Why Are These People So Closed To The Christian Faith?

Do you ever find in life that some things are hard tosense, so very few recognised it. That is also true
see and accept?today.
After a two year 'delay' Paul finally arrives in Rome.They agreed to meet for a whole day and hear
We read all about in Acts Chapter 28, and after onlyPaul's reply. Here is an apostle who is eager. He does
three days, he is hard at work, using every availablenot have retirement on his mind - no sitting back and
opportunity open to him.leaving it to the others. On he goes witnessing and
Paul called for the Jewish leaders in Rome. Why theexplaining and teaching and serving as he makes
Jews? He begins first with those who should be ablehimself available to God.
to understand - those of his own background - thoseLook at how he answered. He spoke about the
who believed in God. He had done this in all thekingdom of God. He spoke about Jesus. He spoke
various centres which he has visited over these pastfrom the Word of God, from morning 'til evening.
twenty or so years.The word - this sharp two edged sword was at
He needed to know the position of the Jewishwork. Some believed, and some would not believe.
leadership. This was his method, and it remainedThere are always these reactions. "I'm convinced. I
unchanged, even after all that they had said aboutbelieve that this is true. I surrender and submit to
him and against him. This is God's pattern too - toJesus and His Word." Or the opposite - "I can't
the Jew first.accept that. I can't believe that. I'll argue against that.
Paul explains how he is innocent. He wants them toI'll use all my strength to fight against that."
know the truth. His desire is to put the recordThese people then began to argue amongst
straight. They would have heard rumours, tales,themselves, and Paul watched these Jews go away.
stories about this man, and he would tell of his beingHe remembers the words of Isaiah. Go and preach
arrested in Jerusalem - "nothing could be proved andand speak to the people. They shall hear but never
no-one could release me - so I appealed to Caesar -understand. They shall see, but they will never come
and that is why I am here in Rome." I just want toto know what it is all about." This is always so sad to
explain all this to you, so that you may hear it fromsee.
my mouth. Paul is so open. Of course, there wasTheir hearts were hard. Nothing would go in. Nothing
another reason. Almighty God wanted His man incould get in.
Rome.They listened to it all. They heard him. They saw so
"We have not received any letters about you", wasmuch, but they were spiritually closed and deaf and
their reply. "Nobody has come and said anything badblind.
about you - no-one has warned us about you - butJesus experienced this too. After Jesus healed the
we want to hear what your views are about thisman with the withered hand, some went out and
sect which is called 'Christians'. People everywhere areplanned to kill Him. When the sower went out and
speaking against this group and they are springing upsowed his seed, most of it was snatched away.
everywhere. This new movement has appeared allWhen Jesus entered Jerusalem, riding on that
over the Middle East."donkey, only a very few realised the significance of
Thirty years after the death and resurrection ofwhat was happening. Others were furious.
Jesus, and people are speaking against this strangePaul experienced similar reactions. Some believed.
new faith. It continued to be regarded as a sect, andSome would not. Some did not. But, the Gospel of
yet, this was the work of our Creator God. OurJesus Christ is NOT hindered.
loving Father was at work in the world, and in one