The Bible's requirement for salvation is faith alone in the gospel — believing that Jesus died and rose again, with nothing added.
Romans 1:16 calls the gospel the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. Paul likewise states the simple requirement that we believe that Jesus died and rose again. Les Feldick emphasizes that works such as baptism, church membership, repentance, tithing, and good works are never added to faith as conditions for salvation.
Romans 1:16 — Declares that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 — Defines the gospel that saves: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day.
Romans 4:5 — Shows that salvation is for the one who does not work but believes on God who justifies the ungodly.
The gospel itself is the power of God unto salvation: “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” (Romans 1:16). The content of that saving gospel is centered in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ: “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” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). The response required is belief: “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him” (1 Thessalonians 4:14). After hearing the gospel of salvation, it is “after that ye believed” that God seals the believer with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13). Scripture also says that everyone has sinned (Romans 3:23) and that “to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5). Being justified by faith results in peace with God (Romans 5:1).
Les Feldick teaches that salvation is entirely by faith — resting on what God has said about the gospel. He repeatedly points out that Paul never makes repentance, baptism, joining the church, walking an aisle, tithing, or good works requirements for salvation. These things have their rightful place after salvation, but they are works in the energy of the flesh and cannot save. Les emphasizes that “belief” is not just believing in God; it is believing God — totally entrusting one’s eternal destiny to the Word of God and the power of the gospel. The first step of that faith is believing what God says about you: that you are a sinner who falls short of God’s glory. Salvation, Les says, is an event, not a process; the Christian life is the process that follows.
Les Feldick explains that there is a big difference between believing in God and believing God. Believing God means doing what He has said and resting on it. In the context of salvation, it means taking God at His Word — totally entrusting your eternal destiny to the gospel that Christ died and rose again. The first thing God tells a person to believe, according to Les, is that he or she is a sinner, because “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Les Feldick repeatedly states that Paul does not make repentance, baptism, or joining a church a requirement. He says those things are works that people decide to do, and while they are fine in their rightful place after salvation, they are not the way of salvation. Paul’s requirement is simply to believe. The gospel of your salvation is that Christ died and rose again; after you believed, God sealed you with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13).
Les Feldick brings out that many people think they must straighten up their lives or clean up their act before coming to God. But Romans 4:5 says the person God justifies is the ungodly who does not work but believes. Everyone has sinned, so the first step is not to become good enough; it is to believe what God says about you and believe the gospel. Adding anything to faith cancels the work of the cross.
Salvation is more than a ticket to glory
Les teaches that salvation includes a lifestyle change that should be visible as a born-again believer being a good citizen, parent, grandparent, and child.
Faith is the requirement, not works
Les contrasts Paul’s requirement — believing that Jesus died and rose again — with repentance, baptism, and church membership that Paul never makes requirements.
Justified by faith plus nothing
Les shows that works such as baptism, church membership, visiting the sick, or giving to the poor are not recognized by God for salvation; justification is by faith alone.
Belief is the response before sealing
Les points out that after hearing the gospel and believing, God seals the believer with the Holy Spirit — no other condition is inserted.
Salvation is by believing, not performing
Les reads Ephesians 1:19 and emphasizes that salvation is toward those who believe, not those who repent, get baptized, join the church, or walk an aisle.
Adding to faith cancels the cross
Les warns that adding anything to faith plus nothing cancels the work of the cross, and cites Romans 4:5 that God justifies the ungodly who works not but believes.
The gospel’s power is in believing
Les explains that Romans 1:16 does not mention joining a church, baptism, communion, tithing, or good works; believing means totally entrusting your eternal destiny to the gospel.
First step: believe you are a sinner
Les teaches that the first step in the plan of salvation is believing what God says about you — that you are a sinner — and that salvation is an event, while the Christian life is a process.
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.
The key verse Les uses to show that salvation comes through believing the gospel.
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:
Defines the gospel message that is the basis of saving faith.
Romans 4:5: But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Shows that the person God justifies is not one who works but one who believes.
Ephesians 1:13: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Indicates that believing is the point at which God seals the believer; no other condition is added.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
The first truth a person must believe about himself, according to Les.
Romans 5:1: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Shows that justification comes through faith and results in peace with God.
1 Thessalonians 4:14: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Paul's plain statement that believing Jesus died and rose again is the requirement.
Yes. Les Feldick says the scriptural premise is faith plus nothing. Romans 4:5 describes the one who worketh not but believeth on God who justifies the ungodly, and Paul never adds works to the requirement of believing the gospel.
No. Les Feldick says baptism is a work that people decide to do, and while it is fine in its place after salvation, the gospel of salvation is not baptism but faith in Christ's death and resurrection.
According to Les, the first step in the plan of salvation is believing what God says about you — that you are a sinner — since all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Watch the Teaching: What Does "Saved by Faith" Really Mean? Romans 1:16-17