God credits His righteousness to the true believer, covers him with it, gives him power to live for Him, and withholds condemnation.
According to Scripture, the righteousness of God is placed upon everyone who believes, so God sees Christ’s righteousness rather than the believer’s failures. Les Feldick explains that this covering is a gift received by faith, not by ritual or self-effort. Once a person genuinely believes, God gives that believer the power to live pleasingly before Him.
Romans 3:22 — This verse directly states that God’s righteousness is placed upon all who believe.
Isaiah 61:10 — It pictures God clothing the believer with garments of salvation and a robe of righteousness.
Romans 8:1 — It promises no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, which Les ties to being justified by faith.
Scripture says that God puts His own righteousness upon everyone who believes: “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference” (Romans 3:22). Isaiah pictures this as clothing: “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with a robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10). God also describes justification as a free gift: “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). Those who believe in Christ are promised, “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed” (Romans 10:11). And to the one in Christ, Scripture says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
Les Feldick emphasizes that the moment someone believes, God imputes or places His righteousness on that person. Using Isaiah’s wedding imagery, he says the believer is clothed with the garments of salvation and covered with God’s righteousness (Clips 0, 2, 3). Les stresses that God the Father looks at the believer and does not see the individual’s own merit; He sees the righteousness of Christ covering that person (Clips 2, 3). He also teaches that this is not accomplished by walking an aisle, joining a church, or repeating a procedure. The true believer is someone who has genuinely believed the gospel from the heart and, as a result, Scripture says there is no condemnation (Clip 5). Because salvation is entirely God’s work, God gives the believer the power to live it (Clip 7). Les points out that nothing we do can get us into heaven; justification is free, with no strings attached, and the first step of faith is believing what God says about us (Clip 6). Les is careful to say this does not mean a believer cannot sin, but the believer’s standing before God is secure because of the covering (Clip 0).
God’s righteousness is received by believing, not by doing. Romans 3:22 says this righteousness is “upon all them that believe.” Isaiah says God clothes the believer with salvation and covers him with righteousness. Les explains that this beautiful covering is placed on us when we believe, and that we do not get it by adding human effort or works (Clips 2, 3).
God sees the believer covered with Christ’s righteousness. Les says God does not see Les Feldick or the believer by name; He sees Christ in His righteousness. This is why a believer can stand in God’s presence and not be ashamed (Clips 1, 2).
Les warns that a believer can still sin. But once a person is covered with God’s righteousness, it is a “whole different ballgame” — the old Adam no longer controls that person’s final destiny, and God’s covering changes how the believer appears before Him (Clip 0).
No. Les rejects the idea that someone becomes a Christian by walking an aisle, joining a church, or repeating a procedure. For the person who has genuinely believed the gospel with all his heart, Scripture says there is no condemnation; that person is a child of God always (Clip 5).
Les says that when a person believes what God has done through Christ, God then gives that one “the power again to live it.” Many people say they will get saved when they can live it, but Les answers that you cannot live it until you are saved (Clip 7).
The Believer’s Covering
Les teaches that when God’s righteousness covers a believer, that person looks beautiful in God’s sight, and while a believer can still sin, it is a different situation because he or she is clothed in God’s righteousness.
No Shame in Believing
Les says a believer can stand in God’s presence covered with Christ’s righteousness, and Scripture promises that whoever believes on Him will not be ashamed.
God’s Righteousness Placed on Us
Les explains that God looks at a believer and sees Christ’s righteousness, not the person’s own merit, because the righteousness of God has been imputed and placed on the believer at the moment of faith.
Clothed Like a Bridegroom
Les compares the believer to a bridegroom or bride dressed for a wedding, and says this covering of God’s righteousness comes by believing, not by human addition.
Salvation Is God’s Work
Les teaches that everything needed for our salvation was accomplished by God in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, and that our justification is by faith, not by working in the flesh.
No Salvation by Ritual
Les says church membership, aisle-walking, and rote repetition are not salvation; a person who genuinely believes the gospel with all his heart is a child of God and will always be, so there is no condemnation.
Justified Freely by Faith
Les explains that the first step of faith is believing God’s verdict that we are sinners, and that God has declared we can be justified freely, with no strings attached.
Power to Live It
Les teaches that after salvation, God gives the believer the power to live the life God requires; a person cannot live it first in order to get saved, because the power comes after believing.
Romans 3:22: Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Shows that God’s righteousness is given to all who believe.
Isaiah 61:10: I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Pictures God clothing believers with salvation and covering them with His righteousness.
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.
The promise that those in Christ are not condemned, which Les applies to true believers.
Romans 10:11: For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Guarantees that believers will not be ashamed.
Romans 3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Shows justification is a free gift of God’s grace.
Les teaches that when God looks at a believer, He sees Christ’s righteousness covering that person. The believer is not standing on personal merit but on the righteousness of Christ (Clip 2).
Les says a true believer can still sin, but the believer is covered with God’s righteousness and has been justified by faith. For the person who genuinely believed the gospel, Scripture says there is no condemnation (Clips 0, 5).
No. Les rejects ritual or church membership as salvation. True salvation happens when someone genuinely believes the gospel with all his heart, and that person is a child of God always (Clip 5).
Les teaches that God gives the believer the power to live it after salvation. The idea that you must clean up your life before being saved is backwards; you cannot live it until you are saved (Clip 7).
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About God's Righteousness — Romans 3