"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 Cor. 4:3-5.
Satan has blinded those who do not believe lest they should be saved by the gospel of Christ. Which came first, them being lost, or them being blinded by Satan so they cannot be saved?
To those of us who understand “all are lost” prior to being drawn in by God. But if you listen to Mr. Rogers the ones who aren’t saved are those who “didn’t meet the standard”. In other words didn’t earn it.
“Satan has blinded those who do not believe lest they should be saved by the gospel of Christ. Which came first, them being lost, or them being blinded by Satan so they cannot be saved?”
Cannot?
He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” - Luke 4
Like most Christians, I’ll pray that God would open the eyes of the lost, and bind Satan so that he won’t snatch the seed before it takes root (”And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them- Mk 4).
There are passages in Acts that talk of God’s involvement:
“14One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.” - Acts 16
Remember, the Gospel is God reaching to us, not us reaching to God. But that said, when God reaches to us, do we respond in faith, or refuse? “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.” - Acts 13