If someone does not believe in Christ's resurrection, they are without salvation and remain in their sins.
According to Scripture, if Christ be not raised, faith is vain and "ye are yet in your sins" (1 Corinthians 15:17). Les Feldick teaches that a person who accepts Christ's earthly ministry, miracles, and crucifixion but rejects the resurrection still has no salvation. He also stresses that lost humanity is condemned because of unbelief in the finished work of Christ, not because of individual sins.
1 Corinthians 15:17 — Paul directly says that without the resurrection, faith is vain and believers are still in their sins.
1 Corinthians 15:14 — Paul says if Christ is not raised, both preaching and faith are empty.
1 Corinthians 15:20 — This verse affirms that Christ has risen as the firstfruits, showing resurrection faith is anchored in a real event.
Scripture is clear that the resurrection is not an optional detail. In 1 Corinthians 15, the apostle Paul writes: "And if Christ be not raised, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain" (1 Corinthians 15:14). He then adds, "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins" (1 Corinthians 15:17). Paul's argument also shows that the resurrection is the source of Christian hope and life. Because Christ is risen, believers are not left in their sins, and Paul declares, "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept" (1 Corinthians 15:20).
Les Feldick makes the resurrection the dividing line for salvation. He says he has heard people affirm Jesus' earthly ministry, miracles, and crucifixion but struggle with the resurrection. His answer is blunt: "If you have a problem with the resurrection, you're going to have a problem getting into glory. Unless you can believe the resurrection, you have no salvation tonight" [Clip 2]. His reasoning comes from Paul's argument in 1 Corinthians 15. If Christ is not raised, faith is vain, believers are still in their sins, and even Christians who have died are as doomed as anyone else [Clips 1, 3]. Without resurrection power, there is no eternal life [Clip 1]. Les also connects resurrection unbelief to the broader issue of unbelief. He teaches that people are not lost because of drunkenness, adultery, or gambling, but because they refuse to believe the gospel that Christ died for sins and rose from the dead [Clip 4]. He says God can forgive any sin except unbelief; when a person refuses to believe the gospel, their doom is sealed [Clip 6]. At the same time, when a person does believe, God makes them a new person and opens their ability to comprehend these truths [Clip 5]. He also explains that resurrection is universal: the just are raised to immortal life in God's presence, while the lost are raised to a life separated from God—the second death—and will experience suffering and regret through all eternity, not annihilation [Clip 7].
Les says he often hears from people who can believe the earthly ministry, miracles, and crucifixion but have problems with the resurrection. He replies plainly: if you have a problem with the resurrection, you will have a problem getting into glory. Unless you can believe the resurrection, you have no salvation tonight. He adds that this may sound exclusivist, but it is what the Scripture says.
Les teaches that people will not go to the lake of fire because of sin—drunkenness, adultery, gambling, or other sins—but because of unbelief. Lost humanity goes to eternal doom for one reason: they refuse to believe that everything is already done. God can forgive every sin except unbelief. When a person refuses to believe the gospel that Christ died for them, paid their sin debt, and rose from the dead in power, his doom is sealed.
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul says if Christ be not raised, preaching is vain and faith is vain. Les clarifies that even faithful churchgoers would be the most foolish people if there is no resurrection. If Christ stayed in the tomb, believers are still in sin and are doomed, and those who have died in Christ are just as doomed as anyone else, because without resurrection power there is no eternal life.
Les teaches that Revelation speaks of the resurrection of the just to immortal life in God's presence. The lost will also be resurrected, but to a life separated from God—the second death. He rejects the teaching of annihilation, saying the lost will suffer, experience regret, and continue through all the eons of eternity. Christ was the first person to experience resurrection, and that is why He is called the firstfruits of them that slept.
Water Baptism vs. Spirit Baptism: What Places You in the Body of Christ?
book of Romans in this class. Someday we're going to get there. But when Paul speaks of the old man or the old nature, who is he talking about? The old Adam, see? The old Adam that we're born with. You remember last week when we talked in Ephesians chapter 2 that we who were dead in trespass and sins have now been made alive? Well, how were we dead in trespass and sin? In the old Adam that we're b…
No Resurrection = No Eternal Life
Les teaches from 1 Corinthians 15 that if Christ is not raised, faith is vain, believers are still in sin, and Christians who have died are just as doomed as everyone else.
Resurrection Unbelief Means No Salvation
Les directly answers this question: unless you can believe the resurrection, you have no salvation tonight. A person who has a problem with the resurrection will have a problem getting into glory.
Faith Is Vain Without the Resurrection
Les explains that if there is no resurrection, preaching and faith are vain, and faithful churchgoers are the most foolish of all because they are wasting their time.
Lost Because of Unbelief
Les teaches that people go to the lake of fire not because of sins like drunkenness or adultery, but because of unbelief—they refuse to believe that everything is already done.
Believing the Gospel Brings New Life
Les shows the positive side: when a person believes the gospel with all their heart, God makes them a new person and opens their ability to comprehend spiritual truth.
Unbelief Is the One Unforgivable Barrier
Les says God can forgive any sin except unbelief. When people refuse to believe the gospel that Christ died and rose again, their doom is sealed.
The Lost Will Be Resurrected to Second Death
Les teaches that the lost are resurrected to a life separated from God—the second death—and will continue through all eternity with suffering and regret, not annihilation.
1 Corinthians 15:14: And if Christ be not raised, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
This verse directly connects resurrection unbelief with empty preaching and empty faith.
1 Corinthians 15:17: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
This is Paul's stark statement that without the resurrection, no one is saved from their sins.
1 Corinthians 15:20: But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
This verse affirms the reality of the resurrection and gives believers the certainty that death is not the end.
According to Les, yes. He says unless you can believe the resurrection, you have no salvation. Paul says if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain and you are yet in your sins.
Les says they are as lost as someone who believes none of it. He has heard people accept His earthly ministry, miracles, and crucifixion but question the resurrection, and he tells them they will have a problem getting into glory.
Les teaches that people go to the lake of fire because of unbelief, not because of sins like drunkenness, adultery, or gambling. They refuse to believe that everything is already done.
Yes. Les says the lost will be resurrected to a life separated from God, called the second death. They will continue through all eternity with feeling and regret; he rejects the teaching of annihilation.
Watch the Teaching: Water Baptism vs. Spirit Baptism: What Places You in the Body of Christ?