Why can't God save a lost person until they realize they are lost?
Salvation requires an awareness of being hopelessly lost, because the Gospel does no good until a person sees that need. Scripture has concluded all under sin; only those who recognize their lost condition and believe in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection receive eternal life.
Les explains that lost people are like a little lamb trapped in a crevice, with no hope unless the shepherd comes and finds him. In the same way, lost people today must understand they are hopelessly lost before God can save them, and not until. He points to Galatians 3:22, where Scripture has concluded all under sin, so the promise by faith in Jesus Christ—believing in His death, shed blood, burial, and resurrection—can be given to those who believe. But believing the Gospel does no good until a person realizes they are lost. This is especially hard for good people who say they are not that bad. Until they realize how lost they are spiritually and what Scripture concludes, God cannot save them; they remain without hope, and one day it will be too late. Les stresses that God has forgiven every sin and done everything that needs to be done.