Yes — the gospel is hidden from those who are lost because Satan, the god of this world, has blinded their minds so the light of the glorious gospel of Christ cannot shine to them.
In 2 Corinthians 4:3, Paul says "if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost." In the next verse he explains that the god of this world has blinded the minds of them that believe not. Les Feldick adds that the blinding applies to those who will not believe — not to those who merely haven't joined a church or read their Bible.
2 Corinthians 4:3 — The verse where Paul directly states that the gospel is hid to them that are lost.
2 Corinthians 4:4 — The verse that names the hider: the god of this world blinds the minds of them that believe not.
In 2 Corinthians 4:3, Paul states plainly, "if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost." Then in verse 4 he explains why: "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." The Scripture therefore locates the hiddenness in the blinded minds of the lost, not in the gospel itself. The good news is glorious; it is the god of this world who blinds those who refuse to believe.
Les Feldick takes 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 as the plain biblical answer to why some people do not respond to the gospel. He emphasizes that "our gospel" is good news, and if that good news is hid, it is hid to them that are lost. Believers understand it and live by it, but lost people "really don't know the plight that they're in." The culprit is Satan: Paul calls him "the God of this world," and Les identifies him plainly as Satan, who "hath blinded the minds of them who believe not" so that the light of the gospel cannot shine in. Les clarifies that this does not have to do with church membership or Bible reading; it is specifically those who will not believe. That leaves believers facing a dilemma, because until God takes away the satanically inspired blindness, there is "not a thing that we can do" except pray. He also notes that Paul himself did not come with a corrupted, adulterated, or cheap message; the gospel he preached was the real thing, so the problem is never the message.
The Bible says the god of this world has blinded the minds of them that believe not (2 Corinthians 4:4). Les teaches that this is Satan himself, the deity of this world, and that he blinds those who will not believe so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ cannot shine to them.
Les says no. He points to Paul's refusal to water down his message or handle the Word of God deceitfully. Paul was not like a street hawker selling adulterated goods; he came with the real thing. So when the gospel is hid, the reason is not that the message is cheap or corrupted.
Les explains that they cannot believe because Satan has them so totally blinded. In 2 Corinthians 4:4, the ones blinded are "them who believe not," and Les reads that as "those that will not believe." The blinding causes the inability to see the light of the glorious gospel.
Les says this is our dilemma as we try to awaken the lost: there is not a thing we can do until God takes away this satanically inspired blindness. His conclusion is that we have to pray to this end.
The Gospel Is the Real Thing
Les shows that Paul did not come to the lost with a watered-down or adulterated message. He came with the real thing, so the gospel itself is not what needs fixing.
God's Hiddenness vs. Satan's Blinding
Les distinguishes sovereign hidings by God (Luke 18) from the satanic blinding of the lost. Here the hiding is not God's prerogative but the work of the god of this world.
Hid to Them That Are Lost
Les says the plain biblical answer is that "our gospel" is good news, and if it is hid, it is hid to them that are lost. Believers understand it; lost people do not.
Satan's Blinding Keeps Them From Believing
Les explains that lost people have no idea they are lost. Satan has them so totally blinded that they cannot believe the Word.
Only God Can Remove the Blindness
Les teaches that Satan has blinded the eyes of those who do not believe so the light of the glorious gospel cannot shine. Until God takes away the blindness, believers can do nothing but pray.
The Blinded Are Those Who Will Not Believe
Les clarifies that the blinded ones are not those who haven't joined a church or haven't read their Bible; they are those who will not believe.
Satan Is the God of This World
Les identifies the God of this world as Satan, the one who blinds the lost so the light of the glorious gospel cannot shine to them.
The Dilemma of Those Who Try to Awaken the Lost
Les says this verse describes the human race's dilemma and the dilemma of anyone trying to awaken the lost: Satan has blinded their minds.
2 Corinthians 4:2: But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
Les points to Paul's honesty in handling the Word, showing the gospel itself is not corrupt.
2 Corinthians 4:3: But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
This is the key verse stating that the gospel is hidden from 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 Satan, the god of this world, as the one who blinds the minds of those who do not believe.
Les teaches that the God of this world is Satan. In 2 Corinthians 4:4, Paul says this god has blinded the minds of them that believe not. Les applies this directly to the lost world tonight.
No. Les shows that Paul refused to water down the message or handle God's Word deceitfully. Paul came with the real thing, not an adulterated, cheap product. The reason the gospel is hid is the satanic blinding of those who are lost.
Les stresses that the text says "them who believe not" (2 Corinthians 4:4). It is not limited to those who haven't joined a church or don't read their Bible; it is those who will not believe. Believers, by contrast, understand what the gospel is all about.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Gospel Is Hidden From Some People — 2 Corinthians 4:1-4