No — salvation is a one-time, instantaneous event; the process is Christian growth that follows it.
Les Feldick teaches that salvation is an instantaneous event when God performs the complete work of salvation in a believer — forgiveness, justification, sanctification, glorification, sealing — all at the moment of belief. Christian growth and Bible understanding are processes that begin after that event. The first step in that event is recognizing oneself as a sinner and believing what God says about that need.
Romans 3:23 — Les uses this as the foundational first step of faith — realizing all have sinned, which sets the stage for the event of salvation.
Scripture shows that all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory (Romans 3:23). This is the starting point — God declares every person a sinner in need of salvation. Sin brings death, and because of that, every soul stands condemned and needs God's saving work (Ezekiel 18:4). The Bible describes salvation as God's work on behalf of the believer. It includes being forgiven, justified, sanctified, glorified, baptized into the body of Christ, sealed with the Holy Spirit, and filled with the Holy Spirit — all accomplished by God's act at the moment of belief. The believer rests on what God has done, not on anything done to get into heaven. Faith is taking God at His Word. The first step of faith is believing what God says about oneself — that we are sinners. God also declares that sinners can be justified freely, with no strings attached. Salvation transforms a person into a new creation and brings a dramatic change in lifestyle.
Les Feldick makes a clear distinction: salvation is an event, not a process. It is an instantaneous event when God the Holy Spirit performs the miracle of salvation in a person. At that moment, God forgives, justifies, sanctifies, glorifies, baptizes into the body, seals with the Spirit, and fills with the Spirit — all instantly, though the person may not feel any of it. He knows it because the Book says so. Christian growth, however, is a process. Bible understanding is a process. Both happen after the event of salvation. Believers do not instantly become mature; they begin as new babes in Christ and grow over time. The beginning of the event is recognizing a personal need. Les teaches that the Holy Spirit's first work is to convince a person that they are a sinner (Romans 3:23). That is the first step of faith — believing what God says about me. Atheist
Les explains that salvation is a one-time, instantaneous event that happens the moment a person believes. At that instant, God does everything on our behalf — forgiveness, justification, sanctification, glorification, baptism into the body, sealing with the Spirit, and filling with the Spirit. In contrast, Christian growth is a process, and Bible understanding is a process. These processes begin after the event and continue throughout life.
The first step is recognizing personal sin. Les teaches that the Holy Spirit makes a person aware that they are a sinner, based on Romans 3:23 — "for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." This is the first step of faith: believing what God says about me — that I am a sinner. God also declares that sinners can be justified freely, with no strings attached.
Nothing can be done to get us into heaven. Les teaches that believers must rest on the fact that they are sinners and have fallen short. Salvation is totally the work of God. If a person does something on his own, then it is not faith plus nothing. God takes the sinner right where he is and performs the miracle of salvation.
First Law of God and Sin's Penalty
Les begins the plan of salvation with God's first law to the human race — the warning that sin would immediately bring about death — showing why salvation is needed as an event.
Salvation Is an Event; Growth Is a Process
Les gives the main answer: salvation is an instantaneous event, while Christian growth and Bible understanding are processes. He also notes that we never have to beg God to forgive our sins in this age of grace.
First Step of Faith: Admit You Are a Sinner
Les teaches that the first step of faith is believing what God says about me — that I am a sinner and a son of Adam — and that God freely justifies us with no strings attached.
Holy Spirit Lights a Spark in the Sinner
Les explains that because dead people can't believe anything, the Holy Spirit first lights a spark within a person, and it may take time before that individual truly believes.
All-inclusive Work of God at the Moment of Belief
Les describes salvation as all-inclusive work God does instantly at the moment of belief — forgiving, justifying, sanctifying, glorifying, baptizing, sealing, and filling — not dependent on feelings but known by faith in the Book.
Salvation Is Totally God's Work
Les stresses that the sinner cannot do anything first, because salvation must be faith plus nothing. God performs the miracle, then a dramatic turnaround and new creation follow.
Holy Spirit's First Conviction — Romans 3:23
Les teaches that the Holy Spirit's first work in the heart is to convince a person he is a sinner, using Romans 3:23 — the first step of faith is believing God's verdict about me.
Salvation Saves Us From Eternal Doom
Les illustrates that salvation means being saved from something — we are saved from eternal doom — and this Gospel is our salvation, so believers should know what they believe.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Les uses this as the first step of faith — the Holy Spirit convinces us that we are sinners.
Ezekiel 18:4: Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Les references the principle that sin brings death, establishing the need for salvation.
Genesis 3:3: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Les begins the plan of salvation with the first law God gave — that violating His command would bring death.
Salvation is a one-time, instantaneous event that happens the moment a person believes. Christian growth and Bible understanding are processes that follow that event. At the moment of belief, God performs everything on our behalf — forgiveness, justification, sanctification, glorification, sealing — all at once.
The first step of faith is believing what God says about you — that you are a sinner. Les teaches from Romans 3:23 that all have sinned and come short of God's glory, and that is the first thing the Holy Spirit makes a person aware of.
No. Les teaches that nothing can be done to get us into heaven. Salvation is totally the work of God, and all He looks for is faith. The moment a person tries to do something, it becomes faith plus works, which is not the area of faith plus nothing.
Not necessarily. Les says you won't feel glorified or see a halo, and you won't sprout wings. You know these things have happened because the Bible says so — that is where faith comes in.
Watch the Teaching: Plan of Salvation: Faith Alone in Christ's Death & Resurrection