Yes—Christians are spiritually connected to Abraham through faith alone, but this connection does not make them Jews.
Les Feldick teaches that Abraham was saved by "faith plus nothing"—no law, no sacrifice, no circumcision—and Christians today enter salvation the same way. Paul calls those of faith children of Abraham, but Les is emphatic: "A Jew is a Jew, a Gentile is a Gentile." The bond is spiritual and positional, not physical ancestry.
Romans 4:3 — This is the key verse Les builds on — Abraham's faith was counted for righteousness without works.
Galatians 3:7 — This verse directly calls those of faith children of Abraham, the basis for the spiritual connection.
Romans 4:3 shows the foundation of the connection: "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." In Galatians 3:7 Paul writes, "Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham." Romans 4:13 adds, "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." These verses place the believer's relationship to Abraham on the ground of faith, not physical descent or law-keeping.
Les Feldick is clear that becoming a Christian does not make a person a Jew. He jokes, "I've been a Christian for a long time. Do I look like one?" and insists that "a Jew is a Jew, a Gentile is a Gentile." The connection to Abraham is spiritual, not physical. As Les puts it, "We become a child of Abraham by virtue of the spiritual connection that as Abraham was saved by faith plus nothing, we're saved by faith plus nothing." The reason Paul uses Abraham as the example is that Abraham's salvation did not involve law, sacrifice, circumcision, or any outward work. He simply believed God, and God counted it as righteousness. Les says, "Abraham simply did what God said to do. So he was saved by faith plus nothing. And that's where we are." This is why believers are called children of Abraham—not because they become Jews, but because they share the same faith. Les also draws an important distinction: Abraham and Church Age believers are saved by "faith plus nothing," while "everybody in between were saved by faith plus works." Abraham's physical relationship is with the nation of Israel, but his spiritual seed includes all who come by faith alone.
No. Les says anyone who thinks becoming a Christian makes you a child of Abraham and therefore a Jew is "way out in left field." He teaches that a Gentile remains a Gentile and that salvation does not make a Jew out of us. The spiritual connection to Abraham through faith does not change a person's physical identity.
Paul calls believers children of Abraham because they are "of the faith way" — that is, they share Abraham's faith, which was faith plus nothing. Les explains that this is where some people get the idea we must become Jews, but he says no: we do not become Jews. Instead, believers have a spiritual connection to Abraham that is like no other character in history other than the Lord Jesus Himself.
Abraham was saved by faith plus nothing — no law, no sacrifice, no circumcision. Christians are saved the same way. But Les notes that everyone in between, under the Old Testament program, was saved by faith plus works. Abraham is therefore the epitome of faith for us in this age of grace, even though his physical offspring became the nation of Israel.
Saved by Faith Like Abraham, Not Becoming a Jew
Les explains that Abraham was counted righteous simply by believing God, with no physical work, and he jokingly dismisses the idea that salvation makes a person look like or become a Jew.
Spiritual Connection, Not Physical Jewishness
Les says Christians become children of Abraham by the spiritual connection of faith plus nothing, but "a Jew is a Jew, a Gentile is a Gentile" — salvation does not change that.
Abraham's Faith Had No Sacrifice, Circumcision, or Law
Les emphasizes that Abraham simply did what God said—no sacrifice, no circumcision, no law—so he was saved by faith plus nothing, and that is exactly where Christians are.
Children of Abraham Through the Faith Way
Les explains that 'they who are of faith' are children of Abraham, but this is a spiritual connection; it does not mean believers become Jews.
Abraham as the Pattern Believer for the Church Age
Les shows that even though Abraham is the physical father of the Jewish people through Isaac and Jacob, Paul still uses him as the example of faith for New Testament believers.
Faith That God Sees as Salvation
Les ties Abraham's example to Romans 4, teaching that when a person genuinely believes God, God sees that faith as salvation just as He did with Abraham.
Faith Plus Nothing for Abraham and Us
Les contrasts Abraham and Church Age believers with everyone in between who were saved by faith plus works; our connection to Abraham is faith alone.
Christians Do Not Become Jews
Les reinforces that being children of faith does not mean Christians become Jews; a Gentile is still a Gentile and salvation doesn't make him a Jew.
Romans 4:3: For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
This is the foundational verse showing Abraham's faith was the basis of righteousness, without works.
Galatians 3:7: Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
This verse is what Paul uses to connect believers spiritually to Abraham.
Romans 4:13: 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.
This verse emphasizes that the promise to Abraham and his seed came through faith, not the law.
No. Les says a Jew is a Jew, a Gentile is a Gentile, and salvation doesn't make a Jew out of us. The connection to Abraham is spiritual, through faith alone.
Les teaches that believers are children of Abraham spiritually because both are saved by faith plus nothing. Physical descent is not the issue; faith is.
No. Abraham lived before the law and was saved by faith plus nothing. He didn't sacrifice, didn't practice circumcision, and didn't have law; he simply believed God.
Watch the Teaching: God’s Promise to Abraham: Understanding Genesis 12 & 15