Works cannot lead to salvation because salvation is a gift of God received through faith alone, and any attempt to add human effort or merit cancels the finished work of Christ.
Les Feldick teaches that anything a person does in the flesh—such as church membership, baptism, or good works—cannot earn or contribute to salvation. Scripture says salvation is 'not of works, lest any man should boast' (Ephesians 2:9). When works are added to faith, they cancel the work of the cross and Christ profits the person nothing (Galatians 5:2). Faith alone is what God counts for righteousness, as He did with Abraham.
Romans 4:4-5 — This passage contrasts working for a reward with believing on God, showing that righteousness is credited to the one who does not work.
Ephesians 2:8-9 — It explicitly states that salvation is by grace through faith and not of works, so that no one can boast.
Galatians 5:2 — It warns that adding any work, such as circumcision, makes Christ profit nothing—directly answering why works cannot be added to salvation.
Romans 4:4-5 draws a clear line between working and believing: '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.' The one who works is paid a debt; the one who believes receives righteousness as a gift of grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 states, 'For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.' Salvation is a gift, not a wage. Genesis 15:6 and Romans 4:3 confirm the pattern: 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.' Scripture consistently presents faith—not human effort—as the sole instrument of justification.
Les Feldick teaches that works are anything a person chooses to do in the energy of the flesh, such as joining a church, being baptized, or performing good works. None of these actions can secure salvation. He warns that as soon as anyone adds even one work to 'faith plus nothing,' they cancel the work of the cross and Christ profits them nothing. Works do have a proper place after salvation—God expects believers to work for reward and honor—but they are the result of salvation, never the means. Like Abraham, what God looks for is simply faith in what He has accomplished through Christ, not human effort.
According to Les Feldick, salvation is 'all of grace by faith plus nothing.' He states plainly that 'you work absolutely not at all for salvation' and that once a person is saved, they are to work for reward. Any attempt to add works—such as baptism, church membership, or good deeds—cancels the work of the cross. Ephesians 2:8-9 confirms that salvation is 'the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.'
Les teaches that when a person does anything to fulfill or complete their salvation, the work of the cross is canceled and Christ profits them nothing. This applies to any work in the flesh—circumcision, church membership, baptism, or anything else. The Bible says in Galatians 5:2, 'Christ shall profit you nothing,' and Romans 4:4 says that to him that worketh the reward is not reckoned of grace but of debt. Adding works turns a gift into a debt.
Although works cannot save, Les explains that after salvation God expects believers to work for reward. He says, 'Once we've entered in to that glorious salvation experience, then God expects us to work for reward.' The purpose of such works is to enhance God's work, bring honor and glory to His Name, and demonstrate the reality of salvation. But these works are never a basis for getting saved.
Les gives several examples of works people think they must do to merit God's favor: joining a church, getting baptized, doing good works, and cleaning up one's life. He points out that these are all things a person can do in the flesh, but faith is something beyond the flesh. God's Word says these things do not save; rather, the one who 'worketh not' but believes is counted righteous.
Romans 5:1-2 Explained — Peace With God Through Faith Alone
for a little bit. Keith Decker and his mom, Marjorie Decker. And of course, she is world known as Christian Mother Goose. And that's what drew my attention as I was looking through the Yellow Pages one day for somebody to pick up the ball and start these printing. And I saw Christian Mother Goose. I'd never heard of it before, but I'm not much at getting around.
Adding to Faith Cancels the Cross
Les Feldick warns that adding anything to faith with regard to the gospel cancels the work of the cross, and that people who think they must clean up their lives are not the kind God can justify.
Works in the Flesh Cancel the Cross
Depending on anything a person can do in the flesh as part of salvation—circumcision, church membership, baptism—makes Christ profit nothing and cancels the finished work of the cross.
Works Are Results, Not Causes
Les explains that repentance, baptism, church membership, and good works are the reward or result of salvation, not the means, and attaching works to faith makes it worthless.
Working for Salvation Puts God in Debt
Les teaches that when a person works for salvation, the reward is not reckoned of grace but of debt—impossible because you can never put God in debt.
No Work for Salvation; Work After for Reward
Les states plainly that you work absolutely not at all for salvation, and only after salvation does God expect believers to work for eternal reward.
Abraham's Faith Counted as Righteousness
Les points to Abraham: he believed God and it was counted as righteousness, showing that there is no physical work that can merit salvation—only faith.
Works Are Flesh; Faith Is Beyond the Flesh
Les defines works as anything we can decide to do in the flesh, such as joining a church or getting baptized, while faith is beyond the flesh and is what God credits for righteousness.
Romans 4:4: Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Shows that working for salvation makes the reward a debt rather than a gift of grace.
Romans 4:5: But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Contrasts works with faith, explaining that righteousness is credited to those who believe rather than work.
Ephesians 2:8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Affirms that salvation is wholly by grace through faith and not of one's own effort.
Ephesians 2:9: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Explicitly rules out works as the basis for salvation to prevent boasting.
Galatians 5:2: Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Warns that adding a work like circumcision makes Christ of no profit—directly relevant to why works cannot be added.
Genesis 15:6: And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Establishes the foundational example of Abraham, where faith alone was counted as righteousness.
Romans 4:3: For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.
Repeats the Genesis 15:6 example to confirm that justification is by faith, not works.
Good works are things a person does in the flesh and cannot put God in debt. Scripture states salvation is 'not of works, lest any man should boast' (Ephesians 2:9). Les Feldick teaches that adding any work to faith cancels the work of the cross, making Christ of no profit.
It means salvation is a free gift from God received by believing in what Christ accomplished on the cross. Romans 4:5 says the one who does not work but believes is counted righteous. No human effort or merit is added.
Yes, after salvation. Les explains that God expects believers to work for reward, to enhance His Kingdom, and to bring honor to His Name. However, these works are the result of salvation, never the means.
No. Les specifically lists church membership and baptism as things a person can do in the flesh, but they do not save. Galatians 5:2 warns that adding such works makes Christ profit you nothing.
Watch the Teaching: Romans 5:1-2 Explained — Peace With God Through Faith Alone