We must first understand the basic nature of the unbelieving friends we are seeking to reach. Knowing their spiritual composition is a great help in understanding who they are from God's viewpoint and what is likely to be their response to the spiritual truth.

Blind
     First, regardless of how intelligent or enlightened your acquaintance may appear, he or she is blinded to the truth of the gospel. "But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them" (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4).

     Until a person is regenerated (born again) by the Spirit of God, he or she remains in spiritual darkness. Persuading your friend of the deity and reality of Christ and personal need for the Savior is not an educational endeavor.

     That is why simple logic and reasoning alone won't bring an individual into a relationship with Christ. Satan, the "god of this age," is covertly at work doing all he can to keep the unbeliever in the dark concerning sin and salvation.

Captive
     Not only are our non-Christian friends blind to the truth, but they are captives of the Evil One. Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin" (John 8:34).

     Paul wrote Timothy that sharing with unbelievers means presenting the truth so that "they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his [Satan's] will" (2 Timothy 2:26).

     In essence, the unbeliever is a spiritual prisoner of war. This is why there is often a hint of hostility from the unbeliever when we present the good news. Satan does not want to lose his mastery over fallen men and women.

     Regardless of how decent and honorable and appealing our friends may appear on the surface, unless Christ is Lord of their lives, they are spiritual hostages of the adversary.

Dead
     Above all, your friends without Christ are spiritually dead. "And you He made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:1, 2).

Spiritually dead people are those who are unresponsive to the spiritual light and truth. They are dead in spirit toward God. The life of Christ has yet to shine in their hearts. Though they may enjoy the "good life" or be the "life of the party," they are separated and alienated from the source of eternal and abundant life, Jesus Christ.