Yes, it is vital because salvation is connected to believing the precise gospel of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection—not just any belief.
The Bible says the gospel is what saves us when we keep it in memory, and Paul warns about believing in vain. Les Feldick emphasizes that a person must know what they believe and understand what God requires, because too many people sit under good teaching yet miss salvation.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 — Paul defines the gospel that saves and conditions salvation on knowing it, saying 'by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.'
Ephesians 1:13 — This verse shows that after hearing the gospel and believing, believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit, indicating the gospel is the message to be believed.
Scripture defines the gospel that saves as the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul declares the gospel which he preached, by which the Corinthians are saved if they keep in memory what he preached, lest they have believed in vain. This gospel is singular—there is only one message of salvation. Ephesians 1:13 also connects salvation to hearing 'the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation' and believing it, resulting in being sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Romans 10:9 adds that salvation comes from believing in the heart that God raised Christ from the dead.
Les Feldick stresses that while a person does not need to know the Bible from cover to cover to be saved, they must know what they believe—the gospel is not something vague or glib. He points to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 as the gospel that must be believed, and he repeatedly says 'you have to know what you believe' so that you don't believe in vain. He also distinguishes between believing in God and believing God. For Les, true faith rests on what God has said concerning the gospel—that it is the power of God unto salvation. He is burdened that people listening to good teaching would still miss God's salvation, which is why he periodically brings the gospel clearly. Salvation is not mere head knowledge; true believers know that Christ died for them and was buried and rose again.
According to 1 Corinthians 15, the gospel is that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. Les points out that Paul says 'the gospel'—not a gospel—meaning there is only one. This is the message that saves.
Les Feldick teaches that 'keep in memory' means you must understand and know what you believe. He says too many people don't know what they believe, and that can result in believing in vain. Knowing the gospel keeps a person from missing God's salvation even while sitting under solid teaching.
Les explains that many people have head knowledge that Jesus lived and was crucified, but true belief means knowing that when Christ died, he died for us. Head knowledge alone is not saving faith; real faith rests on the gospel message and knows that Christ's death and resurrection were for our salvation.
Burden That No One Misses Salvation
Les expresses his fervent prayer that no one will sit under what he considers good, solid teaching and miss God's salvation, highlighting why knowing the gospel is critical.
The Singular Gospel and Believing
Les emphasizes that Paul speaks of 'the gospel'—singular and only one—and that while a person doesn't need to know the Bible from cover to cover, they must know what they believe.
Keeping in Memory Lest You Believe in Vain
Les says the gospel is how salvation is made possible, but 'we have to keep in memory, know what you've believed'—too many people don't know what they believe.
The Gospel Defined in 1 Corinthians 15
Les says the gospel we better believe for eternal life is 1 Corinthians 15, the first four verses, and that we must know what we believe unless we've believed in vain.
Understanding the Gospel
Les teaches that 'you have to know what you believe' and understand what the gospel is all about, connecting this to Paul's reception of the truth.
Head Knowledge vs. True Belief
Les contrasts mere head knowledge with true belief: for those who truly believe, Christ's death and burial are personal—'He died for us.'
Believing the Word of Truth
Les shows that after hearing the gospel and believing, God seals believers with the Holy Spirit, reinforcing that believing the right message is what matters.
Believing God vs. Believing in God
Les makes a distinction between believing in God and believing God, stressing that saving faith rests on the gospel—that Jesus died and rose again—not just any belief.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Paul defines the gospel that saves and explicitly ties salvation to keeping it in memory.
Ephesians 1:13: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
This shows that believing the gospel results in the sealing of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 10:9: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Salvation is tied to believing in the resurrection, which is part of the gospel.
No, Les Feldick makes a clear distinction between believing in God and believing God. Saving faith means believing what God has said about the gospel—that Jesus died and rose again—and resting on it.
Les warns that if you don't keep in memory what you've believed, you may believe in vain. Too many people don't know what they believe, and that can mean missing God's salvation.
The gospel is that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. This is the message you must know and believe.
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