Grace is the unmerited favor of God that makes salvation possible and is received as a gift through faith, not earned by works.
The Bible says we are saved by grace through faith and that this is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Les Feldick stresses that grace reaches down to save a person who realizes they are a fallen creature and believes the gospel plus nothing. That same grace continues to keep believers day by day, and it does not give them license to sin.
Ephesians 2:8-9 — This is the clearest biblical statement that salvation is by grace through faith and is the gift of God, not of works.
Romans 5:15 — Shows that the grace of God and the gift by grace through Jesus Christ abound to many.
Scripture is explicit that salvation does not come from what people do. Ephesians 2:8-9 declares, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." The free gift is connected directly to God's grace and to the work of Jesus Christ: "But not as the offence, so also is the free gift: for if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many" (Romans 5:15). The believer's standing is also set in contrast to the law: "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Romans 6:14). Scripture consistently presents grace as a gift that cannot be earned.
Les Feldick teaches that grace is the unmerited favor of God and that salvation is entirely by grace through faith, not by works. He explains that by grace we are saved through faith, and that not of ourselves—it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast (Clip 1, Clip 2). He emphasizes that nothing a person can do—joining churches, going through baptisms, or any other religious activity—can add to salvation; once it is a gift, it cannot be earned (Clip 1, Clip 6). Les uses the conversion of Saul as a picture of grace: God saved Saul even though Saul did not deserve it, work for it, or do anything for it. Saul simply asked, "Lord, what would you have me to do?" (Clip 4). Les also stresses that grace is not only what saves but also what keeps the believer day by day—none of us deserves to be saved even for six hours, yet God keeps us because of His grace (Clip 3). Finally, Les warns that "grace is not license." Entering into God's grace through faith does not give a believer the right to sin; rather, those who are saved are called, elected, and belong to God (Clip 7).
Les Feldick says salvation is a gift, and gifts are not worked for or merited. In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul writes that it is by grace through faith and not of works, lest any man should boast. If someone has to do something to be saved, then it is no longer a gift; it simply becomes something that is earned.
Les uses the illustration of a vehicle: faith is the vehicle, while grace makes salvation possible. A person does not work for salvation; they simply receive it by faith. Grace reaches down and saves a person on the basis of believing the gospel plus nothing.
Les says most people understand that the grace of God saves them, but the same grace also keeps them. Even though no one deserves to be saved "six hours of the day," God continues to keep believers by His grace because of what was accomplished at the cross.
Les Feldick's favorite cliché is "Grace is not license." Just because a believer has experienced the mercy poured out on the cross and has appropriated it by faith, that does not give the right to steal, commit adultery, or do other things the world thinks would remove them from the body of Christ. Rather, it is all in God's divine purpose that we are called, elected, and His.
Eternal Security: Can Anything Separate Us From God? | Romans 8 Bible Study
all that's required anymore to be a Christian. And if you're there every Sunday for 52 weeks, boy, you are the epitome of spirituality, huh? Listen, that is by far the weakest criteria for spirituality. Now, I'm all for the local church, and I'm all for, and in fact, I've always told my people that come to my class, if you have something that's in your church calendar that's important, that's wher…
Faith as the Vehicle
Les explains that grace makes salvation possible, but faith is the vehicle through which the gift is received; no church membership, baptisms, or other deeds can earn it.
Salvation by Grace is a Gift
Les teaches from Ephesians 2:8-9 that salvation is by grace through faith and is a gift—something you do not work for or merit.
Grace Keeps the Believer
Les emphasizes that it is God's grace that saves us, and the same grace keeps us day by day because no one deserves to be saved even for six hours.
Saul's Conversion Demonstrates Grace
Les uses Saul as an example: God saved him by grace even though Saul did not deserve it, work for it, or do anything for it.
Grace Reaches the Fallen Creature
Les defines grace as the attribute of God that reaches down to save a person who realizes they are a fallen creature and believes the gospel plus nothing.
The Gift Contrasted with Human Works
Les says anyone who thinks they must work for salvation is contradicting Scripture, because salvation is a gift that is not deserved, worked for, or merited.
Grace is Not License
Les warns that entering into grace through faith does not permit a believer to sin; those who are saved are still called and belong to God.
Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
This is the foundational passage for understanding that salvation is a gift of grace received through faith, not earned by works.
Romans 5:15: But not as the offence, so also is the free gift: for if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
This verse contrasts the death that came through Adam's offense with the superabundant grace and gift that come through Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
This verse shows that grace is the realm in which believers now stand, no longer under the law's dominion.
Les teaches that grace is the unmerited favor of God and that salvation is a gift received through faith, not earned by works. He emphasizes that grace saves a person who believes the gospel plus nothing, and that same grace keeps the believer day by day.
The Bible says salvation is by grace through faith and that it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. A gift cannot be worked for or merited; it is given out of the goodness of the giver.
Les Feldick says grace has made salvation possible, and faith is the vehicle that receives it. A person does not do anything to earn the gift; they simply receive it by faith.
No. Les Feldick is emphatic that "grace is not license." Just because a believer has entered into the mercy poured out on the cross does not mean they have the right to sin; those who are saved are called and belong to God.
Watch the Teaching: Eternal Security: Can Anything Separate Us From God? | Romans 8 Bible Study