Because the gospel is hidden from those who are lost - Satan, the god of this world, has blinded their minds.
In 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, Paul says our gospel is hid to them that are lost and that the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not. Les Feldick points to this as the exact dilemma believers face when trying to awaken the unsaved: their minds have been blinded by Satan. So it is not a lack of clear explanation; it is a spiritual blindness that keeps the light of the gospel from shining in.
2 Corinthians 4:4 — This verse directly identifies the cause: the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, which is why the gospel cannot get through to them.
2 Corinthians 4:3 — This verse explains that the gospel is hid to those who are lost, setting up the reason why.
2 Corinthians 4:3 says, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost." The verse does not say the gospel is hidden from believers; it is hidden specifically from those who are lost. The next verse gives the reason: "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." Paul's words show that spiritual blindness is attached to those who do not believe and is intended to keep the light of the gospel of Christ from shining into their minds.
Les Feldick emphasizes that 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 is the clearest explanation of the dilemma believers face with the unsaved world. He states that Satan is the god of this world and that he has blinded the minds of those who will not believe. This is why the gospel can be clearly presented and yet, as Les says, it is like water off a duck's back - the lost see absolutely nothing to be gained and go on in total darkness. Les also teaches that lost people have no idea they are lost; like a sheep, they don't realize their condition until it is too late, and Satan has them so totally blinded they cannot believe the Word. Because this blindness is satanically inspired, there is not a thing a believer can do until God takes it away - so believers must pray to that end.
Les Feldick identifies the "god of this world" in 2 Corinthians 4:4 as Satan. He says Satan is the one who has blinded the minds of them that believe not, and that this is exactly what Paul means when he says the gospel is hid to the lost. The blindness is not applied to everyone who stays away from church or fails to read the Bible; it is applied to those who will not believe.
Les describes trying to enlighten lost people about the joy of salvation and seeing it go nowhere. He says it is just like water falling off a duck's back because the powers of Satan have blinded them. They see absolutely nothing to be gained, and as a result, they go on their way in total darkness, living for today with no thought for eternity. He points to 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 as the explanation for this frustrating experience.
Les Feldick teaches that until God takes away this satanically inspired blindness, there is not a thing that believers can do. He says believers have to understand this and pray to that end. Rather than being frustrated or discouraged, believers are to recognize the reality of the enemy's blinding work and pray for God to remove it.
Using 2 Corinthians 4:3, Les says that if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost. It is not lost if you are a believer - you know it all too well. So the hiding is specific to the lost world; believers have the gospel revealed to them.
The world walks the gospel underfoot
Les Feldick marvels that even though the gospel is simple and its rewards are great in this life, the world passes it by and walks it underfoot. This underscores the mystery of why we can't get through to unbelievers.
Blinded because they will not believe
Les shows from 2 Corinthians 4:4 that Satan has blinded the minds of those who do not believe. It is not about church attendance or Bible reading - it is about refusal to believe.
The dilemma believers are up against
Les reads 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 to show that this satanic blinding is exactly what believers are up against when they try to awaken lost people to their need.
The lost don't know they are lost
Les compares the lost to sheep: they have no idea they are lost until it is too late. Satan has them so totally blinded that they cannot believe the Word.
Only God can remove the blindness
Les teaches that there is nothing believers can do until God takes away the satanically inspired blindness, so they must pray to that end.
Satan is the god of this world
Les emphasizes that Paul names the source of the blinding - the god of this world, Satan - and that this is why the light of the glorious gospel cannot shine into the lost.
The unsaved are unconcerned
Les points to the unsaved world as unconcerned and living for today with no thought for eternity, then shows 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 as the explanation for that unconcern.
The gospel falls like water off a duck's back
Les describes how trying to enlighten lost people feels like water off a duck's back because Satan has blinded them; they see nothing to be gained by the gospel.
2 Corinthians 4:3: But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
This is the key verse saying the gospel is hidden specifically 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 identifies the cause - the god of this world blinds the minds of those who do not believe.
According to 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, the gospel is hid to them that are lost because the god of this world - whom Les identifies as Satan - has blinded the minds of those who do not believe.
The blindness is applied to those who will not believe. Les emphasizes that Satan has blinded the minds of them who believe not; it is specifically tied to their refusal to believe.
No. Les teaches that no amount of explaining can get through while the person is blinded by the powers of Satan. Until God takes away the satanically inspired blindness, there is not a thing that believers can do.
Les says believers must understand the reality of this satanic blindness and pray to this end - that God would take it away. That is the God-appointed response rather than frustration or discouragement.
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