Under the covenant promises, Jewish salvation required personal faith, but that faith had to be expressed through the works God had prescribed, such as bringing a sacrifice.
Les Feldick shows that in the Old Testament economy it was never faith plus nothing; it was faith plus the God-given offerings. A person who said, "I know I've sinned, but I won't bring the lamb," was not accepted. Yet the faith itself, not the ritual, was the basis, as Abraham's example shows.
Romans 4:2-3 — Paul uses Abraham to show that justification was never based on works that would let a person boast; Abraham's faith was counted for righteousness.
Acts 2:38 — Peter's command to repent and be baptized for remission of sins shows the faith-plus-works requirement in the Jewish offer of the kingdom.
Matthew 19:17 — Jesus told the rich young ruler to keep the commandments when asked how to inherit eternal life under the law.
Paul asks whether Abraham our father was justified by works. If he had been, he would have had reason to boast. But the Scripture says that Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness (Romans 4:2-3). This places faith at the center of Abraham's justification, not a work he performed. In Acts 2:38, Peter told the crowd, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." And when a rich Jewish ruler asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus answered, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments" (Matthew 19:17).
Les Feldick explains that when God called Abraham and set Israel apart as His covenant people, He dealt with them differently, but personal salvation still rested on faith. In the Old Testament economy, no one came into a salvation relationship with God apart from some kind of works: they brought a sacrifice and worshiped at the temple. It was based on their faith first and foremost, but it was not faith plus nothing; it was faith plus "bring me that sacrifice." A Jew who knew he had sinned but refused to bring the appointed offering would not have been accepted. Abraham himself did nothing but believe, showing that works were never the ground of justification, only the prescribed expression of faith.
Les Feldick says that under the Old Testament economy, no one came into a salvation relationship with God apart from some kind of works. They brought a sacrifice and worshiped at the temple. It was based on faith first, but it was faith plus the prescribed work, such as bringing a lamb. A person who knew he had sinned but refused to bring the sacrifice was not accepted. In the temple period, a Jew could never say, "I have sinned, but I will not bring a sacrifice." He was tied to faith plus works.
No. Les distinguishes God's dealing with Israel on two levels: national and personal. The Abrahamic covenant promised a nation, a land, and a future King and Redeemer, but that belonged to the nation. An individual Israelite could still be lost, and even today an individual Jew can come to salvation while the nation as a whole is blind. The Jews of Jesus' day wanted the King and the Kingdom but did not want to confront their sin problem, which is why a Redeemer was necessary.
Les emphasizes that Paul says there is no difference between Jew and Gentile. A Jew is not saved on a different level or by a different gospel. If salvation is by grace, it is no more of works, and Jewish people must drop their works religion of Judaism. This does not mean the national promises are cancelled; it means individual salvation under grace is received the same way for everyone. Abraham himself did nothing but believe, which is the same principle.
According to Les, in Acts 3 and 4 the offer of the King was still valid. Every Jew had to repent of their sin and follow it with water baptism, as in Acts 2:38. This was the prerequisite for the King to bless them and turn them from their iniquities. God knew Israel would not do it, but it was a valid offer at that time.
Abraham's Faith, Not Works
Les shows that Abraham was not justified by doing something that would let him boast; he simply believed God, and that faith was counted for righteousness.
Faith Plus the Prescribed Sacrifice
Les states that in the Old Testament no one entered a salvation relationship apart from works, and they brought a sacrifice, though their faith came first.
No Faith Without the Sacrifice
Les says a temple-period Jew could never say he had sinned but refuse to bring a sacrifice; he was tied to faith plus works, as the rich young ruler was told to keep the law.
Israel as God's Covenant People
Les sets the context: beginning with Abraham, God dealt with Israel as His covenant people, separate from the nations.
No Difference for Jews and Gentiles in Grace
Les teaches that a Jew is saved the same way as a Gentile, by grace, no longer by works, and must give up the works religion of Judaism.
Repentance and Baptism in the Kingdom Offer
Les explains that when the King was offered to Israel, every Jew had to repent of sin and follow it with water baptism, as in Acts 2:38.
National Covenants vs. Individual Salvation
Les distinguishes God's dealing with Israel as a nation under the covenants from the individual Jew, who can still personally come to salvation even while the nation is blind.
The Covenant Promises Included a Redeemer
Les shows that the Abrahamic covenant included a King and Kingdom but also a suffering Redeemer; Israel wanted the King but did not want to deal with the sin problem.
Romans 4:2-3: For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Paul uses Abraham to show that his acceptance before God was based on faith, not a work that would give him something to boast about.
Acts 2:38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
This was Peter's command to the Jewish people who asked what to do when the kingdom was offered.
Matthew 19:17: And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Jesus directed the rich young ruler to the law when asking how to inherit eternal life.
Faith was the foundation, but Les Feldick says it was not faith plus nothing. They were required to bring a sacrifice as the God-ordained expression of that faith. Refusing to bring it showed their faith was not real.
No. Les uses this hypothetical to show that the Old Testament economy required faith plus the prescribed works, such as bringing the lamb to sacrifice. A person who said he had sinned but would not bring the offering was not accepted.
No. The covenant promises were made to the nation, but Les distinguishes the national level from personal faith. An individual Jew can still be saved today even while the nation is blind.
No. Under the gospel of grace, Paul says there is no difference between Jew and Gentile. A Jew is saved by grace and must let go of the works religion of Judaism.
Watch the Teaching: Why Heaven Won't Be Full of Boasters: Faith vs. Works