No, works-based religion cannot lead to eternal life, because eternal life is a free gift of God, received only through faith, and any addition of works nullifies the gift.
Les Feldick teaches that eternal life is a gift from God (Romans 6:23), and a gift cannot be earned or worked for. Scripture and Les emphasize that human works, such as church membership, baptism, giving, or self-improvement, cannot reach the invisible part of a person's soul where God must work. Only God can transform the inner being, and this transformation is received by faith alone, not by works.
Romans 6:23 — Directly contrasts the wages of sin (death) with the free gift of God (eternal life), showing salvation cannot be earned.
Scripture clearly distinguishes salvation from works. Romans 6:23 declares, 'For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.' This verse presents eternal life as a gift, not a wage, meaning it cannot be earned or merited by human effort. In 2 Corinthians 5:14, the Apostle Paul speaks of being constrained by the love of Christ, indicating that his motivation for service came from a transformed heart, not from an attempt to earn salvation. The Bible teaches that salvation is based on God's completed work, not on our works (Romans 5:1, 2 Corinthians 5:14).
Les Feldick emphasizes that any attempt to earn salvation through human activity is 'works' and is doomed to failure. He explains that works such as joining a church, walking an aisle, being baptized, giving, or tithing cannot save anyone because they are done in the energy of the flesh and cannot touch the invisible part of a person's being where God must work. Les illustrates that just as a battery cannot be charged by washing it, a person cannot cleanse their inner self through external religious activities. Only God, who created our invisible soul and spirit, can bring transformation. He also clarifies the distinction between salvation and reward: salvation is a free gift, while rewards in heaven are earned through post-salvation works. According to Les, the whole concept of Scripture is to accept salvation by faith, and then, as a result, serve God for rewards. Works have no place in obtaining salvation; they belong to the realm of Christian service after salvation.
Les Feldick points out several common works people mistakenly think can earn salvation: joining a church, walking an aisle, being baptized, giving money, tithing, visiting the sick, and helping the poor. He stresses that these actions are fine after salvation as expressions of faith, but they cannot save anyone when done to merit heaven.
Les Feldick teaches that salvation and works are two different areas. Works performed after salvation can result in rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ, but they have no part in obtaining salvation. A believer's works will be tested by fire; if they are wood, hay, and stubble, they will be burned, but the person will still be saved, though losing reward. This shows that salvation is not based on works, but rewards are.
Les uses the analogy of a dead battery: you can wash it, but it won't gain power unless connected to an outside source. Similarly, no preacher, teacher, priest, or religion can touch the invisible part of a person's makeup; only God can. Works religion fails because it cannot reach the soul and spirit where God's transformative work is needed.
Paul, before conversion, was a religious zealot in Judaism, driven by works. But after God saved him by grace, he was driven by the love of Christ, not by a desire to earn salvation. This shows that true Christian service flows from love and gratitude, not from attempts to merit heaven.
Paul's Motivation - Love Not Works
Paul's various religious works before conversion did not save him; after salvation, he was driven by love for Christ, not by attempts to earn salvation.
Examples of Works
Les gives concrete examples of works people rely on for salvation (joining church, walking an aisle, etc.) and says these cannot save.
Baptism and Giving as Works
Baptism, giving, visiting sick, and helping poor are works when done to earn salvation; they cannot earn God's approval.
Salvation vs. Reward
Works determine rewards, not salvation; a believer can suffer loss of reward but not lose salvation.
All Done on Our Behalf
Les emphasizes that God has already done everything for salvation; people only need to believe, not add works.
Invisible Part – Only God Can Touch
Works religion fails because human effort cannot reach the invisible soul and spirit; only God can transform it.
Rewards as Motivation for Service
After salvation, believers work for rewards, not for salvation; this is the proper place for works.
Gift vs. Earned Wage
Eternal life is a gift; adding work makes it no longer a gift, so salvation cannot be earned.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
This verse clearly contrasts earned wages (sin) with an unearned gift (eternal life), showing salvation cannot be worked for.
2 Corinthians 5:14: For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
Paul’s life was motivated by Christ's love, not by works, illustrating the proper response after salvation.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15: Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
This passage distinguishes between salvation (eternal) and rewards (based on works), reinforcing that works do not determine salvation.
Romans 5:1: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Justification is stated to be by faith, not by works, confirming the basis of salvation.
No, joining a church is a work. Les Feldick teaches that walking an aisle or joining a church never saved anybody. These are human actions, and salvation is a gift from God received by faith alone.
No. Eternal life is a gift (Romans 6:23). If you work for it, it is no longer a gift but a wage. Les emphasizes that salvation must be received as a gift, with no works added.
These are works performed by human effort. Les explains that they cannot touch the invisible part of your being where God must work. Only God can transform your soul and spirit.
Watch the Teaching: Why Christ Died for All — 2 Corinthians 5:14-16 Explained