What are we up against when we try to enlighten people with the gospel?
We are up against Satan, who has blinded the minds of unbelievers so the light of the glorious gospel cannot shine into them. They see nothing to be gained in salvation and continue in total darkness, making the gospel seem like water off a duck's back.
Les explains that when we try to enlighten people with the gospel, we are up against Satan, who has blinded the minds of those who believe not so the light of the glorious gospel should not shine into them. We want to bring them to the same joy of salvation we enjoy, but it is like water falling off a duck's back. They are blinded by the powers of Satan, see absolutely nothing to be gained, and go on in total darkness. Les then contrasts this with Romans 8, where the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus makes us free from the law of sin and death. God can do an operation in our life giving a new outlook and hope for eternity, a whole new ball game compared to being locked in to sin and death. He connects this to Romans 6:23, the wages of sin is death.