The way of salvation is by believing the gospel—trusting that Jesus died and rose again—and Scripture adds no other requirement.
Romans 1:16 says the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. In Ephesians 1:13, Paul places the seal of the Holy Spirit after hearing and believing, with nothing added. Les Feldick consistently teaches that salvation is by believing plus nothing because Christ has done it all.
Romans 1:16 — It directly answers the question by saying the gospel is God's power to salvation for everyone who believes.
Ephesians 1:13 — It shows the way: hearing the gospel, believing, and then receiving the Holy Spirit's seal, with nothing added.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 — It puts the way of salvation in plain words: if we believe that Jesus died and rose again.
1 Corinthians 1:18 — It identifies the preaching of the cross as God's power to those who are saved.
Ephesians 1:18 — It shows the believer's glorious position after salvation—the riches of God's inheritance in the saints.
Scripture states that Paul was "not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Romans 1:16). In the same context, Paul tells believers in Thessalonica, "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him" (1 Thessalonians 4:14). The gospel is thus defined around the death and resurrection of Jesus, and the response called for is belief. Paul also describes the order in Ephesians 1:13: "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise." The sealing with the Holy Spirit follows hearing and believing; nothing else is added. And in 1 Corinthians 1:18, Scripture calls the preaching of the cross "to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."
Les Feldick makes the point that the way of salvation is stated plainly: it is by believing, not by any religious activity. He draws attention to what is not in Romans 1:16—it does not say joining the Church, getting baptized, taking communion, tithing, or doing good works. Those things may have their rightful place, but they have nothing to do with salvation. He emphasizes a distinction between "believing in God" and "believing God." Saving faith means resting on what God has said, totally entrusting one's eternal destiny to the Word of God and the power of the gospel. Salvation is not merely a fire escape. Les teaches that it is a day-by-day assurance that "you're His and He is yours," and the believer knows it because "the book says so." At the moment of belief, God instantly accomplishes everything on the believer's behalf: He forgives, justifies, sanctifies, glorifies, baptizes into the body, seals with the Holy Spirit, and fills with the Holy Spirit. The believer may not feel any of these things, but faith knows them because Scripture says so. Salvation is the sovereign work of God, which is why man cannot work for it. As Les puts it, "our salvation comes by believing plus how much? Nothing. Because Christ has done it all."
Paul says he is not ashamed of the gospel "for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Romans 1:16). He also writes, "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again" (1 Thessalonians 4:14). In Ephesians 1:13, Paul describes the sequence as hearing the word of truth, the gospel, then believing, then being sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. The way of salvation is believing the gospel of Christ's death and resurrection.
Les Feldick points out that Romans 1:16 does not say the gospel includes baptism, church membership, communion, tithing, or good works. He says those things are all right in their rightful place, but they have nothing to do with salvation. He also notes that Ephesians 1:13 stops after "after that ye believed"—the believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit, without any added requirements. Salvation, according to Les, is believing plus nothing, because Christ has done it all.
At the moment of belief, Les teaches, God does everything: He forgives, justifies, sanctifies, glorifies, baptizes into the body, seals with the Holy Spirit, and fills with the Holy Spirit. None of these have to be felt or seen; the believer knows they have happened because the Book says so. This is where faith comes in.
Les says that too many Christians see salvation as only a "fire escape." While avoiding hell is certainly part of it, salvation is much more. It is the greatest experience in human history—the day-by-day assurance that a person is His and He is yours. Believers know it because the Book says so. Salvation is also a relationship that includes the riches of God's inheritance in the saints, as Paul prays in Ephesians 1:18.
Les Feldick explains that salvation must be an exercise of the sovereign power of an Almighty God. All man has is physical strength, but only God can bring about spiritual salvation. That is why man cannot work for his salvation. The preaching of the cross is the power of God to those who are saved, and Christ has already paid the sin debt, suffered the punishment, and opened the windows of heaven for all who believe.
The Riches of His Inheritance in the Saints
Les highlights Paul's prayer that believers would know "the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints," showing that salvation involves a glorious, deep relationship with Christ.
The Gospel Is the Power of God Unto Salvation
Les shows that Romans 1:16 does not include baptism, church membership, communion, tithes, or good works; those are right in their place but have nothing to do with salvation. Believing means totally entrusting your eternal destiny to the Word of God.
More Than a Fire Escape
Les teaches that salvation is not just escaping hell. When we believe, God rewards us with salvation as the greatest experience in history, giving day-by-day assurance that "you're His and He is yours," known because the Book says so.
The Gospel, Not Our Works
Les uses the picture of a seed dying to show Christ's death and resurrection; the gospel, not our works or denomination, is the power of God unto salvation.
All-Inclusive Instant Salvation
At the moment of belief, God forgives, justifies, sanctifies, glorifies, baptizes into the body, seals, and fills with the Holy Spirit—all instantly—and the believer knows it by faith, not feelings.
Believing God vs. Believing in God
Les distinguishes between believing in God and believing God. The requirement is to believe God—that Jesus died and rose again—and to rest on what He has said.
After That Ye Believed—Plus Nothing
In Ephesians 1:13, after hearing the word of truth and believing, the believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit. Les notes the Bible doesn't add "and were baptized and joined the church"; salvation is believing plus nothing.
Salvation Is the Sovereign Power of God
Jesus has paid the sin debt, suffered our punishment, and opened heaven's windows if we will believe. Salvation is an act of God's sovereign power; man cannot work for it.
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 primary verse Les uses to show that salvation comes through the gospel to everyone who believes, with no works added.
Ephesians 1:13: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Paul describes the order: hearing the gospel, believing, and being sealed with the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 1:18: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Paul's prayer shows that salvation includes knowing the hope and the riches of God's inheritance in the saints.
1 Thessalonians 4:14: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Les references this plain language to show that believing Jesus died and rose again is the requirement.
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.
This verse shows that salvation, through the preaching of the cross, is the power of God.
Les Feldick says the Bible does not connect baptism to salvation. In Romans 1:16 the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, and in Ephesians 1:13 the sealing comes after believing, with no mention of baptism. Baptism has its rightful place but not as a condition of salvation.
Les distinguishes believing in God from believing God. Saving faith is not just mental assent; it means resting on what God has said and totally entrusting one's eternal destiny to the Word of God and the power of the gospel.
Yes, according to Les, the moment a person believes, God does everything—forgives, justifies, sanctifies, glorifies, baptizes into the body, seals, and fills with the Holy Spirit—even if the person doesn't feel it. The believer knows it happened because the Book says so.
No. Les says that is part of it, but salvation also gives day-by-day assurance that you are His and He is yours. It is the greatest experience in human history, not simply a fire escape from hell.
Les says no, because salvation is the sovereign power of God. Man has only physical strength; only God can bring about spiritual salvation. Christ has done it all, so salvation is believing plus nothing.
Watch the Teaching: What Happens After Christ's 1,000-Year Reign? 1 Corinthians 15:28