Yes, people reject grace because they believe they must do their best and keep the commandments to earn God's favor.
Les Feldick teaches that legalism, in any form, tells people what they must do to merit acceptance with God. This leads millions to turn away from the gospel of grace, insisting on working for salvation. However, grace is based entirely on what Christ has done, not on human effort.
Romans 6:14 — This verse directly contrasts being under law versus under grace, showing the two are distinct covenants.
In Romans 6:14, the Apostle Paul declares, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." This verse establishes that believers are no longer under the Mosaic Law but under a new dispensation of grace. Paul then addresses a potential objection in Romans 6:15: "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." The biblical answer resoundingly rejects the idea that grace gives license to sin. The law itself was a ministration of death and condemnation, as described in 2 Corinthians 3, while grace brings the ministration of righteousness. The law demanded perfect obedience with severe penalties, such as death by stoning for picking up sticks on the Sabbath (Numbers 15:32-36), but grace offers God's unmerited favor through faith in Christ's finished work.
Les Feldick explains that people reject grace and choose legalism because they hold to a mindset that they must do their best and keep the commandments to be accepted by God. He calls this a sad commentary, seeing millions turn their backs on the gospel of grace. Legalism, in his teaching, is any attempt to add human effort to the finished work of the cross, whether through religious rituals, priesthood, or sacrifices. Les emphasizes that law and grace are as different as "pitch midnight and high noon sunlight." He frequently uses Romans 6:14-15 to show that believers are not under law but under grace, and this freedom is not a license to sin but a change in appetites and motives. He points out that many in the church, even good men, try to subjugate believers to legalism, but grace is far more glorious and liberating.
According to Les Feldick, law and grace are two totally different concepts. The law was a ministration of death and condemnation, requiring perfect obedience and punishing violations with death, such as stoning for Sabbath-breaking. Grace, on the other hand, is unmerited favor based entirely on what Christ has done. While the law brought glory to Israel, grace exceeds in glory, making the law's glory nothing by comparison. Believers are not under the legalistic system but under a new arrangement of grace, which changes our response to God completely.
No, grace is not license. Les Feldick clarifies that while believers are not under the law but under grace, this does not give them freedom to do as they please. Grace changes our appetites and motives, making believers miserable when living like the world. Paul addressed this in Romans 6:15, where he responds to the charge with "God forbid," or as Les suggests, "banish the thought." The whole book of Galatians is written to prove that under grace the law has no power over us, yet this liberty does not condone sin.
Les Feldick observes that the whole world of Christendom constantly tries to subjugate believers to legalism. Even good men write books trying to convince the Christian community to adopt legalism, which is simply anything done in the energy of the flesh as over against the finished work of the cross. This pressure leads many to reject grace and instead trust in their own efforts, which is a sad commentary on the state of modern Christianity.
Millions Reject Grace
Les explains that the law was a ministration of death and condemnation, and yet millions today turn away from grace, insisting on keeping commandments and doing their best—a sad commentary.
Law vs. Grace
Les shows that under grace the law has no power over us, and the whole book of Galatians proves this; grace is a completely different set of circumstances from legalism.
Darkness to Light
Les describes coming out of legalism into grace as stepping from darkness into light, with grace being unmerited favor where nothing we do counts, only what Christ has done.
Why Grace Is Not a License to Sin — Romans 6 Explained
If you explain to some curiosity seeker that the grace of God is greater than all our sin, that we're not under any demands of the law, we're living under grace, they'll shake their head and say, well, then you're telling me you can do whatever you wanna do and God's grace will take care of it? No, I've never taught that.
What Does It Mean to Present Your Body as a Living Sacrifice?
I plead with you. In other words, is Paul by inspiration laying down a command that you will or else? See this is the difference, and we're going to see it now in another word in a little bit. This is the difference between grace and law. Law said, pick up sticks on the Sabbath day, and what's the result? Death by stoning. Now we're not under that.
The Wages of Sin vs. the Gift of God — Romans 6:23 Explained
They are not a set of doctrines, and we're not under them as Israel was, and all of their legalistic priesthood and their sacrifice and so forth. That's what Paul is referring to. We're not under that legalistic system. We're under grace, and that's as different as daylight is from dark.
Legalism Subjugates
Les warns that Christendom constantly tries to subjugate believers to legalism, which is anything done in the flesh as opposed to faith in the finished work of the cross.
Ignorance of Difference
Les is amazed that many in the Bible Belt have no concept of the difference between law and grace, emphasizing that they are as different as midnight and high noon.
Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
This verse summarizes the believer's position under grace rather than law, directly addressing the rejection of legalism.
Romans 6:15: What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Paul anticipates the objection that grace encourages sin and refutes it, showing that grace is not license.
2 Corinthians 3:9: For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
This verse contrasts the law's ministry of condemnation with the glory of grace, showing grace's superiority.
People reject grace because they believe they must do their best and keep the commandments to earn God's favor. Les Feldick describes this as a sad commentary and the devil's lie, as it ignores the finished work of Christ.
No, grace is not license. Les Feldick emphasizes that grace changes our appetites and motives, and believers would be miserable living like the world. Paul says 'God forbid' to the idea that grace permits sin.
Legalism is anything done in the energy of the flesh as over against the finished work of the cross, which is by faith alone. It subjugates believers to commands and demands rather than grace.
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