Christ's resurrection is the heart of the gospel—the power of God that declares His Son and the basis for the believer's salvation and eternal life.
Christ's resurrection is the heart of the gospel because it was by God's power that Jesus rose from the dead and was declared the only begotten Son of God (Clip 2). The cross paid the sin debt and shed the necessary blood, but Jesus did not remain in the grave; He arose victorious over sin, death, and hell, and that victory is credited to believers (Clips 1, 4). Saving faith therefore must include His death, burial, and resurrection—not just His good earthly life or His crucifixion (Clips 5, 6, 7).
Romans 5:10 — This verse shows that while Christ's death reconciled believers to God, His resurrected life is what saves them for eternity.
Romans 6:8 — It directly connects dying with Christ to the certainty of living with Him through resurrection.
Romans 6:10 — It describes Christ as having died once to sin and now living unto God, which points to His resurrection life.
The Bible connects Christ's death with His present, resurrected life. In Romans 5:10 Paul writes: "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." The believer is reconciled by His death, but the "much more" is being saved by His resurrected life. Romans 6:8 says: "Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:" and Romans 6:10 states: "For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God." These verses show Christ, having died once, now living to God. The Bible also insists on the necessity of Christ's shed blood: "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22). Paul proclaims the crucified Christ: "But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness" (1 Corinthians 1:23).
Les Feldick teaches that Christ's resurrection stands at the heart of the gospel and is fundamental to our faith. It was by God's power that He was raised from the dead, declaring Him to be the only begotten Son of God; if someone does not have the power of the resurrection as the basis of their salvation, they have none (Clip 2). The cross paid the sin debt and shed the blood, but Jesus did not stay in the grave—He arose victorious over sin, death, and hell, and because He was victorious, believers are too (Clip 1). The gospel is not based on His earthly ministry, miracles, signs, healings, or His good earthly life; it is based on the fact that He died, paid the sin debt, defeated death and hell and Satan, and rose victoriously from the dead (Clip 6). In resurrection power He is the glorified Lord of glory, and His life can be our life (Clips 5, 6). Les is emphatic that a person must believe that Christ rose physically, literally, and spiritually—if a person cannot believe all of it, they are as lost as if they believed none of it (Clip 7).
Les Feldick repeatedly says that the resurrection stands at the heart of the gospel. The power of God raised Jesus from the dead and declared Him to be the only begotten Son of God. Without the power of the resurrection as the basis of salvation, there is no salvation. The gospel is not His earthly ministry, miracles, or good earthly life; it is that He died, paid the sin debt, defeated death and hell and Satan, and rose victoriously.
Scripture says that believers were reconciled by Christ's death but shall be saved by His life (Romans 5:10), and if we be dead with Christ, we shall also live with Him (Romans 6:8). Christ died unto sin once and now liveth unto God (Romans 6:10). Les teaches that because He arose victorious, believers already have eternal life within them, have already arisen from death spiritually, and one day will be resurrected to a new life.
Les Feldick insists that Christ rose physically, literally, and spiritually—every way. He is not just an example of a good earthly life; in resurrection power He is the glorified Lord of glory. Those who cannot believe all of the resurrection are as lost as if they believed none of it.
What Does "Justified by Faith" Really Mean? Romans 5
had never sinned. I'm going to keep almost shouting that at people for months to come, because so few professing believers even realize that we are to reckon ourselves just as if we had never sinned, because that's what God has declared us to be. Now, I think psychology even comes in here, and I've got nothing against psychology if it's used right. Some of it can be abused.
Victory Over Sin, Death, and Hell
Les teaches that Christ's death paid the sin debt, but He did not stay in the grave; He arose victorious and that victory is credited to the believer, giving eternal life now.
The Resurrection as the Basis of Salvation
Les explains that God's power raised Jesus and declared Him the only begotten Son of God; without the resurrection as the foundation, there is no salvation.
Resurrection Is Fundamental to Faith
Les ties identification with Christ's death to the certainty that believers will also live with Him; the resurrection is fundamental, not optional.
The Risen Christ Intercedes at God's Right Hand
Les shows that the same Christ who died and shed His blood also rose from the dead and is at God's right hand, guarding and interceding for believers.
Knowing the Resurrected Christ, Not Just a Good Man
Les contrasts knowing Christ's good earthly life with knowing Him in resurrection power as the glorified Lord; no one is saved by believing Jesus did good.
The Gospel: His Death, Burial, and Resurrection
Les says salvation is by Christ's death, burial, and resurrection—not His earthly ministry, miracles, or healings; His resurrection life becomes our life.
Believing All of the Resurrection
Les is emphatic that a person must believe Christ rose physically, literally, and spiritually; failure to believe the resurrection leaves a person as lost as if they believed none of it.
Romans 5:10: For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
This verse connects the completed work of the cross with the resurrected life of Christ that saves the believer.
Romans 6:8: Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
This verse links the believer's identification with Christ's death to the certainty of living with Him in resurrection.
Romans 6:10: For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
This verse shows that Christ, having died once for sin, now lives to God in resurrection power.
Hebrews 9:22: And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
This verse explains why Christ's shed blood was necessary before His resurrection could bring salvation.
1 Corinthians 1:23: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
This verse shows that the gospel message centers on the crucified Christ, whom Les connects to His death, burial, and resurrection.
Yes, according to Les Feldick. He says that if a person cannot believe all of it—that Christ rose physically, literally, and spiritually—they are as lost as if they believed none of it. Without the resurrection as the basis of salvation, there is no salvation.
Christ's death paid the sin debt and required the shedding of blood, but He did not stay in the grave. He rose victorious over sin, death, and hell, and that resurrection is what gives the believer eternal life.
In Romans 5:10 Paul says that we shall be saved by His life. Les explains that because Christ arose victorious, believers already have eternal life within them and salvation for eternity, not just for this earthly life.
Watch the Teaching: What Does "Justified by Faith" Really Mean? Romans 5