No, humans cannot work for salvation.
Salvation is the power of God, not an achievement of human effort. As Les Feldick explains, good works never save anyone because they are done in the energy of the flesh; the Gospel—Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again—is what we must believe, plus nothing.
1 Corinthians 1:18 — This verse directly contrasts the message of the cross for the lost (foolishness) and the saved (power of God), showing that salvation is God's power, not human works.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 — It gives the content of the Gospel to believe: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again—faith in this saves, not works.
The Bible reveals that salvation is not something people accomplish through their own abilities. In 1 Corinthians 1:18, it says that the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. The power to save is in the message of the cross, not in human deeds. The Gospel itself is defined in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day. And in 1 Corinthians 1:21, God saved those who believe, not those who achieve. Even in the Old Testament, when Israel faced the Red Sea, Moses told them to 'stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord' (Exodus 14:13)—deliverance came from the Lord, not from human action.
Les Feldick teaches that humans cannot work for their salvation because any good works we do are in the energy of the flesh and do not have the power of God. He explains that the preaching of the cross is the Gospel itself—Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again—and that this message is the power of God to those who believe it (clips 0, 1, 2, 5, 7). He uses the illustration of Israel at the Red Sea to show that God did not ask them to do something; He said 'stand still' (clip 4). Likewise, salvation is not something we do—it is something we take by believing. Les stresses that we are saved by believing the Gospel 'plus nothing,' and any attempt to add works turns it into legalism and a works religion (clips 3, 5, 7). 'There's nothing we can do but take what God has offered' (clip 7).
The Gospel is not a set of works to perform; it is a message to believe. From 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Les teaches that the Gospel is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (clip 0). Paul delivered this to the Corinthians as the purest form of the Gospel. The Jews required signs and the Greeks sought wisdom, but the message is Christ crucified—God's power and wisdom (clips 6, 0).
Good works do not have the power of God; they are simply things we can do in the energy of the flesh (clip 5). Les Feldick says plainly that good works never save anybody (clips 3, 5). At the Red Sea, God told Israel to stand still and do nothing—He didn't say 'hurry up and do something' (clip 4). There is nothing we can do but take what God has offered (clip 7).
To those who are saved, the preaching of the cross is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). This is because it was the eternal God on the cross, and what He did 2,000 years ago has everything to do with every person today (clips 1, 2). The message of the cross may seem foolish to those who are perishing, and the Greeks sought after wisdom, but to those who believe, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God (clips 6, 7).
The Gospel Defined
Les shows the Gospel is a message to believe—Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again—not a task to perform.
The Cross: Foolishness or Power
Les explains that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who reject it, but to those who are saved it is the power of God, because the eternal God was on that cross.
The Cross as God's Power
Les repeats that people can't see how what happened 2,000 years ago matters, yet to us who are saved the preaching of the cross is the power of God.
Good Works Never Save
Les states that good works never save anybody; the cross is what saves, and it is the power of God to those who believe.
Stand Still and Do Nothing
Les uses Israel at the Red Sea to illustrate that God's instruction was to stand still—salvation is His work, not something we rush to do.
Believe Plus Nothing
Les teaches that good works are in the flesh and lack God's power; we are saved by believing the Gospel plus nothing, otherwise it is legalism and a works religion.
Signs and Wisdom Are Not Salvation
Les points out that Jews seek signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but the preaching of the cross is the power of God to those who are called.
Take What God Has Offered
Les confronts the idea of earning salvation, saying there is nothing we can do but take what God has offered—the Gospel is the power of God.
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.
Les uses this verse to show that salvation is God's power, not human effort.
1 Corinthians 1:21: For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
This verse shows that God saves those who believe, not those who achieve wisdom or works.
1 Corinthians 1:24: But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Les notes that for the called, Christ is the power of God—not human signs or philosophies.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
This defines the Gospel that saves: Christ's death, burial, and resurrection—faith in this, not works.
Exodus 14:13: And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
This pictures salvation as God's work: Israel was told to stand still, not to act.
No. Les Feldick says there's nothing we can do but take what God has offered. Good works are done in the energy of the flesh and do not have the power of God.
It means the message of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection is not just information—it is the very power that saves those who believe. To them that perish it seems foolish, but to us who are saved it is God's power.
No. At the Red Sea, God told Israel to stand still and see His salvation. Likewise, today we are saved by believing the Gospel plus nothing; otherwise it becomes legalism.
Watch the Teaching: What Paul Teaches That You Won't Find in the Gospels