A believer does not lose their salvation when they sin, but God disciplines them and they must confess their sin.
According to Les Feldick, a true believer who sins is still saved, but God will chasten them as a father disciplines a child. The believer is miserable in sin and must confess it to restore fellowship. God may even take a believer home if they persist in sin, but that does not mean they lose salvation.
Hebrews 12:6 — This verse is cited by Les to show that God chastens those He loves, which is a key aspect of what happens when a believer sins.
1 John 2:1 — This verse is implied in the teaching that believers have an advocate with the Father when they sin.
1 John 5:16 — This verse is referenced in the discussion of the sin unto death, which is the ultimate discipline for a believer who persists in sin.
The Bible teaches that believers will sin (1 John 1:8). However, it also provides a remedy: confession. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). God also disciplines His children. Hebrews 12:6 says, "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." This discipline is a sign of His love, not rejection. Furthermore, 1 John 5:16 mentions a "sin unto death," implying that a believer can sin in a way that leads to physical death as a final discipline, but this does not mean loss of salvation. The writer says, "There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it."
Les Feldick emphasizes that while believers are secure in their salvation, they are not free to sin. He uses the examples of David, Abraham, and Peter to show that God's grace does not remove the consequences of sin, but it does not remove the believer from His family. Les teaches that a true believer will be miserable when they sin, because the Holy Spirit convicts them. When they sin, they can and should confess, and God forgives and cleanses them. However, persistent sin can bring God's discipline, even to the point of premature physical death, to prevent a believer from bringing reproach on the name of Christ. This is the "sin unto death" mentioned in 1 John. He also stresses that grace is not license, and that God will not allow His children to continue in sin without chastening. If a person can sin without any conviction or discipline, they likely were never saved in the first place.
No, they do not. Les cites David's example: David sinned greatly (adultery and murder) but did not lose his salvation because he was a believer. The same is true for Abraham and Peter. Salvation is based on faith in Christ, not on perfect behavior. However, a believer who sins will face God's discipline and must confess their sin to restore fellowship.
Les teaches that a believer can persist in sin to the point where God takes their physical life prematurely. This is called the 'sin unto death' in 1 John 5:16. God does this to protect His name from reproach. However, this does not mean the person loses salvation. Les emphasizes that no one has the right to pray for a believer's death; that decision is God's alone.
Absolutely not. Les repeatedly states that 'grace is not license.' Believers are not free to do whatever they want. They are to live in constant awareness not to fall into sin, but they also know they can sin. When they do, they have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
God disciplines His children when they sin. This discipline can take various forms, including a lack of peace and misery, shunning by fellow believers, or even physical death in extreme cases. The purpose is to bring the believer to confession and restoration, not to punish them eternally.
Examples from David
Les uses David's sin of adultery and murder as an example of a believer who sinned but did not lose salvation, yet had to beg for forgiveness.
Sin Can Happen and Brings Discipline
Les explains that a believer can indeed sin and that God will discipline him as a father, citing Hebrews 12:6.
The Sin Unto Death
Les describes the sin unto death, where God may take a believer's life if they persist in sin and bring reproach on His name.
God Deals with Unrepentant Believers
Les clarifies that if a believer continues in known sin, God will take them home, and if there is no chastening, they likely were never saved.
Confession for Daily Sins
Les explains that after salvation, God deals with a believer's daily sins through confession, not by losing salvation.
A Sinning Believer is Miserable
Les teaches that a sinning believer will be miserable because the Lord deals with them, and they know they are doing wrong.
God's Patient Restoration
Les compares God to a patient mother who picks up a child after a fall, giving forgiveness and cleansing to a genuine believer who fails.
Grace Covers All Sin
Les reminds that the grace of God reaches beyond all sin, so a believer need not fear an unpardonable sin; the only requirement is belief.
1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
This verse is foundational for the teaching that confession restores fellowship after sin.
Hebrews 12:6: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
This verse shows that God's discipline is evidence of His love for believers.
1 John 5:16: If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
This verse indicates that some sins lead to physical death, but that is distinct from eternal loss.
Romans 6:1-2: What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
This verse clarifies that grace does not permit a believer to continue in sin.
No, according to Les Feldick, a true believer cannot lose their salvation. Sin does not separate them from God's love or eternal security. However, it does bring discipline and requires confession to restore fellowship.
Les explains that a believer can persist in sin to the point where God takes their physical life prematurely. This is not a loss of salvation but a final act of discipline to protect God's name. It is not something to pray for.
No, Les emphasizes that grace is not license. Believers are called to live holy lives. If they sin, they will face God's discipline and will be miserable until they confess.
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