Paul means that anyone who relies on a human work for salvation — such as circumcision — gains nothing from Christ.
In Galatians 5:2, Paul names circumcision as the specific example. Les Feldick explains that the warning extends to any work done in the flesh — church membership, baptism, or anything else added to faith for salvation. When someone adds such a work, they cancel the finished work of the cross. Only faith plus nothing in Christ's finished work brings salvation.
Galatians 5:2 — This verse directly says that if a person is circumcised for salvation, Christ shall profit them nothing.
Galatians 5:1 — The surrounding context calls believers to stand fast in Christ's liberty and not be entangled with bondage, which is the setting for Paul's warning.
In Galatians 5:1-2 Paul writes, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing." The statement is a direct warning against placing confidence in a human act for salvation. Paul names circumcision as the specific issue in that letter. Paul makes a similar point in 1 Corinthians 1:17, where he says he was "not sent to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect." And Romans 4:5 describes the person who "worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly" — his faith is counted for righteousness. Scripture consistently ties salvation to believing God rather than performing religious duties.
Les Feldick uses Galatians 5:2 to warn that mixing any human work with the gospel of grace cancels the finished work of the cross. He emphasizes that in Paul's day the issue was circumcision, but the principle extends to "anything that you can do in the flesh" — church membership, baptism, or any other religious act done for salvation. When a person does any of these to put "the frosting on the cake" of salvation, they are "lost as lost can be" because Christ profits them nothing. He repeatedly summarizes the gospel as "faith plus nothing" and says that relying on the finished work of Christ is the only way into God's heaven. He says anyone who teaches that you must do something to be a child of God is false teaching. He also notes with sorrow that millions of church-going people have added something to "faith plus nothing" and are in danger of missing heaven's glory. For Feldick, even religious acts that are good after salvation — like baptism, church membership, giving, or visiting the sick — are "works" and cannot be used for salvation. God will not recognize them for that purpose. Salvation is by faith alone, plus nothing.
Les Feldick says no. In the Galatians context, circumcision was the example because Jewish legalizers were bringing it into the churches. But he says the principle applies to "anything that you can do in the flesh" — church membership, baptism, or any other religious act — when it is done as part of salvation. When a person does that, he says, "we cancel the work of the cross."
Les says such a person is "lost as lost can be" because Christ profits them nothing. He reads Galatians 5:2 as meaning that if you are going to do something for salvation, "Christ shall profit you nothing." Adding anything to the gospel of grace "cancels the work of the cross." He says the only way into heaven is because of what Christ profits us on His behalf. He also warns that when someone says you must do something to be a child of God, that is false teaching.
Les does not say they are wrong in themselves. He identifies baptism and church membership as works — things a person decides to do. He also lists visiting the sick and giving to the poor as works. After salvation, he says, such things are fine and are what God expects. But when the world out there tries to do them for salvation, "God won't recognize it." He also points to Paul's statement that he was not sent to baptize but to preach the gospel, so nothing would detract from the finished work of the cross.
Les describes the gospel as "faith plus nothing." He says Paul emphasizes that salvation is not of works; it is all of faith and relies on the finished work of Christ on our behalf. Romans 4:5 says that to him who does not work but believes on God who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Les says this means there is nothing else added in — no human act can make a person right with God.
Paul's Warnings Are Meant to Shake Us
Les says Paul makes warnings that should shake people out of an illusion, and he turns to Galatians 5 to show why adding anything for salvation is dangerous.
Adding Anything Cancels the Cross
Les says if someone does anything to fulfill salvation, they are "lost as lost can be" because Christ can profit them nothing; circumcision was the issue, but anything done in the flesh — church membership, baptism — cancels the work of the cross.
Faith Plus Nothing
Les reads Galatians 5:2 with any human work inserted in place of circumcision and says adding anything to the gospel of grace cancels the work of the cross.
Christ Profits You Nothing
Les says when someone says you must do something to be a child of God, that is false teaching; if circumcision is trusted for salvation, "Christ shall profit you... nothing."
Adding Works Endangers Church-Goers
Les says as soon as we add something to "faith plus nothing," Galatians 5 says we cancel the work of the cross; he fears millions of church-going people have done exactly that.
Nothing May Detract from the Cross
Les says even baptism or other church rites must not detract from the gospel, because the cross of Christ could be made of no effect.
Faith Plus Nothing, Not Works
Les contrasts works religion with Paul's "not of works, all of faith" and says faith plus nothing relies solely on the finished work of Christ.
Works Have Their Place After Salvation
Les says baptism, church membership, visiting the sick, and giving to the poor are all works; after salvation they are fine, but using them to be saved won't work — God won't recognize it.
Galatians 5:1: Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
This is the verse immediately before Paul's warning, setting up the contrast between Christian liberty and religious bondage.
Galatians 5:2: Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
This is the key verse answering the question: circumcision (or any added work) makes Christ of no benefit for salvation.
Romans 4:5: But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
This verse shows that salvation comes by believing, not working.
1 Corinthians 1:17: For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Paul refuses to let even baptism distract from the finished work of the cross.
1 Corinthians 1:18: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
The cross is central to the gospel, and nothing should obscure it.
John 19:30: When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
"It is finished" is the basis for Les's teaching that the work of salvation was fully accomplished at the cross.
Paul means that if a person trusts in any human work — Paul's example is circumcision — as part of salvation, then Christ provides no eternal benefit for that person. Les Feldick says this also applies to church membership, baptism, and any other work done in the flesh for salvation.
No. Les says circumcision was the specific issue in Paul's day, but the warning extends to anything a person adds to faith. Whenever a work is trusted for salvation, it cancels the finished work of the cross.
Les says these are works that a person decides to do. When they are done for salvation, the cross is made of no effect and Christ profits nothing. After salvation, good works are fine and expected, but they cannot save.
Faith plus nothing — complete reliance on the finished work of Christ on the cross. Les says any addition to that cancels the work of the cross and leaves a person lost.
Watch the Teaching: Christ in You — What Galatians 5 and Romans 8:10 Really Mean