God, and the accomplishment of justification at the cross.
Ephesians 2:10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Shows the purpose for which believers are recreated in Christ — good works.
Romans 5:1: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
The direct result of justification by faith is peace with God.
Romans 3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Justification is freely given by His grace through redemption in Christ.
No. Les teaches that believers are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. Justification is not by what we do, but the one who is justified is to walk in the good works God has prepared.
Yes. Les says that even after we are justified we are still prone to fall and to sin, yet God tells us we are justified. God sees us as if we had never sinned.
Les says it is to drive home that we are not justified by what we do. Paul emphasizes it repeatedly so believers understand that justification is God’s judicial act, not a reward for human effort.
Watch the Teaching: Why Grace Always Wins Over Sin — Romans 5:15-20 Explained