Rarely—Les Feldick says God almost always uses another person to bring someone to a knowledge of salvation, but he leaves room for those who come to salvation without another human.
Les states that God has almost always used one human instrument to lead another to a knowledge of salvation, and that he has very, very seldom encountered someone who found salvation all by themselves. The Ethiopian was reading Isaiah 53, yet he still needed Philip to explain it to him. So while reading the Bible is vital, the ordinary means God uses is a prepared human guide.
Acts 8:31 — It shows that even with Scripture open before him, the Ethiopian needed a human guide to understand what he was reading.
In the account in Acts, the Ethiopian official was reading from Isaiah the prophet, but when Philip asked if he understood what he was reading, he replied, 'How can I, except some man should guide me?' (Acts 8:30-31). The passage does not present Scripture as self-interpreting to the reader; instead, it shows God directing Philip to come alongside the reader. Likewise, Paul's question in Romans 10:14 points to the necessity of a messenger: 'How shall they hear without a preacher?' The biblical pattern places the Word in the hands of people who can explain it to others.
Les Feldick is clear that God has ordained human beings to promote His salvation. He says God did not leave the Word in the hands of angels but in the hands of people, and that He has almost always used one human instrument to lead another to a knowledge of salvation. Les admits, however, that he has very, very seldom run across someone who found salvation all by themselves without benefit of some other human being. In his teaching, the Holy Spirit works through the Word to light a spark within an individual, but the normal process involves someone else opening the Scriptures to that person. He also warns that an unsaved person in the natural state cannot comprehend the deep things of Scripture, which is why a believer who can handle the Word is needed to guide the seeker.
Les says God did not leave the Word in the hands of angels, but in the hands of people. He has almost always used one human instrument to lead another to a knowledge of salvation. Even highly educated people can miss what is plainly in the text, as Les illustrates with a man with multiple degrees who read Ephesians 3 over and over and finally said, 'I never saw that before.' Education alone is not the key—being able to show someone what the Word really says is.
Les is blunt that until a person has a salvation experience, the deep things of Scripture are impossible to comprehend. He says the natural man cannot understand, and he has told people who struggle with his teaching, 'Once you come to know the Lord, you will.' He describes a man who attended his class for three years and still could not understand. Salvation comes first; then the Holy Spirit enlightens and Scripture begins to open up.
The Ethiopian was in his chariot reading Isaiah 53, the very portion of Scripture that points to the finished work of Christ. Yet when Philip came alongside, he asked, 'Understandest thou what thou readest?' and the man answered, 'How can I, except some man should guide me?' Even though the Holy Spirit was directing events, He did not bypass the human instrument; He sent Philip to guide the seeker. This illustrates Les's point that God almost always uses a human to bring another to a knowledge of salvation.
The Ethiopian Still Needed a Guide
Faithful to the answer, Les shows that reading alone did not produce understanding for the Ethiopian; the Holy Spirit sent Philip to explain the passage.
God Uses Human Instruments
Les says God did not leave the Word in the hands of angels but in the hands of people, and has almost always used one human to lead another to salvation.
Natural Man Cannot Comprehend
Les teaches that before salvation, the natural man cannot comprehend Scripture; only after entering a relationship with Christ does the Holy Spirit enlighten the reader.
Human Beings Promote Salvation
Les says God has ordained humans to promote His salvation and that he has very, very seldom seen someone find salvation all alone without another person.
Scripture Impossible for Unbelievers
Les says that before becoming a child of God, even reading stories and miracles may give some benefit, but the deep things of Scripture are impossible to understand.
Why Paul's Gospel Was Different — Galatians 1:11 Explained
I remember I had a gentleman sitting at my kitchen table one night, and I wouldn't dare say who it was because he listens to the program, and I don't want to embarrass him. But I had him read that verse, and he said, I don't know what you're driving at. I said, read it again. Ephesians 3, verse 2. Ephesians 3, verse 2.
Holy Spirit Lights the Spark
Les teaches that as the Word goes out, the Holy Spirit lights a spark within an individual, and only then does the person come to a place of believing—showing the Spirit's role in the process.
Education Does Not Guarantee Understanding
Les illustrates that a highly educated man, even after repeated readings of Ephesians 3, still did not see what was plainly there until he read it again—showing that reading alone, without enlightenment, does not guarantee comprehension.
Acts 8:30: And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
Philip's question highlights that the Ethiopian was reading Scripture but did not understand it.
Acts 8:31: And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
The Ethiopian's answer shows that the normal way to understand Scripture is with a human guide.
Romans 10:14: How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Paul's rhetorical question emphasizes that hearing the gospel normally comes through a human preacher.
Les says he has very, very seldom run across someone who found salvation all by themselves without benefit of another human being. He therefore teaches that while it may happen, God's ordinary pattern is to use a human instrument.
Because reading alone did not give him understanding. He told Philip, 'How can I, except some man should guide me?' and God had sent Philip to explain the passage to him.
Les says no. Until a person becomes a child of God through salvation, the deep things of Scripture are impossible to comprehend. Once a person is saved, the Holy Spirit enlightens the reader.
Watch the Teaching: What Did the Ethiopian Eunuch Actually Believe? Acts 8