They do not see their need because they measure themselves by their own goodness rather than by God's Word, which says all have sinned.
Les Feldick repeatedly points to Romans 3:23 as the first step of faith: 'for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.' A person may be genuinely good in outward conduct, but if he believes he is good enough for heaven, he will not recognize a need for salvation. That is why those who consider themselves spiritually well do not seek the Physician.
Romans 3:23 — This verse is the foundation of the answer: everyone has sinned, no matter how good they appear externally.
Matthew 9:12 — Jesus explains that only those who recognize they are sick will seek the physician, just as only the spiritually needy seek salvation.
The Bible identifies every human being as a sinner. Romans 3:23 says, 'For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.' This is not about comparing one person's goodness with another's; it is a universal statement that includes the morally upright and the openly wicked. In Ezekiel 18:4 the Lord declares, 'the soul that sinneth, it shall die.' So the starting point of Scripture is that all are guilty before God and in need of His intervention. When it comes to why people who are good in human terms do not seek salvation, Jesus used a medical illustration: 'They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick' (Matthew 9:12). Those who consider themselves spiritually healthy are the least likely to seek the remedy.
Les Feldick treats Romans 3:23 as the starting point on the 'road to salvation.' He says the first thing a person must believe is what God says about him or her: regardless of how good a person may be, how good a family, or how good the circumstances, God says 'I'm a sinner.' He often mentions that there are a lot of genuinely good people, even better than he could hope to be, who will still be lost because they think 'I'm good enough' rather than trusting what God has done. Les also says God does not push salvation on someone who insists he has no need. The Lord Himself said the healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. Spiritually, when we realize our need and cry from the heart for salvation, God is there in that split second. So the first step of faith is to recognize our need as sinners, and the Holy Spirit is the One who convinces us of that truth before we can believe the gospel.
Yes, according to Les. He says there are a lot of good people, better than he could ever hope to be, but they are going to be lost because they have not trusted what God has done. Scripture says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, so even good people are in need of salvation.
The first step is believing what God says about me — that I am a sinner. Les points to Romans 3:23 as the very first step of faith on the road to salvation. People overlook this verse and offer other reasons God should let them into heaven, but the first thing God tells a person to believe is that he or she is a sinner.
Les says God is not going to try to save the person who says, 'I have no need.' He waits for that cry for help. Jesus said healthy people do not need a physician; sick people do. Spiritually, when we realize our need and cry from the heart, God is there in that split second.
The Holy Spirit begins a work within the very heart of a person, and the first thing He convinces us of is that we are sinners. Romans 3:23 says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The Holy Spirit makes a person aware that he is not as good as he thinks he is.
Les says a person must be old enough to understand that he is a sinner and needs salvation, and that the gospel is the remedy. After hearing the word of truth, the gospel, and believing, God seals the believer with the Holy Spirit of promise.
God says everyone is a sinner regardless of personal goodness
Les says the first thing a person must believe is what God says about them: that they are a sinner, no matter how good they, their family, or their circumstances appear.
Good people can be lost because they think they are good enough
Les points to Romans 3:23 as the first stop on the road to salvation and says many genuinely good people will be lost because they think they are good enough.
People overlook Romans 3 when giving reasons for heaven
People give all kinds of reasons why God should let them into heaven, but they overlook the plain statement that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory.
Healthy people don't need a physician; God waits for a cry for help
God does not force salvation on people who say they have no need; He waits for the cry for help, just as a physician is sought by the sick, not the healthy.
First step in salvation is recognizing we need something
Salvation's first step is recognizing that we need something and that God says we are sinners, sons of Adam, part of a fallen race.
First step of faith is believing God's verdict: I'm a sinner
Believers can claim nothing but God's verdict that they are sinners; this is the first step of faith, followed by justification freely by His grace.
Holy Spirit first convinces us that we are sinners
The Holy Spirit begins His work in the heart by making a person aware they are a sinner — that they are not as good as they think they are.
Must understand sin and need salvation before gospel is the remedy
A person must understand that they are a sinner and need salvation before the gospel can be the remedy; after believing, God seals believers with the Holy Spirit.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
This is the core verse Les uses to show why every person, including good people, must recognize they are sinners.
Matthew 9:12: But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
Jesus explains that those who think they are spiritually well will not seek the remedy, just as healthy people do not seek a doctor.
Ezekiel 18:4: Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
This verse establishes the universal consequence of sin, showing that personal goodness does not erase the need for salvation.
Romans 3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
After acknowledging we are sinners, Paul points to justification as God's free gift, which is the remedy for the sinner's need.
Les says there are many good people, better than he could ever be, who will be lost because they think 'I'm good enough' and have not trusted what God has done. Scripture says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, so even good people need salvation.
The first step of faith is to believe what God says about you: that you are a sinner. Regardless of how good a family or circumstances you have, God says 'I'm a sinner.' The Holy Spirit first convinces us we are sinners.
No. God waits for that cry for help. Jesus said healthy people do not need a physician; sick people do. When we realize our need and cry from the heart, God is there in that split second.
Watch the Teaching: Plan of Salvation: Faith Alone in Christ's Death & Resurrection