Les Feldick teaches that righteousness before God is received by faith alone, through believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, and works add nothing to that righteousness.
Les emphasizes Romans 3:21-22, where the righteousness of God is 'by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe'—plus nothing. He contrasts fleshly works with faith, which is beyond the flesh. After salvation, works follow, but they are never a basis for justification.
Romans 3:21-22 — It states that the righteousness of God is manifested without the law and is by faith of Jesus Christ upon all who believe—the core answer to the separation of faith and works.
Romans 4:4-5 — It explicitly contrasts working for a reward with believing God, showing righteousness is counted to the one who does not work but believes.
Romans 3:21-22 declares that the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, and that this righteousness is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe. Romans 4:3-5 reinforces the same truth: Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness, and to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Romans 3:28 concludes that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Les Feldick repeatedly underscores that the righteousness of God is by faith, not by law-keeping, religious activity, or anything a person can do in the flesh. He points to Romans 3:21-22, which says this righteousness is 'by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe'—and he adds, 'plus nothing.' He defines works as anything done in the flesh, such as joining a church or getting baptized, while faith is something beyond the flesh.
Scripture distinguishes the righteousness of the law from the righteousness of God. Romans 3:21-22 says the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, while Romans 4:4-5 contrasts one who works and receives a reward as debt with one who does not work but believes. Les Feldick explains that the righteousness of God is not by law-keeping or by being religious; it is by the faith of Jesus Christ upon all who believe. He calls this the 'law of faith'—without works.
According to Les, the only condition is believing. He observes that Romans 3:22 says 'upon all them that believe'—not 'repent and are baptized,' not 'keep the commandments,' not 'join the church.' When Les comments on Romans 4:5, he says the text reads 'to him that worketh not' but believeth; works are things we can do in the flesh, while faith goes beyond the flesh. The believer is justified freely because of what Christ accomplished on the cross.
Les Feldick does not deny the place of works in the believer's life. He says, 'faith plus nothing until we're saved. And then what follows? Works, of course.' He acknowledges James's statement that faith without works is dead, but he does not enter the controversy. However, he insists that works can never be presented as the ground of salvation—'we can never come back and say, but I did this for my salvation.'
Why Faith Alone Saves — Not Works : Romans 10 Explained
You know I get almost a kick out of the fact that every place we go, I don't care whether you go south, west, east, or north, every place you go, it's frantic building activity. Do you ever notice that? It's just a frantic activity of build, build, build. Now look at what Jesus said in Matthew 24, verse 37, "...but as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.
Righteousness Without the Law
Les says the righteousness of God is now manifested without the law, witnessed by the law and prophets, and is received by faith of Jesus Christ—not by law-keeping or being religious.
Believe, Plus Nothing
Les stresses that the righteousness of God by faith comes upon all them that believe—with nothing else added to faith.
Works vs. Faith
Les defines works as anything done in the flesh—joining a church or getting baptized—whereas faith is beyond the flesh; Scripture says righteousness is to the one who does not work but believes.
Faith Plus Nothing Until Saved
Les explains that the 'law of faith' is without works; faith is 'plus nothing' until salvation, and only after salvation do works follow—they can never be used to claim salvation.
Man's Righteousness Excluded
Les notes that man's righteousness and good works are never brought into Romans 3; the righteousness of God is by faith alone and is appropriated by believing.
Not Baptism or Church Membership
Les shows the verse says 'upon all them that believe,' not 'repent and are baptized' or 'keep the commandments' or 'join the church.'
Belief IS Faith
Les completes the thought by saying believing is faith, faith is trust; the text says 'upon all them that believe,' not repent-and-baptize. He also notes all have sinned and are justified freely because of Christ's cross.
Romans 3:21-22: But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
This is the key passage Les returns to: the righteousness of God is revealed apart from law and comes to all who believe.
Romans 3:28: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Paul's summary statement that justification is by faith, not by works of the law.
Romans 4:3: For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
The foundation of righteousness accounted to Abraham was his faith, not his works.
Romans 4:4-5: Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Explicit contrast between working for a reward and believing God; Les highlights 'to him that worketh not.'
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Les includes this verse to show all need the righteousness that God freely provides through faith in Christ.
Les says faith is 'plus nothing' until salvation; works are not a condition for receiving righteousness. Faith is beyond the flesh, while works are things we do in the flesh. After salvation, works follow, but they are never presented as the reason God justifies a person.
No. Les points out that Romans 3:22 says the righteousness of God is upon all them that believe—not on all them that repent and are baptized or join the church. He applies this to the gospel call, reminding believers to be sure they truly believe.
Les explains that the law of faith is a law without works—it excludes human effort. Paul sets it over against the law of works, showing that justification cannot be earned. Faith rests entirely on what Christ has done on the believer's behalf.
Watch the Teaching: Why Faith Alone Saves — Not Works : Romans 10 Explained