Yes — it is essential, because Christ's finished work alone provides salvation, and adding anything to it cancels the work of the cross.
The Bible shows that no human work can be added to faith for salvation. Les Feldick teaches that salvation is faith plus nothing, and that anyone who adds church membership, baptism, or any fleshly work is trusting in something other than Christ's finished work. Christ declared it finished, and He paid for all sin through the shedding of His blood.
Romans 4:5 — Explicitly states that God justifies the one who does not work but believes, making faith the only condition for salvation.
Galatians 5:4 — Warns that attempting to be justified by the law makes Christ of no effect, which is why adding any work to the cross cancels its power.
Romans 4:5 explicitly says that the one who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly has his faith counted for righteousness. Galatians 5:4 says that whoever is justified by the law has Christ become of no effect and has fallen from grace. In the New Testament, the only basis for justification is the shed blood of Christ, for without shedding of blood there is no remission (Hebrews 9:22). Romans 5:9 says that having been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Christ's own words, “It is finished,” declare that the work required for salvation was completed on the cross.
Les teaches that salvation is faith plus nothing. He repeatedly warns that any attempt to add a human work — whether church membership, baptism, giving to the poor, visiting the sick, circumcision, or cleaning up one's life — as part of salvation cancels the work of the cross and makes Christ profit nothing. He says that when Christ said “It is finished,” He meant everything needed was accomplished on that cross. The believer is therefore not to depend on anything he or she can do, but to rest by faith in the finished work. Les adds that this does not eliminate Christian works after salvation; good works are expected and have their proper place, but they cannot be used to earn or add to salvation.
Les says that as soon as we add something to the gospel — anything done in the energy of the flesh — we cancel the work of the cross. He specifically names church membership, baptism, visiting the sick, giving to the poor, and even circumcision. When any of these is done as part of salvation, God will not recognize it. Paul's warning to the Galatians shows that mixing law and grace makes Christ profit nothing.
Les emphasizes that faith plus nothing is what saves. He points to Romans 4:5, where God justifies the ungodly who does not work but believes. In Romans 3:26, God is the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus — and nothing is added. Les makes clear this is about getting saved; after salvation, the Christian life should show change and good works, but those works are not part of salvation.
Les says that because Christ finished the work, believers rest by faith rather than worrying about whether they have done enough. All sins are canceled and paid for by the work of the cross. Being justified by His blood means we are saved from wrath through Him, not through anything we have done. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission, but Christ's blood was shed once and for all.
Law and Flesh Excluded
Les uses Hagar and Ishmael to show that law and flesh cannot share heirship with grace, reinforcing that salvation cannot be a mixture of law and grace.
Adding Any Work Cancels the Cross
Les warns that depending on any work for salvation makes Christ profit nothing, because Christ declared 'It is finished.'
Millions Miss Heaven by Adding Works
Les says that adding anything to faith plus nothing cancels the cross, and that millions of church-going people will miss heaven's glory for that reason.
The Finished Work Removes Fear
Les shows that no one can merit salvation by good deeds, but believers rest on the completed work of the cross and all their sins are canceled.
Faith Plus Nothing
Les explains that for salvation it is faith plus nothing, and that God is the justifier of the one who simply believes in Jesus.
Justified by His Blood
Les teaches that without the shedding of blood there is no remission, and we are saved from wrath through Christ's finished work, not by our actions.
Works After Salvation, Not For Salvation
Les lists baptism, visiting the sick, and giving to the poor as works that are expected after salvation but cannot be used to earn it.
Christ of Resurrection — Nothing Added
Les points out that God is the justifier of the believer in the resurrected Christ, and all the things people think should be added are absent.
Romans 4:5: But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Shows that righteousness is credited to the one who believes rather than the one who works.
Galatians 5:4: Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
States plainly that trying to be justified by law makes Christ's work ineffective.
Romans 5:9: Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Confirms that justification comes through Christ's blood and delivers believers from wrath.
Hebrews 9:22: And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Establishes the necessity of shed blood for forgiveness, pointing to Christ's sacrifice.
John 19:30: When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Christ's own declaration that the work of redemption was complete.
No. Les calls baptism a work that a person decides to do. It has its proper place after salvation, but when someone is baptized as part of getting saved, it becomes a work that cancels the cross. Salvation is faith plus nothing.
No. Les says no one can do enough good to merit salvation. He lists visiting the sick, giving to the poor, and similar works as things God expects after salvation, but He will not recognize them as a basis for salvation. The only basis is the finished work of Christ received by faith.
Les says Christ meant what He said: everything needed for salvation was accomplished on the cross. Nothing more needs to be added. Trying to add any human work treats Christ's finished work as insufficient.
Watch the Teaching: Justified by Faith Alone — What Romans 4 Really Teaches