No — there is no grace doctrine or church doctrine in the four Gospels; Les Feldick teaches that Christ's earthly ministry was still under the law and the gospel of grace begins with Paul.
Les says the age of grace did not begin in Christ's earthly ministry; everything in the Gospels takes place while Israel is still under the law. Grace had always been an attribute of God, seen even in the Garden, but the Pauline revelation of the Gospel of Grace, with no law or legalism, is not found in the Gospels.
Romans 6:14 — This is the verse under which the lesson is taught; it explicitly contrasts being 'under the law' with being 'under grace,' which Les uses to show why grace doctrine cannot be found in the Gospels.
The only Scripture explicitly tied to the lesson is Romans 6:14. Paul says, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." This establishes a biblical contrast between being under the law and being under grace — the very distinction Les applies to the Gospels when he teaches that Christ's earthly ministry was under the law. The source material does not quote any Gospel passage presenting grace doctrine; instead, the Gospels are consistently set before the revelation of the gospel of grace in Paul's ministry.
Les begins by emphasizing that the Gospels record Christ's earthly ministry at a time when Israel was still under the law. He says the age of grace did not begin in Christ's earthly ministry; everything in the Gospels is still under the law. He clarifies that grace as an attribute of God was already seen in the Garden, in God's mercy toward Israel after the golden calf, and in His patience after Israel crucified the Messiah. But the Gospel of Grace — a gospel with no law or legalism, primarily to Gentiles — begins with Paul, not in the Gospels. God raised up Paul after Israel rejected the King, and Paul's message opened the Age of Grace and the Church Age. Les's test is that if no one accuses you of teaching a gospel that lets people do as they please, you are probably not preaching the grace gospel.
Yes. Les says, "Always remember that everything that takes place in the Gospels, which is predominantly during Christ's earthly ministry, is still under the law." He describes the law as severe and demanding, using the Sabbath illustration to show that under the law even gathering sticks could result in death. Therefore the Gospels are not a source of grace doctrine in Les's teaching.
No. Les says grace was already evident in the Garden. When Israel made the golden calf, God's mercy and grace kept Him from destroying them. And after Israel rejected and crucified the Messiah, God's grace kept Him from wiping Israel off the map. Yet before Paul, grace was mentioned more or less as one of God's attributes rather than the preeminent doctrine it becomes from Paul onward.
Les places its beginning after Israel rejected the Gospel of the Kingdom. Although Peter and the eleven preached during early Acts, Israel continued to reject. Then God raised up Saul of Tarsus and revealed that He would send him to the Gentiles. That opened the Age of Grace and the Church Age. Paul began proclaiming a Gospel of Grace that has nothing of law or legalism and is primarily, not exclusively, for the Gentiles.
The Gospel of the Kingdom was the good news that Christ was the King in Israel's midst, ready to fulfill all Old Testament promises concerning Israel and His Messiahship. It was for Jew only and had nothing for the Gentile. Israel could have evangelized the Gentiles if they had received the King, but they rejected and crucified Him.
Romans 6:14 says, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." The video lesson that frames this discussion is based on this verse. It shows the same law-vs-grace distinction Les uses: the Gospels come before the revelation of the gospel of grace, so they cannot be read as containing grace doctrine in the Pauline sense.
The Law Was Severe and Demanding
Les describes the 1,500 years of Israel under the law as severe and demanding, using Sabbath stick-gathering as an example of death under the law — this sets the context for why the Gospels are not a grace dispensation.
Grace as an Attribute Before Paul
Les says grace was already evident in the Garden and in God's mercy after Israel's golden calf and after the crucifixion; God has forestalled judgment on humanity by grace.
Everything in the Gospels Is Under the Law
Les stresses that everything in the Gospels, particularly Christ's earthly ministry, was still under the law; the age of grace did not begin in Christ's earthly ministry.
Gospel of the Kingdom vs. Gospel of Grace
The Gospel of the Kingdom was good news to Israel that the King had come, with nothing for the Gentile; after Israel rejected it, God gave Paul the Gospel of Grace, which excludes law/legalism and goes primarily to Gentiles.
Grace Takes Preeminence From Paul Onward
Les notes the word 'grace' occurs roughly two hundred times from Paul onward and takes preeminence; before that it was just one of God's attributes. He also gives the test: if no one accuses you of teaching a 'do as you please' gospel, you are probably not preaching grace.
Paul Sent to the Gentiles Opens the Age of Grace
After Israel refused her King, God raised up Paul and immediately made known that He would send him to the Gentiles, opening the Age of Grace and the Church Age.
A Change of Administration, Not a Change of God
Les contrasts Israel under law with the Age of Grace, in which any person can be saved by simply believing the Gospel; God has not changed, but the administration has.
Salvation of Saul Is the Epitome of Grace
Israel rejected the King and kept rejecting Him in early Acts, so God raised up Saul of Tarsus and saved him by grace — the epitome of grace — and sent him far hence to the Gentiles.
Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
This verse from the lesson title contrasts being under the law with being under grace, the framework Les uses to show that the Gospels are under the law and grace doctrine comes with Paul.
Les distinguishes between grace as an attribute and grace as doctrine. Grace was already evident in the Garden, but the Gospels are set under the law. The Gospel of Grace — the doctrine of grace — begins with Paul, not in the Gospels.
After Israel rejected the Gospel of the Kingdom and crucified the King, God raised up Saul of Tarsus and sent him to the Gentiles. That begins the Age of Grace and the Church Age. The salvation of Saul is called the epitome of grace.
Yes. Les says everything in the Gospels, predominantly during Christ's earthly ministry, is still under the law. The law was severe and demanding, so the Gospels do not contain grace doctrine as Paul later reveals it.
No. Les says grace was already evident in the Garden and in God's mercy toward Israel after the golden calf. But before Paul, grace was mentioned only as one of God's attributes, not as the preeminent doctrine of the Gospel of Grace.
After Israel rejected the King, God turned to Saul of Tarsus with a gospel that has nothing of law or legalism. It is primarily to the Gentiles, and Paul's letters use the word grace approximately two hundred times.
Watch the Teaching: Not Under Law but Under Grace — What Romans 6:14 Really Means