No — the gospel is not based on Jesus' miracles and signs; it is based on His death, burial, and resurrection.
Les Feldick teaches that while it is good to know about Jesus' earthly ministry and miracles, that knowledge is not what saves anyone. Salvation requires understanding that the Son of God went to the cross and died for our sin, and then rose from the dead. No one is saved by simply believing that Jesus did good.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 — This verse spells out the gospel as Christ dying for our sins, being buried, and rising again — with no mention of miracles or signs.
1 Corinthians 1:22-24 — Paul contrasts the Jews' demand for a sign and the Greeks' search for wisdom with the message of Christ crucified.
Scripture defines the gospel when Paul writes, "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" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The saving message is a person and a finished work, not a display of wonders. Paul also says, "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness" (1 Corinthians 1:22-23). He declares, "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). In 2 Corinthians 5:16 he writes, "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more." Romans 4:5 adds that God "justifieth the ungodly" who believes, showing salvation is not a matter of displaying or copying good works. John 20:31 records the purpose of the signs in John's Gospel: "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." The signs themselves are not called the gospel in that verse; they point to the person of Jesus, and the saving message Paul announces is His cross and resurrection.
Les Feldick teaches that the gospel is not based on Jesus' earthly ministry, including His miracles and signs. He stresses that while it is good to know about Bethlehem, His miracles, His suffering, and all that took place, that is not what is required for salvation. What is required is understanding that this same Christ, the Son of God, went to the cross and died for sin and rose from the dead (Clip 0). Paul said he knew no man after the flesh, and Les shows that means we no longer relate to Christ as He was known in His earthly ministry — we now know the resurrected Christ who died for our sin (Clips 0, 6). The miracles and signs were performed over and over to convince Israel who Jesus was, but the Jewish mentality kept demanding more signs. Paul doesn't provide signs or philosophy; he preaches Christ crucified (Clips 1, 3, 5). Les specifically warns that no one is saved by simply believing that Jesus did good or by admiring His good earthly life. The 'Jesus people' of the 60s missed resurrection power and saving power. Salvation comes only by virtue of His death, burial, and resurrection, and that message, according to Les, does not appear until Paul's writings (Clips 2, 4, 6, 7).
The Bible records that the Jews required a sign, and Jesus showed them sign after sign and miracle after miracle (Clip 1). Les explains that a sign was more than a miracle — it was a manifestation of God's power with an intrinsic lesson for the nation of Israel (Clip 5). The signs and miracles were performed over and over for the sole purpose of convincing Israel that Jesus was who He claimed to be (Clip 3). In John's Gospel the recorded signs were written so readers might believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (John 20:31), but Les points out that even that verse does not add 'who died for the sins of the world and rose from the dead' (Clip 7). Signs were credentials for Israel, not the saving message.
Because Christ died and rose from the dead, Paul says 'henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more' (2 Corinthians 5:16). Les applies this to Jesus' earthly ministry: it is good to know about Bethlehem, His miracles, His suffering, and all that took place, but that is not what is required for salvation (Clip 0). What is required is that we understand this same Son of God went to the cross, died for our sin, and rose again. In resurrection power He becomes the glorified Lord, and that is how we are to know Him — as the One who died for our sin (Clips 0, 6).
Les says no one is saved by simply believing that Jesus did good. He recalls the 'Jesus people' of the 60s, who made a big ado about Jesus but knew nothing of His resurrection power or His saving power; they kept referring to His good earthly life (Clip 6). He compares that with people who spend all their time in the four Gospels and fall short of the fact that this Jesus, who performed miracles, died the death that had to be died, shed the blood that had to be shed, and rose in power over sin and Satan (Clip 4). Romans 4:5 reveals that God justifies the ungodly who believe — He doesn't save people because they were good or tried to imitate Jesus' earthly goodness.
Les makes a sharp point: you cannot find the gospel based on His death, shed blood, burial, and resurrection until you get to Paul (Clip 7). He uses John 20:31 as an example — people frequently add 'who died for the sins of the world and rose from the dead,' but the verse doesn't actually say that (Clip 7). In Paul, however, the message is explicit: 'For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified' (1 Corinthians 2:2), and 'I declare unto you the gospel... 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' (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). For us today, Les says this is where it all begins (Clips 1, 2).
Christ's Earthly Ministry Not the Basis of Salvation
Les explains that knowing about Jesus' earthly ministry, miracles, and suffering is not what saves. The saving truth is that this Christ went to the cross for our sin and rose from the dead.
We Preach Christ Crucified
Les points out that the Jews had sign after sign and miracle after miracle and still couldn't believe, so Paul's message was not signs but 'Christ crucified.'
Salvation by Death, Burial, and Resurrection
Les says salvation is only by virtue of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, and he warns that no one can be saved by the 'gospel according to Jesus' earthly ministry.'
Signs Were for Israel
Les explains that the signs and miracles in Jesus' earthly ministry were performed again and again to convince Israel who He was, not to become the basis of anyone's salvation.
The Cross and Resurrection Are What Save
Les warns that people who stay in the four Gospels and focus on Jesus' earthly ministry fall short of the fact that He died, shed blood, and rose in power to impart salvation to believers.
Signs Were More Than Miracles
Les describes the eight signs in John's Gospel as more than miracles: they were signs with an intrinsic lesson for Israel, showing that signs served an Israel-specific purpose.
We Know the Resurrected Christ
Les says we now know the resurrected Christ, the One who died for our sin, and that simply believing Jesus did good is not enough to save anyone.
Gospel of Death and Resurrection Waits for Paul
Les points out that the gospel based on Christ's death, shed blood, burial, and resurrection cannot be found until Paul's writings, not even in John 20:31.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4: 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:
This is Paul's explicit definition of the gospel, with no mention of miracles or signs.
1 Corinthians 1:22-24: For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Jews wanted signs, but the preached message was Christ crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:2: For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Paul's single-point focus was the cross, not signs or philosophy.
2 Corinthians 5:16: Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
Paul says believers no longer relate to Christ according to His earthly, fleshly ministry.
Romans 4:5: But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Salvation is for the ungodly who believe — not for those who add good works or imitate Jesus' earthly goodness.
John 20:31: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
The signs in John were written to bring belief in Jesus' identity, but the verse does not contain the death/burial/resurrection gospel formula Paul later declares.
Yes, Les says it is good to know about His miracles and earthly ministry. But they were performed to convince Israel who Jesus was and are not what is required for salvation. Salvation requires faith in His death for sin and His resurrection.
No. Les says no one is saved by simply believing Jesus did good. The 60s 'Jesus people' missed resurrection power and saving power. We must know Him as the resurrected Christ who died for our sin.
Les doesn't say ignore them; he says it is all good to know. But he warns that people who spend all their time in the four Gospels and never reach the cross and resurrection are missing what saves.
The gospel is that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day. Les says this message is found clearly in Paul's writings.
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