What Does Salvation Involve According to the Bible?

Direct Answer

Salvation involves a genuine faith in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection — God's instantaneous work of forgiveness and justification, not human works.

Les Feldick teaches that salvation is a one-time, instantaneous event in which God forgives sins and justifies the believer the moment they truly believe the gospel. The gospel is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. This salvation is by faith plus nothing; works, ceremonies, and human efforts have no part in it.

Key Scriptures

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 — States the core gospel facts that save: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.

Romans 1:16 — Shows salvation comes through the gospel as the power of God unto everyone who believes.

Romans 5:1 — Confirms that justification is by faith, resulting in peace with God.

What Does the Bible Say About What Salvation Involves?

In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, the gospel that saves is defined: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, He was buried, and He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Romans 1:16 then declares that this gospel is "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." The power unto salvation is attached to believing, not to performing religious works or ceremonies. Romans 5:1 adds that being justified by faith gives peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

What Does Les Feldick Teach About What Salvation Involves?

Les Feldick teaches that salvation is a one-time, instantaneous event — not merely a fire escape from hell, but the moment God performs the miracle of salvation. It is "faith plus nothing." The gospel that saves is the message Paul delivered: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. Believing that message is not mental assent; it is totally entrusting one's eternal destiny to the power of the gospel. Les insists that salvation is not joining a church, being baptized, taking communion, tithing, or doing good works — those may have their rightful place afterward, but they have nothing to do with the power of God unto salvation. The person who genuinely believes under the power of the Holy Spirit is immediately forgiven, justified, and placed beyond condemnation. Sanctification and Christian growth then become a lifetime process.

Is Salvation a One-Time Event or a Process?

Les Feldick teaches that salvation is an instantaneous one-time event. Christian growth and sanctification are processes that happen after salvation. He also points out that in this age of grace, Scripture never tells us to beg God to forgive our sins; forgiveness and justification happen instantly at the moment of belief. However, the new birth cannot happen until a person recognizes his need — the person who thinks he is good enough will never be saved.

What Does a Person Have to Believe to Be Saved?

The gospel Paul preached is that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Les Feldick says this is not just mental agreement. Believing means totally entrusting our eternal destiny to the Word of God and to the power of the gospel. Genuine belief comes under the power of the Holy Spirit, not through rote repetition or walking an aisle.

Does Salvation Involve Any Works?

Les Feldick emphasizes that the gospel as the power of God unto salvation does not include joining the Church, getting baptized, taking communion, tithing, or doing good works. Those things are fine in their rightful place after salvation, but they are works of the flesh and have nothing to do with being saved. Justification is by faith plus nothing; God will not recognize human effort done in order to earn salvation.

How Can a Person Know They Are Saved?

Les Feldick teaches that many Christians think of salvation as merely a fire escape from hell, but salvation and the knowledge that you are a child of God is a day-by-day assurance that you are His and He is yours. You may not feel differently or see visible proof; you know it is true because the book says so. For the person who has genuinely believed the gospel with all his heart, Scripture declares there is no condemnation.

From the Teaching

The gospel facts required for belief

Les points to 1 Corinthians 15 to show the gospel is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again — and that believing this is what saves.

Salvation as more than a fire escape

Salvation is not just avoiding hell; it is day-by-day assurance that you are God's, and that assurance comes from taking the book at its word.

Salvation event vs. Christian growth

Salvation is an event, while sanctification and growth are a process; a person must first recognize spiritual need because the self-sufficient will never be saved.

Instantaneous forgiveness and justification

Salvation is a one-time instantaneous event in which a person is translated from darkness to light, with sins forgiven and justification granted immediately.

Faith plus nothing

Human works — including baptism and charitable deeds — are what the world tries to do for salvation, but it will not work; scripture says justification is by faith.

Not church membership or ceremonies

The gospel is the power of God unto salvation and does not include joining the Church, baptism, communion, tithing, or good works; believing is total trust.

Genuine belief and no condemnation

Salvation is not walking an aisle or following rote procedure; the person who genuinely believes under the Holy Spirit is a child of God with no condemnation.

God performs salvation; faith is the only requirement

The sinner cannot clean himself up or do anything first; God must perform the miracle of salvation, and the only thing He looks for is faith.

Bible Verses

1 Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

This is the gospel message that saves — Christ's death for sins, His burial, and His resurrection.

Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Shows that salvation comes through the gospel to everyone who believes, without reference to works.

Romans 5:1: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Confirms that justification is by faith alone and results in peace with God.

Frequently Asked Questions

What must I do to be saved?

You must genuinely believe the gospel — that Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again. Les Feldick describes this not as mental agreement but as totally entrusting your eternal destiny to the power of the gospel.

Are baptism and good works part of salvation?

No. Les says the gospel does not include joining the Church, getting baptized, taking communion, tithing, or doing good works. Those activities are fine after salvation, but they have nothing to do with saving; justification is by faith plus nothing.

Why don't I feel any different after being saved?

Les teaches that salvation and assurance come from what the book says, not from feelings. Many view salvation only as a fire escape, but it is day-by-day assurance that you are His and He is yours, based on taking God at His word.

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Source Video

Watch the Teaching: What Does "Saved by Faith" Really Mean? Romans 1:16-17