Adding works to the gospel of grace destroys the gospel and cancels the benefit of Christ's finished work — salvation is faith plus nothing.
Les Feldick teaches that as soon as we add something to faith plus nothing, we cancel the work of the cross (Clip 1). Scripture says the one who works earns a debt, while the one who believes is counted righteous (Romans 4:4-5). Paul warns that if circumcision or any other work is made part of salvation, Christ profits the person nothing and they are fallen from grace (Galatians 5:2, 4). Good works have their proper place after salvation, but never as a condition for it (Clip 2).
Romans 4:4-5 — Paul directly contrasts the wages owed to a worker with the free gift given to the one who believes, showing that works cannot earn righteousness.
Galatians 5:2-4 — Paul warns that receiving circumcision as necessary for salvation makes Christ of no profit and places a person under the curse of the law.
Romans 3:27-28 — Paul says justification is by faith apart from the deeds of the law, so human works have no place in the gospel of grace.
The apostle Paul states plainly that salvation is not by works: "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Romans 4:4-5). The promise to Abraham and his seed, he explains, "was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith" — because "if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect" (Romans 4:13-14). Paul also warns that trying to be justified by the law severs a person from Christ: "Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing" (Galatians 5:2). And again, "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:4). His conclusion is categorical: "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law" (Romans 3:28).
Les Feldick repeatedly emphasizes that the gospel of grace is "faith plus nothing." He says, "Our gospel is simply believing that Christ died for me and rose from the dead. Plus nothing. Plus nothing for salvation" (Clip 2). In his teaching, adding any human work — whether circumcision, baptism, church membership, or anything done in the flesh — cancels the work of the cross (Clips 1, 5). He warns that "millions upon millions upon millions of church-going people over the centuries are going to miss heaven's glory" because they have added something to the gospel (Clip 1). Les fleshes out the consequences from Galatians: when someone does something to fulfill or complete salvation, "Christ can profit you nothing," and they are "lost as lost can be" (Clip 5). He contrasts this with the Old Testament, where people came to God on the basis of faith plus a sacrifice, while the gospel of grace demands faith plus nothing (Clip 6). At the same time, Les clarifies that after salvation believers are "created unto good works" — good works are expected after salvation, but they can never be added to the gospel for salvation (Clips 2, 4, 7).
Les Feldick describes the gospel of grace as "faith plus nothing" for salvation. Anything done in the energy of the flesh — baptism, church membership, giving to the poor, visiting the sick — when done as part of salvation, is a work that cancels the work of the cross (Clips 1, 2, 4, 5). Paul's warning to the Galatians was against adding circumcision to faith, but Les says it can be anything a person thinks is necessary for salvation (Clip 5).
Les Feldick warns that those who add anything to faith plus nothing are in grave danger: they will miss heaven's glory, Christ can profit them nothing, and they are "lost as lost can be" (Clips 1, 5). When Christ said "It's finished," everything needed for salvation was accomplished on the cross; adding our efforts declares His work insufficient (Clip 5).
Paul's phrase "to him that worketh" refers to someone trying to merit favor with God for salvation. The reward is not reckoned of grace but of debt (Romans 4:4). Les observes that you can never put God in debt — He is beyond that — yet the human race keeps trying to say, "God, I've done all this and I've done that" (Clip 3).
Yes. Les stresses that being saved by faith plus nothing does not mean we stop there. Believers have been created unto good works, and works have "their own respective places" after salvation. The problem is the world out there trying to do those works for salvation — that God will not recognize (Clips 2, 4). After salvation, Paul's gospel says faith leads to works (Clip 7).
Les notes that all through the Old Testament, no one entered a salvation relationship with God apart from works — they brought a sacrifice and worshiped at the temple. It was based on faith first, but it was "faith plus, bring me that sacrifice," not faith plus nothing. If someone back then had refused to bring the sacrifice, they were not accepted (Clip 6).
Paul's phrase "the law of faith" (Romans 3:27) shows that the requirement for salvation is faith, not works. Les explains that Paul's gospel is "faith plus nothing until we're saved," and then works follow. The believer can never say, "I did this for my salvation"; instead, we completely rest on what Christ has done on our behalf (Clip 7).
Paul grounds the answer in Romans 4
Paul says that if the heirs were of the law, faith is made void, so mixing law and grace cancels the faith-based promise.
Adding anything cancels the cross
As soon as we add something to faith plus nothing, we cancel the work of the cross, and millions who do this will miss heaven.
Faith plus nothing for salvation
The gospel is simply believing Christ died and rose for us — plus nothing for salvation; good works follow after salvation.
Working to merit favor puts God in debt
To him that worketh, the reward is of debt, not grace; no one can ever put God in debt by human effort.
Works in the flesh are not recognized for salvation
Baptism, church membership, helping the poor, and similar works done for salvation are not recognized by God; they are acceptable only after salvation.
Christ profits you nothing if you add works
If a person does something to fulfill or complete salvation, Christ can profit them nothing and they are lost; Christ's 'It is finished' covers everything needed.
Old Testament faith plus sacrifice
In the Old Testament, salvation involved faith plus bringing a sacrifice, unlike the gospel of grace which is faith plus nothing.
The law of faith
Paul's law of faith means faith plus nothing until saved, then good works follow; we must rest entirely on what Christ has done for us.
Romans 4:4-5: Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
This is Paul's foundational contrast between earning salvation by works and receiving righteousness by faith.
Romans 4:13-14: For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
Paul shows that inheritance comes by faith, and if it were by law, faith itself would be canceled.
Galatians 5:2: Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Paul warns that adding a work like circumcision as necessary for salvation removes the benefit of Christ.
Galatians 5:4: Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
This verse states the severe consequence of trying to be justified by law rather than by faith alone.
Romans 3:27: Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Paul asks what law excludes boasting, answering that it is the law of faith, not the law of works.
Romans 3:28: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
This is Paul's direct conclusion that justification is by faith apart from law-keeping.
Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Paul reminds believers that they are no longer under the law but under grace, which fits the faith-plus-nothing gospel.
Yes. Les Feldick says as soon as we add something to faith plus nothing, we cancel the work of the cross. Christ said "It's finished" and meant what He said — everything needed was accomplished on the cross (Clips 1, 5).
Not for salvation. Les teaches that these are works done in the energy of the flesh and God will not recognize them as payment for salvation. They have their proper place after salvation, but salvation itself is faith plus nothing (Clips 4, 2).
He means someone who tries to merit favor with God for salvation. Paul says such a person's reward is not counted by grace but by debt. Les explains you can never put God in debt, so human effort can never earn salvation (Clip 3, Romans 4:4).
Les teaches that Old Testament believers came by faith first, but their faith was expressed through bringing a sacrifice — it was faith plus works. In the gospel of grace, it is faith plus nothing (Clip 6).
Watch the Teaching: Justified by Faith Alone — What Romans 4 Really Teaches