Yes — the main reason people struggle is spiritual: the natural man cannot receive the things of God, so understanding the Bible requires salvation and the Holy Spirit's discernment.
Scripture says the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). Les Feldick adds that denominational narrow-mindedness, reliance on what one has always heard, and being steeped in legalism also keep people from seeing what the Book says. Understanding begins with salvation; once a person becomes a child of God, the Scriptures begin to open up (Clips 1, 2, 3, 5).
1 Corinthians 2:14 — This is the verse Paul uses to explain why the natural man cannot receive or know the things of God — they are spiritually discerned.
2 Peter 3:16 — Peter himself acknowledges that Paul's epistles contain some things hard to be understood — evidence that even believers struggle with parts of Scripture.
First Corinthians 2:14 is the central text: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." The same chapter explains that spiritual truth is taught by the Holy Spirit and received by comparing spiritual things with spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:13). The Bible also acknowledges that parts of Scripture are difficult to understand. Peter wrote of Paul's epistles: "As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood" (2 Peter 3:16). The problem of comprehension is thus not new or unique to any one generation.
Les Feldick gives several reasons people struggle with the Bible. The deepest reason is spiritual: the unsaved "natural man" cannot comprehend the things of God. Les says such a person may understand the story of Bethlehem or some miracles, but the deep doctrinal aspects of the Word and end-time prophecy are a closed book until that person is saved and becomes a child of God (Clips 1, 2, 3, 5). A second problem is approach. Les tells his listeners to get into the Book, take away the blinders, and get away from denominational narrow-mindedness — not depending so much on what they have always heard and thought (Clip 0). He illustrates this with a highly educated man and Sunday School teacher who read Ephesians 3:1 three or four times and still did not see what it said (Clip 4). Even the Apostle Peter found Paul's letters hard to understand, Les notes, because he was steeped in Judaism and legalism; coming out from under legalism into grace is like pulling teeth (Clip 6). Finally, Les observes that much of mainstream Christianity stays with the elementaries and never goes on to the deeper things the Holy Spirit reveals in Paul's letters (Clip 7).
The Bible says the natural man "receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14). Les Feldick explains that the unsaved person cannot see how the Scriptures connect — "he just can't see where these things are connected" — and that deep doctrine and end-time prophecy are a closed book to him (Clip 1).
Not by itself, says Les. He tells of a highly educated man with multiple degrees who read Ephesians 3:1-3 three or four times and still could not see what the passage was driving at — even though he had been a Sunday School teacher for years. Les says this is how many people are with the Word: they think they read it and know it, but they do not (Clip 4).
Les points to 2 Peter 3:16, where Peter says Paul's epistles contain "some things hard to be understood." The reason, Les says, is that Peter was steeped in Judaism and legalism. Leaving legalism for the glory of God's grace is so difficult, Les observes, that people "almost fight it tooth and nail" (Clip 6).
Les says he has seen people who knew nothing of the things of God, but "as soon as they became a believer... they could just see the whole thing" (Clip 3). The Bible teaches this because spiritual things must be spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). Once a person is a child of God, Les adds, God expects that we learn, grow, and gain a graphic understanding of all that He has done on our behalf (Clip 7).
Denominational Blinders
Les says people need to get into the Book and take away the blinders of denominational narrow-mindedness instead of depending on what they have always heard.
The Natural Man Cannot Receive the Things of God
Les explains that the unsaved natural man cannot comprehend the deep doctrinal aspects of Scripture — deep doctrine and end-time prophecy are a closed book to him.
Impossible Until One Becomes a Child of God
Les says the book is utterly impossible to comprehend until a person becomes a child of God; he gives the example of a man who attended his class for three years but still could not understand.
Spiritually Discerned
Les shows that because the things of God are spiritually discerned, the natural man cannot know them; once people become believers, their eyes open and they can see the whole thing.
The Educated Man Who Could Not See It
Les recalls a highly educated Sunday School teacher who read Ephesians 3:1 several times and still missed the point — many people think they know the Word but do not.
God Opens Eyes and Hearts
Les says believers must be patient with unbelievers, because they cannot comprehend spiritual things until God opens their eyes and hearts in His own timing.
Peter's Legalism
Les explains that even Peter struggled with Paul's writings because he was steeped in Judaism and legalism; coming out from under legalism into grace is like pulling teeth.
Elementaries vs. Deeper Things
Les says much of mainstream Christianity stays with the elementaries and never grasps the deep doctrines that the Holy Spirit reveals in Paul's letters.
1 Corinthians 2:13: Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
This verse explains that spiritual truth is taught by the Holy Spirit and received by comparing spiritual things with spiritual (Scripture with Scripture).
1 Corinthians 2:14: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
The foundational verse — the natural man cannot know the things of God because they are spiritually discerned.
2 Peter 3:16: As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Peter admits that Paul's epistles contain some things hard to be understood — evidence that even believers struggle with parts of Scripture.
Ephesians 3:1: For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
The passage the educated man in Les's story read repeatedly without seeing what it said.
Because the natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God; they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). Until a person is saved, the deep things of Scripture are a closed book. Denominational blinders and dependence on what one has always heard can also keep people from seeing what the Book says.
Les Feldick says the unsaved may understand some things, like the story of Bethlehem or some of the miracles, but when it gets down to the deep doctrinal aspects of the Word of God, it is a closed book. End-time prophecy is also incomprehensible to them (Clip 1).
Les explains that Peter was steeped in Judaism and legalism, and coming out from under legalism into the glory of God's grace is like pulling teeth — people almost fight it tooth and nail (Clip 6).
Les's approach is to get into the Book and take away the blinders (Clip 0). If a person does not know the Lord, understanding begins with salvation — as soon as they become a believer, the Scriptures begin to open up (Clip 3). Then God expects believers to learn and grow in the deeper things (Clip 7).
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