Abraham was justified by faith alone—by believing God, with no works, law, sacrifice, or circumcision added.
Les Feldick shows that Abraham did nothing to merit God's righteousness; he simply believed what God told him, and God counted it to him as righteousness. His leaving Ur came after he was already declared righteous—it demonstrated his faith rather than earning it. Paul uses Abraham as the pattern to prove that justification has always been by faith, not by works.
Romans 4:3 — Paul's clearest statement that Abraham's righteousness came by believing God, not by any work.
Galatians 3:8 — Paul says the message of justification by faith was preached before the gospel to Abraham, connecting Abraham's faith to the promise.
Romans 4:3 states plainly, "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." Paul links this to the promise made to Abraham in Galatians 3:8: "And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed." The Scripture presents Abraham's faith as the sole basis on which God declared him righteous.
Les Feldick emphasizes that Abraham was 'saved by faith plus nothing.' Abraham had no law, no sacrifice, no circumcision, and no works to offer—he simply believed what God said, and God imputed righteousness to him. His obedience in leaving Ur was the result of his believing, not the ground of it.
Les Feldick says plainly that Abraham was 'saved by faith plus nothing.' Abraham did not sacrifice, did not practice circumcision, and did not have law. He simply did what God said to do—he believed. The same way of entering into a relationship with God applies today: by faith alone.
According to Les, God imputed His own righteousness to Abraham the moment Abraham believed. The record says 'he left town' after that. His obedience in leaving Ur was the demonstration that he had believed, not a work that earned righteousness.
No. Les points out that Abraham had no idea of a Roman crucifixion. What was 'preached before' to Abraham was justification by faith, not the Gospel of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Search the four Gospels, Les says, and you cannot find salvation by believing in Jesus' death taught back then.
Les says believing God is faith—taking God at His word. Believing 'in' God is merely a recognition that He is there, without a personal relationship. Abraham believed God, and that is what God counted as righteousness.
Les says the connection is that we, like Abraham, are brought into a relationship with God by faith and faith alone. But the connection stops there—we do not become physical sons of Abraham in the flesh.
Justification by Faith Before the Gospel
Les clarifies that Abraham was not told about Christ's crucifixion; the message he received was justification by faith, not the Gospel of death, burial, and resurrection.
Faith Alone Connects Us to Abraham
Abraham was brought into relationship with God by faith and faith alone; Les says that is the only way we mentally connect to Abraham.
Saved by Faith Plus Nothing
Abraham did not sacrifice, practice circumcision, or keep law; he simply did what God said, so he was saved by faith plus nothing.
Believing God Counted as Righteousness
God imputed His own righteousness to Abraham the moment he believed, and then Abraham left Ur as the result of that belief.
God Accounts Faith as Righteousness
Les points to Romans 4 to show Abraham was saved not by works but by faith—he believed God and was accounted righteous.
Paul's Old Testament Example
Paul turns to Abraham to illustrate that justification means the same thing then as today; Abraham is the ideal example of justification.
Believing God vs. Believing in God
Abraham was steeped in idolatry, but when God told him to leave Ur, he believed God—and that believing is what justified him.
No Physical Work in Believing
Les says believing involves no physical work that could merit righteousness; like Abraham, all God looks for is our faith.
Romans 4:3: For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Paul's foundational proof that Abraham's righteousness came by believing God.
Galatians 3:8: And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Paul says the message of justification by faith was announced to Abraham before the gospel of Christ.
Romans 4:5: But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Paul extends Abraham's principle to the one who believes in God who justifies the ungodly.
No. Les notes that Abraham had no law. He was saved by faith plus nothing—he simply believed God, and righteousness was counted to him.
No. Les says there is no physical work involved in believing; all God looks for is our faith, our believing. Abraham did nothing to merit the righteousness God gave him.
No. Les says Abraham had no idea of a Roman crucifixion. The message preached to Abraham was justification by faith, not the Gospel of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
When Abraham believed, God counted or imputed His own righteousness to him, so that God could say, "So far as I'm concerned, you've never sinned. You're justified."
Watch the Teaching: Justified by Faith Alone — What Romans 4 Really Teaches