Yes — Romans 8 presents salvation as secure for those who are in Christ.
Romans 8:1 declares no condemnation for those in Christ. Les Feldick emphasizes that believers do not have to work, worry, or strain to hang on to salvation. He points to Paul's question "Who shall separate us?" and the promise that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Romans 8:1 — This verse directly says there is no condemnation for those in Christ, forming the core of the security question.
Romans 8:35-39 — Paul's rhetorical question and answer affirm that nothing in creation can separate believers from the love of God in Christ.
Romans 8 begins with the promise, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). Later in the same chapter Paul asks, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" (Romans 8:35). Paul answers with the confident statement that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39). These verses demonstrate the biblical basis for the security of salvation.
Les Feldick approaches Romans 8 by first asking whether believers, once they have entered the ark of safety with the door shut, must work, worry, and strain to keep from being lost. He calls that thought "awful" (Clip 3). Instead, he points to the promise that nothing can separate us from the love of God and to Paul's question "Who shall separate us?" (Clips 1, 6). Les notes that salvation was fully accomplished by Christ's work on the cross and cannot be achieved by anything man does (Clips 2, 4). He also uses Noah's ark as a picture: God shut the door, and the blood of Christ secures believers from judgment (Clip 5). Les adds that believers will still sin after justification, but God has made compensation through Christ's advocacy (Clip 7). He also reports the discussion among commentators about the word "therefore" in Romans 8:1, with one view pointing back to Romans 5:1 and justification by faith (Clip 0).
Scripture sets the foundation in Romans 8:1: there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Les Feldick calls Romans 8:1 a promise that has been precious to him, and he says God cannot lie (Clip 5). He uses Noah's ark as a picture of security: God shut the door, and the pitch sealed out judgment; in the same way, the blood of Christ secures believers from any judgment (Clip 5). Les also notes the debate over the "therefore" in verse 1, with one commentator connecting it back to Romans 5:1, where Paul speaks of being justified by faith and having peace with God (Clip 0).
Les Feldick asks directly: "Are we secure once we have entered into that arc of safety and the door has been shut? Or do we have to somehow work and worry and strain and hang on lest we be lost?" He answers, "My, that would be awful" (Clip 3). He says that the verses in Romans 8 "Who shall separate us?" fly in the face of people who think you can never be assured of salvation and must avoid sinning in a way that would send you to hell (Clip 6). He describes the believer as set free and "in Christ," with the promise that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Clip 1).
Les Feldick makes clear that being justified does not mean a believer never sins. He says, "we're still going to sin," but God has made compensation for that through Christ's advocacy at the Father's right hand (Clip 7). He explains that justification is a judicial decree of Almighty God, and since we believe the gospel, God can restore us as Adam was before the fall (Clip 7). This fits with Romans 8:1, where no condemnation is pronounced on those in Christ. The security is based on God's work, not on the believer's performance (Clips 2, 4).
The "Therefore" in Romans 8
Les explains that some commentators connect the "therefore" in Romans 8:1 back to Romans 5:1, where Paul speaks of peace with God through justification by faith, which grounds the believer's security.
Set Free in Christ
Les describes believers as being in Christ and set free, with the promise that nothing can separate them from the love of God.
Salvation Accomplished by God's Work
Les explains that salvation cannot be accomplished by anything man can do; it was all accomplished by Christ's work on the cross, and God is just in justifying those who believe.
Not by Working and Worrying
Les asks whether believers are secure once inside the ark of safety or must work, worry, and strain to hang on, and says that would be awful.
Resting on Faith Instead of Works
Les teaches that nothing we do can get us into heaven; instead we rest on God's word that we are sinners and can be justified freely.
The Blood of Christ Secures Us
Les uses Noah's ark as a picture: God shut the door, the pitch sealed out judgment, and the blood of Christ secures believers from any judgment.
Who Shall Separate Us?
Les says verses like "Who shall separate us?" confront those who believe you cannot be assured of salvation or can lose it by sin.
Justified Though Still Sinning
Les explains that believers are justified by a judicial decree of God and will still sin, but God has made compensation through Christ's advocacy.
Romans 8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Paul opens the chapter with the basis for security: no condemnation for those in Christ.
Romans 8:35: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
This verse asks whether any trial can sever a believer from Christ's love.
Romans 8:38-39: For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul concludes that nothing in creation can separate believers from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 5:1: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Paul's earlier declaration of peace with God through justification by faith is connected by some commentators to the "therefore" in Romans 8:1.
Yes. Romans 8:1 says there is no condemnation for those in Christ, and Les Feldick points out that the same chapter asks who can separate us from Christ's love. He contrasts this with the awful prospect of having to work, worry, and strain to hang on to salvation.
No. Les Feldick explains that believers are justified by God's judicial decree even though they will still sin. Romans 8:1 places the believer in Christ, and Les says God has made compensation for sin through Christ's advocacy at the Father's right hand.
Nothing. Les teaches that nothing we do can get us into heaven, and we rest on God's word that we are sinners who can be justified freely. He describes the belief that you must work to hold on to salvation as contrary to verses like Romans 8:35.
Watch the Teaching: No Condemnation: What It Really Means to Be "In Christ"