The power of God in salvation is the gospel itself — the message that Christ died, was buried, and rose again.
Romans 1:16 says the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. Les Feldick teaches that this power is not released by works or religious rituals, but by believing the gospel. The same power that created the universe is brought to bear on the believer.
Romans 1:16 — The gospel is explicitly called the power of God unto salvation.
1 Corinthians 1:18 — The preaching of the cross is the power of God to those who are saved.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 — Defines the gospel message that carries the power of God in salvation.
The Bible identifies the gospel as the power of God. Romans 1:16 declares, "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 power is not found in human activity but in the message itself. 1 Corinthians 1:18 states, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." What appears foolish to the world is, to believers, the very power that saves. The content of that gospel is given in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: "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." This is the message that carries God's saving power.
Les Feldick teaches that salvation requires God's power in an extraordinary way. He says it took greater amounts of God's power to save an old sinner than it did to create the universe. He emphasizes that the very power of God must become instrumental in our salvation, which is why we cannot work for it or merit it. That power is released when a person believes the gospel. Les is careful to distinguish true belief from a vague mental assent. He says he does not accept a mere "I believe that Christ died for me" if it is only words. Genuine believing is totally entrusting one's eternal destiny to the Word of God and to the power of the gospel. He also stresses what the gospel is not: it is not joining the Church, being baptized, taking communion, tithing, or doing good works. All these have a rightful place, but they have nothing to do with salvation. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, and when a person believes that Christ died, was buried, and rose again, that gospel becomes the very power of God Himself — the power that created the universe is released on us, to us, in us, and God accounts that faith as righteousness.
Scripture explicitly calls the gospel the power of God (Romans 1:16) and says the preaching of the cross is the power of God to those who are saved (1 Corinthians 1:18). Les Feldick expands on this by observing that it took greater power to save a sinner than to create the universe, which is why salvation cannot be earned or merited.
Les Feldick teaches that the power of God is released by believing the gospel. When a person believes with the heart that Christ died, was buried, and rose again, the gospel becomes the very power of God. The power that created the universe is released on the believer, and God accounts that faith as righteousness.
The gospel is the power of God "to every one that believeth" — not to everyone that is baptized, takes communion, tithes, or does good works. Les Feldick points out that these practices have no role in salvation. He also warns against watering down salvation to merely "a better way to heaven"; the gospel is the power of God, not just a ticket.
Why God Chooses the Weak: Lessons from Moses and the Cross
Witness the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts chapter 8. Oh, he was religious. He'd been to Jerusalem to worship at one of the feast days, but on his way back to Ethiopia, what does Philip do? Leads him to the place of salvation. He hadn't been saved. He was a proselyte, but he didn't have salvation. All right. Now these Jews were believers.
Belief as Total Entrustment
Les explains that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation and that believing means totally entrusting our eternal destiny to the gospel, not merely saying 'I believe Christ died for me.'
Power Greater Than Creation
Les says it took greater power to save a sinner than to create the universe, and that we release that power by believing the gospel.
Sovereign Power of God
Les teaches that salvation must be an exercise of God's sovereign power; man cannot work for it, and only God can bring about spiritual salvation.
More Than a Better Way to Heaven
Les says the gospel, not our works, is the power of God unto salvation, and criticizes translations that reduce salvation to a better way to heaven.
No Human Works
Les emphasizes that the gospel is the power of God, not a ticket to heaven, and that there is nothing we can do but take what God has offered.
Believe, Not Be Baptized
Les notes that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth — it does not say to everyone that repents and is baptized.
Release of Divine Power
Les says that when we believe the gospel, the gospel becomes the very power of God, and the power that created the universe is released on us, in us, and we become children of God.
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.
This is the core verse showing the gospel as the power of God for salvation.
1 Corinthians 1:18: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
It contrasts the world's view of the cross with the believer's experience of its power.
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:
This defines the gospel message that carries the power of God.
No. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, not to everyone who is baptized, takes communion, tithes, or does good works. Les Feldick says these things have their rightful place but have nothing to do with our salvation.
A person must believe the gospel: that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. When a person believes this with all their heart, that gospel becomes the very power of God, and God accounts it as righteousness.
Yes. Les Feldick says it took greater amounts of God's power to save an old sinner than it did to create the universe. Salvation has to be an exercise of the sovereign power of an Almighty God, so man cannot work for it.
Les Feldick warns against a mere statement like 'yeah, I believe that Christ died for me' if it is only words. True belief is totally entrusting one's eternal destiny to the Word of God and to the power of the gospel.
Watch the Teaching: Why God Chooses the Weak: Lessons from Moses and the Cross