Satan—the god of this world—is the one hiding the gospel from unbelievers.
According to 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, the gospel is hid to them that are lost because the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not. Les Feldick identifies that god of this world as Satan. This satanic blindness keeps lost people from seeing the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, and they have no idea they are lost. Believers cannot force anyone to believe; God must take away the blindness.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 — This is the passage that directly identifies the one hiding the gospel and explains why it is hid to those who are lost.
The Bible directly answers this in Paul's words: "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" (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). The one doing the blinding is called "the god of this world." Those affected are described as "them that are lost" and as "them which believe not." The stated purpose is so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ would not shine in to them.
Les Feldick emphasizes that 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 makes it plain that the god of this world is Satan. He says that Satan has totally blinded the minds of those who will not believe—not people who merely haven't joined a church or read their Bibles. The lost, he explains, have no idea that they are lost. Even respectable, successful, and active church members can be in this condition because they are simply without God. Les also points out that the bright, attractive things of this world can blind people like a headlight at night, and this is what Satan uses to keep the gospel from shining in. The result is that believers who try to reach the lost often feel like they are up against a dilemma; the gospel seems to have no effect because Satan has blinded them. In his classes, Les urges believers to pray for God to take away the satanically inspired blindness, since there is nothing we can do until God does.
In 2 Corinthians 4:4 Paul says that among the lost, "the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not." Les Feldick points out how plainly this puts it: the god of this world is Satan. He has blinded the eyes of the lost to the truth of the Word of God so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ should not shine in.
Les Feldick explains that the lost do not have to be skid-row sinners. The prefix "un-" in "ungodly" simply means "without"—so these are people who are without God. They may be good people, the epitome of society, even the best of church members. At the same time, Paul specifically says Satan has blinded the minds of "them who believe not"—not merely those who have not joined a church or who do not read their Bibles. The lost have no idea that they are lost until it is too late.
Les says this is the dilemma that those trying to awaken lost people face. The gospel is hid to them that are lost because the god of this world has blinded their minds. We can present the message and open the Scriptures, but we cannot force anyone to believe. It is like water falling off a duck's back—the blinded see absolutely nothing to be gained and go on in total darkness. Les emphasizes that believers must pray for God to take away this satanically inspired blindness, because there is nothing we can do until God does.
The Lost Can Be Respectable Church Members
Les shows that being blind to the gospel is not limited to obvious sinners—it can include good, church-going people who are simply without God.
The God of This World Is Satan
Les identifies the god of this world as Satan and says he has blinded the minds of those who believe not.
Blinded Minds of Those Who Will Not Believe
Les notes that Satan blinds those who will not believe—not people who simply haven't joined a church or read their Bible.
The Lost Have No Idea They Are Lost
Les says lost people have no idea they are lost because Satan has totally blinded them, which is why they can't believe the Word.
The Gospel Hid to Them That Are Lost
Les points to 2 Corinthians 4 as the clearest statement that the god of this world, Satan, has blinded the minds of those who are lost.
Prayer Needed for Removal of Blindness
Les teaches that believers must pray for God to take away the satanically inspired blindness, because there is nothing we can do until God does.
Bright Worldly Things Blind Like Headlights
Les uses the illustration of bright headlights at night to show how the attractive things of this world can blind people to the gospel.
The Gospel Falls Like Water Off a Duck's Back
Les explains that when the blinded hear the gospel, they see nothing to be gained and continue in darkness, which is why witnessing can seem fruitless.
2 Corinthians 4:3: But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
This verse establishes that the gospel being hid is connected to those who are lost.
2 Corinthians 4:4: 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 verse names the god of this world as the one who blinds the minds of unbelievers to keep the gospel from shining in.
Paul calls him the god of this world, and Les Feldick identifies him as Satan. This is the one who has blinded the minds of them who believe not so the light of the glorious gospel of Christ does not shine in.
According to 2 Corinthians 4:4, it is "them which believe not" whose minds are blinded. Les emphasizes this is not about people who haven't joined a church or don't read the Bible; it is about those who will not believe.
Les Feldick teaches that believers can open the Scriptures and present the message, but they cannot force anyone to believe. The blindness must be taken away by God, and Les instructs believers to pray to that end.
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