What Happens to Those Who Hear the Gospel and Reject It?

Direct Answer

Those who hear and reject the gospel will perish, because they received not the love of the truth.

Scripture says that those who perish do so because they received not the love of the truth—the gospel that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. Les Feldick teaches that lost people are blinded by the god of this world and remain lost; at the Great White Throne they are lost because they did not believe the gospel, not because they lacked good works.

Key Scriptures

2 Thessalonians 2:10 — Directly states that those who perish are those who received not the love of the truth, which Les identifies as the gospel.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 — Defines the gospel that is the truth in view: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.

What Does the Bible Say?

Paul defines the gospel he preached: '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). In 2 Thessalonians 2:10, he says those who perish do so 'because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.' In 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, he explains that 'if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost' because 'the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.'

What Does Les Feldick Teach About Rejecting the Gospel?

Les Feldick says the clearest definition of the gospel is 1 Corinthians 15:1-4—Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. He connects that to 2 Thessalonians 2:10, saying that 'the truth' people reject is the gospel. He is emphatic that hell-fire preaching or clichés like 'take Jesus into your life' are not the gospel; the gospel is the finished work of the cross. Les also teaches from 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 that lost people cannot see the gospel because Satan has blinded their minds; they don't know the plight they are in. He describes those at the Great White Throne as lost because they did not believe the gospel and did not appropriate the grace and love of God, and he stresses that no one gets to heaven by working their way in—heaven comes by believing Christ's death did it all.

What Is "the Love of the Truth" That Is Rejected?

The truth in view is the gospel. Les Feldick draws directly from 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and says this is what Paul means by 'the love of the truth' in 2 Thessalonians 2:10. The gospel is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

Why Is the Gospel Hidden From Those Who Reject It?

Les teaches, based on 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, that the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who believe not, so the gospel is hid to them that are lost. The lost masses do not know the plight they are in; that is why they cannot respond to the gospel.

What Happens to Those Who Reject the Gospel at the Final Judgment?

Les describes the Great White Throne scene: the lost stand there because they did not believe the gospel. Even though their sins were atoned for, they did not appropriate God's grace by faith. They are not lost because they lacked good works; they are lost because they did not believe. Works cannot get anyone to heaven; only believing Christ's death did it all.

Is Hell, Fire, and Brimstone Preaching the Gospel?

No. Les says the gospel is that Christ died for us, was buried, and rose from the dead. When a person believes that gospel, Christ becomes his personal Savior. Using 'little clichés' by themselves is not the gospel.

From the Teaching

The Gospel Defined and Connected to 2 Thessalonians

Les defines the gospel from 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and explicitly connects it to the 'love of the truth' in 2 Thessalonians 2:10.

The Gospel Is Not Hell, Fire, and Brimstone Preaching

Les distinguishes the gospel from common clichés and explains that when you believe the gospel, Christ becomes your personal Savior.

Lost at the Great White Throne

Les describes the lost at the Great White Throne as those who did not believe the gospel and did not appropriate God's grace, showing that good works cannot save.

Satan Blinds Those Who Believe Not

Les says the gospel is hid to the lost because the god of this world has blinded their minds, so they cannot believe the Word.

Lost People Do Not Know Their Plight

Les explains that lost masses do not understand the gospel or the plight they are in, which is why the gospel seems hidden to them.

The One Gospel and Those Who Have Not Heard It

Les proclaims that the gospel is only the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and observes that many people are hearing everything but the gospel.

2 Corinthians 4:4 Applied to the Lost

Les expands on 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, saying the god of this world has blinded the minds of the lost, unlike God's direct hiding of truth from the twelve.

The Finished Work of the Cross

Les points to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 as the gospel by which we are saved, concentrating on the finished work of the cross.

Bible Verses

2 Thessalonians 2:10: And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

This verse directly describes the consequence for those who reject the gospel: they are in the company of those who perish.

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 the explicit definition of the gospel that those who receive not the love of the truth are rejecting.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4: But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

This explains why those who reject the gospel cannot see it: Satan has blinded their minds and the gospel is hidden to the lost.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to people who reject the gospel?

They are among those who perish, because they received not the love of the truth—the gospel. Les Feldick also describes such people standing at the Great White Throne as lost because they did not believe the gospel.

Why can't some people accept the gospel?

According to 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who believe not, so the gospel is hid to them that are lost. Les says lost people don't even know the plight they are in.

Is hearing the gospel the same as being told the gospel?

No. Les observes that many people are being neglected and are not being told the gospel—they hear everything but the core message that Christ died, was buried, and rose again.

Can a person be saved by good works if they reject the gospel?

No. Les describes 'awful good people' standing at the Great White Throne because they did not believe the gospel and did not appropriate God's grace. No one gets to heaven by working their way in; heaven comes by believing Christ's death did it all.

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