No — being part of a denomination is never enough; salvation is by personal faith alone in the finished work of the cross.
Les states plainly that a person can be a Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, or any other denomination and still be eternally lost unless they are a member of the body of Christ [Clip 5]. The same principle applied to Israel: even under God's covenant umbrella, each Jew still needed personal faith for salvation [Clip 0]. Church membership, baptism, communion, and other religious acts are works and cannot save.
Romans 4:5 — This verse directly answers the question: the one who does no work but believes is counted righteous, not the one who relies on church membership or rituals.
Romans 4:5 says, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." The one who is justified does not work for it; he believes in the God who justifies ungodly people. Romans 5:1 adds, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Faith — not ceremony — is the basis of peace with God. Paul also warns in Galatians 5:4, "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." Any religious act treated as part of salvation removes the one trusting in it from grace. Romans 1:16 declares the gospel is "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" — the condition is believing, not joining.
Les answers the question with a plain no. He says, "It's not so important what congregation you're a member of as it is are you a member of the body of Christ. You can be a Methodist or a Baptist or a Catholic or whatever, but unless you're a member of the body of Christ, you are eternally lost" [Clip 5]. He extends the same principle backward to Israel: even under the covenant promises of Abraham, a Jew still needed personal faith for genuine salvation [Clip 0]. Les repeatedly warns that rituals are not salvation. Going through a church's prescribed set system, walking an aisle, joining a church, baptism, communion, and tithing are all things done in the flesh. "Joining the church never saved anybody," he says [Clip 7]. He maintains that none of these appear in the gospel of grace: "It doesn't say that it joins the Church, gets baptized, takes communion, tithes, does good works" [Clip 4]. When someone adds any such work to faith, that work "cancels the work of the cross" [Clips 1, 6]. Les fears that millions of church-going people will miss heaven because they have added something to "faith plus nothing" [Clip 6].
No. Les says "joining the church never saved anybody" and that walking an aisle is a work that won't bring salvation [Clip 7]. He also refuses to accept people who "go through maybe a set system whereby they become a church member" and casually become Christians: "No, I don't buy that" [Clip 3]. Baptism, communion, tithing, giving to the poor, and visiting the sick are all works that God will not recognize as payment for salvation [Clip 2]. These practices have their rightful place after salvation, but they have nothing to do with getting saved [Clip 4].
The decisive issue is whether a person is a member of the body of Christ, not which congregation they belong to. A person can be a Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, or anything else and still be eternally lost if the Holy Spirit has not placed them into the body of Christ [Clip 5]. Once someone enters God's salvation, they receive eternal life, eternal salvation, and the hope of glory [Clip 5]. Even under the Old Testament covenant, the umbrella of Abraham's promises did not save a Jew — personal faith did [Clip 0].
Les teaches that adding anything — whether circumcision, church membership, baptism, or any act done in the flesh — as part of salvation cancels the work of the cross [Clips 1, 6]. If someone is doing something to fulfill their salvation or "put the frosting on the cake," they are "lost as lost can be" because Christ profits them nothing [Clip 1]. Millions of church-going people, Les warns, will miss heaven because they have added human works to the gospel instead of resting in "faith plus nothing" [Clip 6].
Faith Needed Even Under the Covenant
Les explains that even under God's covenant umbrella, a Jew still needed personal faith for salvation; being Abraham's seed was not enough.
Adding Works Makes Salvation Void
Adding anything to the finished work of the cross — including church membership or baptism — makes Christ profit a person nothing.
Every Religious Act Is a Work
Baptism, church joining, visiting the sick, and giving to the poor are all works; when done for salvation, God will not recognize them.
Ritual Procedures Are Not Salvation
Going through a church system, walking an aisle, or following a procedure by rote is not salvation.
The Gospel Says Believe, Not Join
The gospel is the power of God to everyone who believes; it never says join the church, get baptized, take communion, tithe, or do good works.
Membership in the Body of Christ
Denominational membership does not save; a person must be placed by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ to have eternal life.
Millions Miss Heaven by Adding Works
Adding any human act to 'faith plus nothing' cancels the cross, and millions of church-goers will miss heaven because of it.
Joining a Church Is a Work, Not Salvation
Joining a church and walking an aisle are works that never saved anybody.
Romans 4:5: But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
This is the central text showing that salvation belongs to the one who believes, not to the one who performs religious works.
Romans 5:1: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Justification and peace with God come through faith, with no mention of church membership or ritual.
Galatians 5:4: Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Adding any religious work to the gospel severs one from grace and makes Christ of no effect.
Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
The gospel's saving power is for everyone who believes, not for those who join an organization or complete rituals.
Because salvation is by faith alone in Christ's finished work, and joining a denomination is a work done in the flesh. Romans 4:5 says the one who does not work but believes is counted righteous. Les states plainly, "Joining the church never saved anybody" [Clip 7].
No. Les says walking the aisle is a work and won't bring salvation [Clip 7]. He also rejects people who go through a set system of church membership by rote repetition, saying, "No, I don't buy that" [Clip 3].
Yes. Les says you can be a Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, or anything else, but the decisive question is whether you are a member of the body of Christ [Clip 5]. Denomination membership alone doesn't save, but it doesn't prevent a person from being saved either.
Watch the Teaching: Why Heaven Won't Be Full of Boasters: Faith vs. Works