Because salvation is a gift of God's grace through faith alone, not a wage earned by human works.
Scripture says that by grace we are saved through faith and that it is 'not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.' Les Feldick consistently teaches that to work for salvation is to fly in the face of this Book, because a gift cannot be earned or merited. Works have their place after salvation, in service and reward, but never as the basis of getting saved.
Ephesians 2:8 — This verse states plainly that salvation is by grace through faith and is God's gift, not the result of human effort.
Romans 4:4-5 — It contrasts one who works (earning debt) with one who believes (being counted righteous), showing why no work is needed for salvation.
Romans 5:1 — It grounds justification in faith alone, with nothing added, which Les holds up as the scriptural premise for grace.
Scripture is direct about the impossibility of earning salvation. Ephesians 2:8 (KJV) says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." The words "not of yourselves" take the action completely out of the sinner's hands. Paul makes the same point by contrast in Romans 4:4-5 (KJV): "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." A worker receives what is owed; a believer receives righteousness as a gift. There is no third category where human effort earns God's favor.
Les Feldick consistently teaches that no human effort, rite, or moral improvement can contribute to salvation. He stresses that salvation is "all of grace by faith plus nothing" (Clip 1). In Clip 2, he argues that to say you must do something for salvation contradicts the plain statement that salvation is a gift — gifts are not earned or merited. In Clip 3 he invokes Ephesians 2:8 and asks, "Do you work for a gift? Do you merit a gift? Never." Clip 6 warns that the moment anyone adds anything to "faith plus nothing," they cancel the work of the cross and millions of religionists are missing heaven's glory as a result. Yet Les is careful to balance this: once a person is saved, God does expect a life of service and work for reward (Clips 0 and 1). That service never becomes the basis of salvation.
Paul's argument in Romans 4 sets two categories against each other: the person who works receives a wage (debt), while the person who does not work but believes is counted righteous. Les picks up that distinction when he asks, "Do you work for a gift?" His answer is no — a gift is something someone does for you out of the goodness of their heart. Salvation is exactly that kind of gift, from God to humanity.
Les is careful not to turn grace into license. He says, "God does not expect us to just simply rest in that saving grace and do nothing about it." Once a person enters into salvation, God expects that person to live a life of service and to work for reward. But that work comes after salvation and is entirely different from working to attain salvation.
Les warns that anything done to earn salvation — baptism, church joining, giving, or serving — is a work performed "in the energy of the flesh," and God won't recognize it as a means of salvation. He goes further: according to Galatians 5, adding anything to "faith plus nothing" cancels the work of the cross. He fears that millions of church-going people have missed heaven's glory by doing exactly that.
Paul says we are "justified by faith," and Les spells out what that means: a person who recognizes he is a fallen, condemned creature with nothing he can do in his own strength is exactly the person grace can reach. The gospel is "faith plus nothing" — not self-improvement, not religious effort, but simply believing the gospel.
Saved Then Motivated to Serve
Les says that because Christ has done it all, God expects believers to move out and live a life of service — showing works follow salvation rather than produce it.
No Works at All for Salvation
Les explicitly states that believers work 'absolutely not at all' for salvation; salvation is all of grace by faith plus nothing, and work afterward is for reward.
Salvation Is a Gift
Les says those who think they must work for salvation are 'flying in the face of this Book,' because salvation is a gift that cannot be deserved, worked for, or merited.
Do You Work for a Gift?
Using Ephesians 2:8, Les asks whether anyone works for or merits a gift, and concludes that salvation is a gift by definition and cannot be worked for.
Works in the Flesh Cannot Save
Les lists religious actions like baptism, visiting the sick, and giving to the poor as works, and says none of them can earn salvation because God will not recognize them for that purpose.
Reward of Works Is Debt
Les explains Romans 4:4 — the reward of the one who works is not grace but debt, showing that working for salvation would put God in debt, which can never happen.
Adding Works Cancels the Cross
Les warns that adding anything to 'faith plus nothing' cancels the work of the cross, and that people who try to clean up their lives before coming to God miss the kind of person God justifies.
Grace Saves the Fallen Creature
Les describes grace as God reaching down to save a fallen, condemned person 'on the basis of his believing the gospel plus nothing,' showing the absence of works in justification.
Ephesians 2:8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Les quotes this verse directly to prove salvation cannot be worked for.
Romans 4:4-5: Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Paul contrasts work (debt) with faith (righteousness), the heart of Les's argument.
Romans 5:1: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Les cites this as the scriptural premise that justification is by faith plus nothing.
Les Feldick says God 'does not expect us to just simply rest in that saving grace and do nothing.' After salvation, God expects believers to move out and live a life of service, and He even promises rewards for that service — but none of this work is for salvation.
Les calls baptism and church joining 'works.' He says works performed in the energy of the flesh are things people decide to do, but God will not recognize them as a means of salvation. After salvation, obedience is fine; as a way to earn salvation, it won't work.
Les says the Scripture speaks of God justifying the 'ungodly.' The people who say, 'If I could just clean up my act, then I'll get right with God,' are not the kind of people God can get right with, because they are trying to add their own works to faith.
He means salvation is received by simply believing the gospel, with nothing added — no rituals, no self-effort, no works. In fact, he warns that adding anything else cancels the work of the cross (Galatians 5) and can cause people to miss heaven's glory.
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